The title to this post sounds like some scary sci-fi movie, but it’s not. The “it” I am referrring to is God’s Word, the Holy Bible. It is alive. You have heard people say that the Bible is His Living Word, but how is that possible? I was talking to my girlfriend, Amanda, just this morning about this and decided to post on it.
Every time I read God’s word, it is new. A verse that I may have read a hundred times suddenly speaks to me in a whole new light. Sometimes when I’m reading the Bible it’s as if there’s a bright light shining down on a certain verse. That verse has blinking lights around it. It speaks to me. I can almost imagine when I shut the Bible, the words coming alive inside and moving around. “Hey, pass the spotlight this way. She needs to read me next.”
I know this doesn’t really happen, but God’s word is living and constantly speaks to us in different ways depending on what is going on in our lives. I’ll give you an example.
Last Friday, I was having my quiet time. I’ve been reading through the book of Acts. I came across a verse that really stuck out – blinking lights and all. I felt God impressing on me to memorize this verse. This particular verse didn’t really speak to what was going on in my life at the moment, so I was left to think that God had me memorize it to share with someone else.
All day, I looked for someone who might need this verse. That night I was having dinner with a friend, so I asked her if the verse meant anything to her. “Um, maybe” was her reply. Nope. The verse wasn’t for her. That night I was left wondering as laid my head on my pillow. I kept repeating it, but felt nothing.
The verse didn’t return to me until yesterday. I was having an off day. I had lunch with friends, who asked if anything was wrong. “You are quiet,” they said. (This is NOT the norm for me.) It wasn’t the first time they had asked if anything was wrong. The weekend before, they said these same things. Alan, too, had been questioning me. “Are you okay? You are not yourself.” By that he means my witty-constantly cracking up at my self-self. That night Alan and I talked about what God is doing in my life. I had become so overwhelmed and focused on looking for Him, I had withdrawn. I was quiet because too many things were going through my head.
I’m feeling really exposed now – mask free – but I’ll continue. I was afraid God was changing me. Let me be more clear. I wanted Him to change me but not my personality. Am I making any sense? I liked who I was – friendly, outgoing, silly. Was God changing this about me? Alan was wonderful at helping me vocalize what I was feeling. He said he didn’t think God would want to change my personality, just my perspective. I needed to be changed when I looked at others. I needed to see their needs. I needed to change how I responded to situations that didn’t suit me. I needed to reflect Him. But God wasn’t turning me into a quiet person. He made me the way I am. I sighed with relief after talking it through with Alan. I finally had a grip on it.
Then I remembered the first part of my verse from last Friday. “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.” I sat with my mouth hanging open as I realized that the verse in Acts 18 had been for me all along. What I got out of the verse was this: God said don’t be afraid of being changed for Him. He also reminded me that He made me talker, and He wouldn’t have me any other way. There may be times that He asks me to be silent, but only for a time.
Yahoo! Did you hear that? I just got word from God to TALK. Alan, are you reading this? My loquaciousness (that means talkative – a word my Dad taught me early on!) has been God ordained. No kidding. If I am talking about Jesus all the time, then why wouldn’t He want me to talk? Can I get an amen?
Back to the Bible being the living Word of God… Every time we read the Bible, God speaks. That is just how incredible the Bible is. Have you ever thought about how long the Bible has been around? It is just as powerful today as it was thousands of years ago. Wow! Doesn’t that make you want to go dive in and find out what God is saying to you today? Listen carefully as you go to open it, you may hear the blinking lights scurrying around inside to shine down on His special message for you. Go on! Don’t delay! Scat now, go read. Just like the phones in a hotel with the blinking message light, you have a blinking light on your Bible saying “Messages.” Go check your messages!
Carol
Girl — that photo cracks me up. Good word here.
steph.
The photo is too cute. Thanks for the post, and thanks for the verse. It helped me more than you know. I claimed it over and over and over from Thursday night on throughout the day on Saturday.
Wow I always just check and wow…You speak volumes..I love that and its so freeing..I am feeling like that as well…I couldnt understand..Those words..Was my moments..not changing me changing my Prespective…
WOW..Thanks Funny picture…I say Amen…AMEN…
Thanks this is one of your many gifts…I want a free book…LOL..
Love
Deborah
Carol, I love this! I am grateful that God calls some of us to talk! Yeah!
Love
Jess