Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

So I was taking a walk earlier today, trying to exercise my knee. While I was walking, I was also meditating on the word of God. Specifically Hebrews 4:12. God began to reveal the power of his word to me.

John let’s us know that the words God speak are spirit and life.

By definition Quickeneth or quickened means to bring to life or make alive.

So then it is the spirit of God that brings life. The word of God Is spirit and it is life.

By definition, meditate is to think deeply or carefully about.

Joshua, tells us that by meditating on the word of God we will make our way prosperous and have good success. Why? Because we are keeping his word in our mouths and on our minds. We speak it and think about it. Eventually, we will start to do it!

So we now understand that God’s word is life giving and life transforming. We speak what we think. What we think is acted out in the body.

For example, they say age is a number or state of mind. If you think that you are too old to do certain things, eventually you will also speak those same words. Then finally, you body will start to line up with what you think and speak!

The Bible says that the power of life and death is in your tongue (Proverbs18:21). It also say as a man thinks, some he is (Proverbs 23:7).

You may say/think you are too old to roller skate, play basketball, dance, etc. The next thing you know you begin to feel body aches and pains well beyond your years – simply because the words you though and spoke gave life to your words. In other words, you spoke your words into existence.

You can speak life or you can speak death. Either way, your words will create results that you must deal with. You can be positive – and speak life and success. Or you can be negative – and speak death and failure.

Let’s consider meditating a little further…

When we meditate on God’s word, we consider it deeply. We prayerfully repeat the verse in our minds, asking God to open our understanding. In our study time, (I recommend a good study Bible – Thompson Chain Reference Bible is what I use). Run references on the scripture to amplify your knowledge. God will open up your understanding.

This is how you make your way successful.

Hebrews tells us about the power of the word of God. This verse starts by saying God’s word is life (quick), it is powerful , and it is sharp.

By definition sharp means precise.

God’s work is so precise that it can cut better than a two edged sword. God’s work can separate soul from spirit, joint from marrow. AND it can discern .

By definition discern means to perceive or recognize.

God’s work can perceive or recognize the thoughts AND intents of your heart!!

Wow!! That is all powerful – nothing stronger.

So with understanding this amplification, let us look deeper…

So as we meditate carefully and prayerfully on God’s word. We make our way prosperous and have good success, because God’s word is life giving and life transforming. We apply the word to our life, and walk in it. We may stumble our way as we initially attempt this, but that same word is creating life as we walk by faith. So now our thoughts and perceptions have changed and begin to line up with the word.

The word says that by his stripes we are healed. I meditate on this word and apply it to my life. I am now speaking words of healing – proclaiming it. My mind is now renewed and I do not react in the same manner as I used to when I feel the pain or hear a bad report from the doctor. Because I am trusting God and standing on his word.

The word of God is precise – it is cutting away the dead parts. Those old thoughts, beliefs and ideas that were not in-line with God’s word. Simultaneously, it is creating new, regenerating, and restoring that which the enemy has tried to destroy in us. That is why it is two-edged – it cuts going in and coming out, to accomplish God’s will.

This is the power of Gods word!

This is why we meditate on the word of God.

So I encourage you to exercise your faith. Dive into the word and meditate on it day and night. Watch what a difference it makes in your life!

Have a blessed day and please feel free to share your comments.!!

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

It the beginning of the work week and also the week leading to Good Friday, Easter weekend. It is the best time to do a self- care check!!

In this season we take the time to recognize the glorious gift God gave to us through the awesome sacrifice of Jesus! As the song says “God sent his son, they call him Jesus.” It is a time remember, all that Calvary’s Cross made possible for everyone. Salvation from the enemy of our souls through the blood of Jesus! Victory over death, hell, and the grave through the resurrection of Jesus!!

Because he got up, so can we!!

So, as you prepare to enjoy all the Easter celebrations, also take time to evaluate yourself. This is self-care at it’s finest.

Look at your life, your current state:

⁃ Is your life pleasing to God?

⁃ Is your light shinning brightly to the world around you?

⁃ Are you exemplifying the victorious life that Jesus gave?

⁃ Or has the bulb of your life grown dim?

⁃ Are you barely living your life with your head above (spiritually speaking)?

Now is the perfect time to take stock and make adjustments.

Philippians 3-13, recognizes the fact that we have not already attained. We are all very much a work in progress!!

The best we can do is let go of the past. Your successes and failures are all in the past. We live in the present and make provisions for the future.

As for the past? We must let it go. We cannot let it negatively impact our present or future. We must repent, and then do better. We cannot keep committing the same mistakes of the past. If we do, we will continually find ourselves in the same state.

This is self-care. We learn from mistakes and do better.

How? We ask God for help. We ask for his guidance – then take our hands off the reigns of our life, and follow as he leads.

God is a “right now” God. The enemy would have you believe that if we pray, the help will come at some undetermined time in the future. This is one of the greatest lies of the devil.

The truth is, when we pray, God dispatches the answer immediately.

It is our duty to stand still and wait for the manifestation.

There is victory and freedom in waiting on the Lord. It takes the pressure off us to make a move. Now the ball is in God’s court. He will not let you down! He will show us the next step. It then is our job to take that step. Wether we like or agree with it. Recognize he will not steer you wrong.

Most of the time we are like a train. We want to keep moving forward until we pull into the designated station. We are unable to stop moving and wait on the Lord. We do not allow the Lord to speak and correct our course. We must make room for God to be God in our lives.

Self-care means we also take the time to repent and make corrections. This is how we learn and do better.

Philippians 3:13-14, also says that once we have let go of the past, we look forward. You cannot make progress if we are living in the past!! We must press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. What is this prize? Seeing God’s face is peace. Pleasing God, doing his will. Eternal life with Christ – Heaven!!

We must keep heaven in our view. We must work to take as many people with us, by operating in the gifts and calling that God has given to us all. The world needs us to be in our place, operating under the anointing of God to accomplish his will.

So, on this self-care Monday take time for yourself. Evaluate your “right-now”, and truly see where you are. Yes, it may bring tears to your eyes. But this is a good thing. It provides an opportunity to fix things. It’s a time of course corrections – by getting back in line with Christ!

Have a great Self-Care Monday. Do the work to put yourself in a great place mentally. Self-Care relieves stress and anxiety. Trust God to be God in your life. Let him handle the things you cannot!!

Have a blessed day!