Over the holidays I usually enjoy quiet time seeking the Lord, not only concerning the year ahead but also the previous years – I want to grow in God with every year. Therefore, I seek God for what I could have done differently and if there are changes, I need to incorporate.
As children of God, we are to thrive and not simply survive. We are to live the abundant life Jesus died to give us. What a precious price was paid that we might do more than survive!
Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, until it overflows. Is that what you are seeing in your life today? If not, it is available to you, but you, like me, may need to make some continual changes if you choose to grow in faith and the Word of God each year.
I believe God has great plans for His Body. I believe He wants to do mighty miracles and exploits in our midst. Are we ready for them? Are we believing for them? Do we still have faith for them after the difficulties of the past?
The Bible says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)
We cannot have or maintain faith without the Word of God being a priority in your daily life. Therefore, the first thing we must do is get in and stay in the Word of God. Many people only pick up their Bible while they are in church or bible study, once a week, maybe twice a week. That will not usher you into the abundant life Jesus died to give you. We must stay filled with God’s Word. If we are full of His Word, it will be in our mind and come out of our mouth- it is the fruit we will eat of.
However, if we spend little time in God’s Word, whatever is dominant in our life, whether it is news media, negative conversations, fear, or doubt…whatever it is, will come out of our mouth and will be the fruit we and others see in our life.
Let’s look at some powerful scriptures about the Word of God.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Ps 119:105) 
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. (Deut 8:3)
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Is 40:8)
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Is 55:11)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
God’s Word is powerful. It is our light, our teacher, our wisdom. It will not return void. It accomplishes what it is sent for. We must live by the very Word of God…then we will experience great success.
Friends, we cannot live the abundant life without the Word of God going in our heart, every single day. If you didn’t have the year you wanted last year – check your Word time. Are you spending time daily in God’s Word? If not, make the change. Set aside time to read the Bible every single day. It doesn’t have to be for hours – just a few minutes, consistently, will make a world of difference and it will change your world. Try it and see.
