Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). Think about that for a minute.
The words of Jesus were unlike any other words ever spoken. When the Bible says that “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3), it likens the Word of God to spirit food. It feeds our spiritual man just like natural food feeds our bodies. This is how we become partakers of the divine nature. This is how we become “the Word made flesh” in our world (John 1:14).
The Apostle James says “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). It’s amazing, isn’t it? The Word not only rearranges our thinking to align with ultimate reality, but it also gives us access to an alternate state of being!
Engraft scripture into your life, so that it becomes a living and active extension of who you are, through memorizing and delighting in God’s Word. You can engraft passages on “peace” and experience “peace” in the midst of chaos. Engraft words on “faith” and fight off despair. Focus on “joy” or “boldness” and by doing so you become a partaker of the divine nature contained in those very words! By letting the Word of God get engrafted into your soul, or entwined into your way of thinking, you begin to interact with the very mind of Christ.
The more you practice this process, the more your renewed mind becomes open to “words of knowledge,” “words of wisdom,” “discerning of spirits” or any number of gifts of the Spirit! Life in the Spirit is always supernatural but not always spectacular. We all love the stories of healings, miracles, and dramatic public displays of God’s grace. Yet, there is another aspect of supernatural living. Continuous peace and joy will fill your soul as you experience divine appointments and ideas that prosper you, bless others and bring heaven to earth. Focus on internal transformation and you’ll see results in every area of your life, both subtle and, at times, spectacular.
Here’s a quick technique that works for me. Try these steps:
- Highlight or circle important words. A helpful tool that I often suggest to my students and that I still employ myself after 20 years of experimentation, is to go through and highlight or circle key phrases in Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians. Circle every time the apostle Paul says, “In Him,” “In whom” and “in Christ.” THEN personalize and breathe into your very soul the engrafted, overcoming spiritual power of the word of God. EVERYTHING you need is available “in Christ” because of what He did for you. You are not the hero in this story—He is! Learn to receive from Him and He will make you the hero in your own story.
- Personalize Key Portions of the Bible. Personalize the part of the Bible that you most need in your life. If you are, for instance, experiencing irritation, heartache, grief and patterns that are difficult to overcome, personalize and memorize just one or two verses. For instance, John 15 says, “If you abide in me and MY WORDS abide in you, ask what you will and it will be done.”
Want to know how to personalize scripture for yourself? Here is what I prayed today!
“Lord I thank you that you are in me and I am in you! I want your words to live and speak and transform my mind, my emotions, my imagination. I believe you are penetrating every layer of my life at a conscious and unconscious level. My conscience is keen to hear you—my path is enlightened by Your Word. My body and every cell of my being is quickened by your indwelling Spirit! You reveal to me what I need to know and you show me things to come!
“Your words are my meditation, therefore I believe you are shaping my desires and lining me up 100% with your will and plan for my life. If in any thing I am missing your will, I thank you for correction and direction as you reveal your truth and more excellent way. Your desires are shaping my desires and your thoughts are shaping my thoughts therefore I proclaim now that whatever I ask is going to be done because Your words abide strongly in me.” (After praying this I ask for whatever I need.)
Question: Why not try this with me? Read what I wrote and repeat it with 100% agreement and energy and watch what happens! Comment below and tell me about it.
As One!
Lance
Love this. The word manifest in our lives.
I was so impressed by that prayer that I wrote it out in my Bible. That is a rare thing for me to do. I will take your advice and personalize those scriptures as prayers. I think this teaching came at just the right time for me and many others. As always, thank you, Lance. AsOne ~M
Awesome, Missy! Glad you are encouraged.
Quick question: how do we increase hope in our lives ?
Hey Sam,
Good question! I recently came across Psalm 33:18 “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His lovingkindness,” This has been a great encouragement to me, because like Lance said, I have been thinking about and discussing “lovingkindness” with my friends for several months. It has increased my hope because I have come to strongly believe His eye is on me. Same thing with the “in Christ” verses. Do a google search, get a list and find the ones that really make your heart excited. Then read them often, talk to your friends about them, ask the Lord questions, in time you will come to understand, live and know real hope because of His work, through scripture, in you. – Blessings – I hope that helps. : )
“…For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” ~ Psalm 138:2
Thanks Lance for that teaching that was a confirmation of What I was teaching on in Bible Study last night.
Thank you for that encouraging word. I love praying Scripture and also highlight words that I believe the Holy Sirit is calling out, I looked up the Hebrew word as well as the meaning and incorporate both into my prayer. Thanks for the reinforcement of the importance of memorizing Scripture,as we were recently told by our new pastor that he is not a fan of memorization. I am looking forward to how God is going to answer that prayer. You are a blessing.
Linda, glad you found this encouraging! Keep it up! It’s important, for sure.
Short message and yet packed with powerful teaching!
Thank you!
Lorena
Thank you Lance for all you do to encourage and bless the body of Christ! Bless you and may The Lord keep you safe and energized to continue your work for him!
Amen. Thank you Bro. Lance for adding such great context to this powerful scripture! When I was in Israel last year, on the Mount of Beatitudes, I clearly hard the Lord speak this same scripture to me under a heavy anointing. I felt the sovereignNess and peace of the Father on me!
Excellent teaching! Thank you!
I have done this many times and my life is enriched by it! I love the way you explain it!