Four Easy Ways To Occupy Your Heart With God’s Word
Growing up, I always wondered why in Joshua 1, Joshua felt the need to tell the Israelites to carry God’s word in their hearts. I know that having just lost their long standing leader, Moses, they must have been in a bad place and needed hope of some sort. But a deeper look into the verse shows that the admonition is more than mere motivational talk. Joshua must have had an encounter with God’s word for him to think that the Scriptures need to be meditated on day and night.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
Fast forward to 2023, I am an adult and after having a fair share of life’s experiences, I have come to the conclusion that Joshua 1:8 is probably one of the best advice any prophet of Bible times gave to the Israelites and us, today.
Here is the deal! Satan is not happy that you are adopted by the Father into His family. He (the devil) works day and night, looking for how he may devour you physically or/and mentally. Hence, he is constantly throwing fiery darts at believers, hoping that they will stumble. In other words, if as an unbeliever, he (the devil) was ruffling two or three areas of your life, when you become saved, he begins to ruffle fifteen to twenty areas of your life.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
I Peter 5:8 NKJV
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
Therefore, it is pertinent that you guard your heart against the evil one. And how do you do that? By constantly occupying your heart with the word of God. So, when he (the devil) comes with his antics (lies and manipulations), you have enough weapons (the word of God) in your arsenal (mind) to counterattack him.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
And these are the easy ways you can occupy you heart with God’s word:
- Read your Bible daily: I know! With the 101 things a person has to do daily, scheduling a study time with God’s word is not the easiest thing to do. But it is not impossible. With Bible apps like Youversion, you do not necessarily have to read the whole Bible on the go. They provide daily verses that you can ponder on in the course of the day. Trust me when I say that, do this for a month and you will realize that you have more than enough Scriptures for when lies of the devil spring up.
- Listen to God’s word: Romans 10: 17 says it all. If you want your mind to be saturated with the word of God and faith to build, then you need to make a habit of constantly listening to audio Bibles and anointed sermons. It is an efficient and easy way to fill one up with God’s truths.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 NKJV
- Write out scriptures: Generally, writing helps a person remember. If you are one who struggles with remembering or concentrating, this might be your best option. This way, it becomes difficult for you to forget what you have read. Consequently, grounding you in His Word and growing your faith.
- Share God’s word: When you share God’s word, you are teaching yourself as well as the person you are sharing to. After all, you cannot give what you do not have. Thus, for you to share, it means that you have occupied your heart with God’s word. And out of there, you are giving to others.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45 NKJV
God’s word is the only perfect manual for navigating through life. Life might not be easy. But keep it in your heart and in the end, you will emerge victorious.
What's Your Reaction?
