Have you ever read the classic, Pilgrim's Progress? It is a MUST for any Christian. It is even on audio for children. We've read through it a few times as a family, & really need to read through it again. There are so many characters & places portrayed in the book parallel to who we meet & situations we find ourselves in as a Christian in real life. Christian is the main guy & it starts with him in the City of Destruction. He knows he is there when he starts reading this book that tells him what 'side of the fence' all men are born on. We are children of wrath, sons of perdition, daughters of disobedience & all of us are born into sin. "There is no one righteous, no not ONE." We must be reconciled to God through a new birth, or being born again, to make ALL things NEW. We are either a part of the kingdom of God that we have been born again into by the Spirit of God or a part of the kingdom of Satan which we were born into at birth. When we are born again, we have a whole new life, all together centered around the Christ who has now become "altogether precious."
" The Word became flesh & dwelt among us." He, the Word, has walked with me for a little over 20 years now.When you are walking with the Lord, you are walking with the Word Incarnate. His words have been "a lamp unto my feet & a light unto my path." As a "newborn babe in Christ, I desired the pure milk of the word of God" for the first time in my life in 1989."
Colossians 3:16 says "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, " & Jesus Himself said, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." Jn 8:31 In America, we have His precious word available to us like water & He tells us "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." 1 Peter 2:2
I often can't remember where I put the hairbrush three minutes ago, but I do remember the 1st verse I ever memorized & it is still VERY special to me. I was a young, 18 year old factory worker with practically zero Christian friends, but had a new heavenly bridegroom I desperately wanted to please because I love Him so much & He is so precious to me.
Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD."
He did, He does, He will)
Do you remember the first verse you ever memorized?
This was my second verse:
1 john 3: 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
I had no hope in my efforts, but had to look to Him.
Proverbs 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. This was my third verse because I was wising up to the fact that....
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character."
Some old friends had to go.
Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
I began to notice the ladies at my church were more modest in their dress than I was used to being. My pants got baggier.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
He was turning my world upside-down. Taking things away I didn't want to let go of, but He knew better. I cried, but trusted.
Ps. 4: 4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your (own) hearts and be silent.
Selah
I got married & had to learn how to forgive. I would repeat this over & over many nights.
I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.Phil4:6
My first birth. Was the hardest thing I'd ever done, but this verse helped me know I could press on without the choice of pain killing drugs.
John 1427 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I don't know if this has ever actually happened to you, but the Lord SPOKE this verse to my spirit one afternoon when I was in my prayer closet agonizing about a certain stressful situation. That verse He spoke to me turned out to be the verse for that day on my little daily calendar & I found out a day or two later. The date was July 1, 1997, a special someone's birthday. I saved that page in Ruth's baby book.
Ephesians 522"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." I meditated on this very often
1 Peter 3 5For in this way in former times the holy women also,who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
We women can fear a lot, can't we?
Went off the straight & narrow path once to Doubting Castle (Pilgrim's Progress plug for those of you who haven't read the book..) & there was beaten up by Giant Dispair.
2 Timothy 2: 13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Oh, how I was comforted He cannot disown Himself. I was His bride surely(?!)
He held me in His grip of grace during this time when I "fainted in a day of adversity."
I hoped He would be true to His word, " no one will snatch them out of My hand," as I despaired that I was even His. I wondered during this time was I a "seed sown among the thorns of this life that the worries & cares of this life choked out," that I was "salt made unsaltly, good for nothing but the manure pile." He was faithful, He held me tightly.
Then we started a new church & "He will not harbor his anger forever;" & He "restored unto me the joy of my salvation" and "led me beside still waters to lie down in green pastures."
That is my life in a nutshell. There are many other verses that I walked with, but those are some highlights.
In light of that, do you have a journey with Christ, your Savior, the Living Word, if in fact He is yours?
I hope you will meditate on those special words He has given you in His word while you're walking with The Living Word.
