Words

Shortly after arriving back in Athens after the Jamaica mission trip, I was spending time in the Russell prayer room (RPR) with some friends, and we were talking about hearing God’s voice, which had been a major topic while we were in Jamaica.  One of my friends, Josh, started talking about different ways we hear God: through His Word, through direct conversation in prayer, through visions, through other people, etc., and he said that He speaks to me most noticeably through His Word.  And I agree.  When I want to hear from God, I go to Him in prayer and in His Word.  The worship songs that reach me the most are the ones that quote Scripture.  When someone needs encouragement (something I’m not great at giving on my own), I reference verses on the topic.

And I’ve been finding this more and more lately.  For example, two nights ago I was in RPR with Josh and another friend, Melissa (their friend Zack, who I haven’t really talked to very much, was also there for a little bit, but he wasn’t there for this part of the story), and we prayed with each other before we left.  I prayed silently while Josh prayed out loud for Melissa and Melissa did the same for Josh, and as I was praying, Bible verses and song lyrics flooded into my mind: “A mighty fortress is our God”; “I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings” (Psalm 61:4); “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him,” “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:1,5); “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10); “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10; this specific verse didn’t come to me verbatim, but the chorus of “Strong Tower,” by the Newsboys, kept repeating in my mind, and I’ve been finding myself calling on the the names of the Lord in my prayers: Elohim, El Shaddai, Prince of Peace, the Great I Am, Yahweh, Jehovah, Emmanuel, King of kings and Lord of lords, the God of all creation, the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, etc.), and more.  And I felt God’s strength as these words ran through my head, as if the verses became my prayers and God answered all of them on the spot, saying, “[My word] will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough words of my own to share, like any and all encouragement and teaching I have to give come directly from the Bible and not from my own wisdom or experience.  But I’m learning to be okay with that, because “man does not live on bread alone,” (or his own words), “but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).  When my words fail, God’s Word won’t.

“For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” ~ Hebrews 4:12