The Word To Live By: 7-31-26
Phil Waggoner
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
The Word To Live By: As I was writing the last two days of WTLBs (concerning great faith compared to little faith), I realized that I was opening a can of worms that was going to need some explanation. As Christians, we are commanded to live by faith - to walk by faith and not by sight and to trust in the Lord with all our spirit and not necessarily our own understanding. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.” How do you vent your feelings? By speaking them. One of the first things I learned about living by faith was I don’t need to say everything I’m thinking. Particularly the things that don’t line up with the Word of God, or even if they do, words that are going to produce anger and strife with the other person or persons. Sometimes smiling and nodding are living by faith. So how do we combat and destroy thoughts that end up as weeds in our lives that choke the word and make it unfruitful (Matthew 13:22)? The same way we plant the seed of the Word that bears the fruit we need. Speak the Word of God that goes against the feeling, lust, and/or precepts of the Word of God. What’s that do? First of all, you are hearing it and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Second of all, the Word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. It will pierce and divide the soul and the spirit. In other words, your spirit tells your soul what to think and say, not your soul telling your spirit what to say. One of my confessions almost every morning is, “I will not let my mind wander into ungodly thoughts.” The second doubt or unbelief starts to pop up or lust on any level, I’m talking to myself. (If I’m not alone, I mumble.) In the case of a stronghold, let’s take worry for example, it’s not an overnight deal but consistent, persistent application of the Word of God in your life that will produce godly results. I’ll get into more of this tomorrow but let me close with this. “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life], Proverbs 18:20-21. Amplified Translation.
Read through the Bible in a year: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 2 Kings 11; Micah 2;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 31, Matthew 16:1-14, Romans 3
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160