25 October 2022

SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE ROSES, QUIETEN YOUR HEART AND LET GOD SPEAK TO YOU THROUGH HIS WORD.

By John Ollis

We have been told many times and know mentally the unique power of the Word of God to change lives. We talk about those “light bulb moments” when the Word of God seems to jump off the page and we are so aware that God has spoken to us. Sadly, we don’t always slow down, and quietly prepare our hearts, and meditate and memorise what we are reading and consequently we have read the Scriptures, but often not let the Word of God speak to us. . In the Old Testament King David especially would speak about letting the Lord QUICKEN the Word to him, and in the New Testament the Holy Spirit led the writers to use two different Greek words to help us understand the difference between simply reading the Word of Gd and have those light bulb moments. I sincerely believe that every day if we prepare and quieten our hearts and meditate (chew over) and look at different translations we will have a light bulb moment that willbe life changing.

Paul especially when writing of the written Word of God used the word logos, but when the Word would come alive to a Believer he would use the word RHEMA as in Rom. 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Rhema) of God. The fruit of the Word speaking to us is that it produces FAITH in our hearts, and we believe for change and growth in our lives.

I have written about this many times, and some readers today will be saying John is just repeating himself, but as the hymnwriter said TELL ME THE STORY OFTEN FOR I FORGET SO SOON. Just today I read a statement by Martin Luther echoing the same thought, we need to be told DAILY because we forget.

A favourite verse from the O.T. is Psalm 119:11 NKJV Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You. The Psalmist knew personally the power of the Word of God to equip the Believer to live a victorious holy life. Please note the Psalmist had learnt to meditate and HIDE the Word of God in his heart.

As I have been reading Colossians 3:16 NKJV spoke very much to me “Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly in all wisdom, we sure know that to dwell somewhere is to come and stay, and this we must do with the Word of God, let it so come into our heart and dwell there, and the end result is we are LETTING THE WORD WORK IN US, AND A WORK OF GRACE TAKES PLACE IN OUR LIVES.

So my word to you today is, SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE ROSES,and relax in the presence of God prepare your heart to see there is no unconfessed sin, and meditate and memorise the Word of God, and EXPECT GOD TO TURN THE LIGHT ON, on the authority of God’s Word, we are guaranteed that light bulb, life changing work of the Word and God and the Holy Spirit working in us.

What is the Nike slogan, “JUST DO IT” and may it become a lifestyle practice, you will never be the same again. Amen