The Word to Live By: 1-8-26
Phil Waggoner
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8
The Word to Live By: The first thing that meditating on the Word of God will do is put it in your heart. What is in your heart becomes your behavior, which determines the path of life you take. When it’s the Word of God, that path will be prosperous and successful. Let’s define what the word, meditate, means in the Bible and look at some scriptures that will confirm what I just said. The phrase, “Don’t let it depart from your mouth…” means don’t quit saying it. Say it over and over and over. Literally, don’t let your mouth be empty of the Word of God. The Common English translation says, “Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed.” Easy to Read says, “Continually speak about the book…” The word picture is to speak it and imagine it working in your life. I could keep going but you get the picture. Speak to yourself what it says to you. When you do that, you will find yourself adhering to it naturally, without even thinking about doing it. The word, prosperous, doesn’t necessarily mean rich financially (although that’s often a by-product of doing the Word), but what it literally means is that you will move forward in the plan of God for your life. Success means to deal wisely in life’s affairs. The book of Proverbs is basically saying the same thing, along with the results. Proverbs 2:1,2,20, “My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:3-4, “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.” What you put into your head will find its way to your spirit. And what’s in your spirit will determine your quality of life. One more, although there are many - Proverbs 4:10, “Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.” The power of the Word of God produces faith when you hear it and accept it as THE TRUTH, which leads to life and life more abundant, or, as in Joshua 1:8, a prosperous and successful life. And here’s an extra nugget for free. Biblical success and prosperity never reach a final point. You keep prospering and succeeding forever.
Read through the Bible in a year: Luke 9:1-27; Genesis 15; Psalms 8;
Read through the New Testament and Proverbs: Proverbs 8, Matthew 4:14-25, Acts 8:
The sum of Thy Word is Truth Psalm 119:160