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
Thank-you Lance. I was given a tape message by a friend who attended a Fuller Seminary workshop you did back in 1996, I still review it as the Holy Spirit leads and it is still much manna that I am trying to digest. Wanted to say THANK-YOU many times; but only saw this opportunity today. Big Blessings on you and all whom you touch!
Thank you, Bill! Blessings to you!
There is that scripture too in Peter ? All things that pertain unto life and godliness.
Praise the LORD! Anointing all over this message! Hallelujah!
So appreciate you Lance ! Watch you on periscope as well .. Feel part of the family !!
Glad you’ve joined our Periscope family!!
thank you Lance just what I needed today! I am alway amazed at easily I can be distracted knowing what I know and knowing how much I need to hang onto the Lord’s apron strings…..so thank you this brought me to my knees again…I also realize as I get older how much more I understand how it works and think why didn’t i get this then….and why did I have to wait until now and then I think it is only now that I am really able to take it in…
I do all of this already! Have been doing this for years. This why I WIN more than I lose !
Fantastic!
Lance,
I am grateful for your ministry to me and our brothers and sisters. God used you in a significant way during the formation of inLight Consulting. It has been a blessing to watch Him honor your faithfulness by positioning you for incredible influence.
With that in mind, I offer this encouragement. Do you believe that God would make great again that country that has become the idol of His Son’s bride? Or, would He tip the idol over that the bride might come to her senses? So many leaders are focused on the health of America, when the bride is becoming diseased in her adultery. Is it not time for the bride to come out of the false husband? Has patriotism not become a form of fornication?
I have seen you take counter-culture stands in the past. You have a platform that God would use for great impact in the Western church.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Rob
Lance,
I am a burn survivor and have had extensive skin grafting. This grafting means I don’t have the pores necessary anymore to perspire properly or cool off. On Wednesday, my air conditioner quit working. I live in Redding, CA, so it gets super hot here in the summer –triple digits– The air conditioning is the only way I have to keep cool enough to keep from getting heat stroke. Thursday morning I prayed your prayer and asked God to get someone to fix my air TODAY. I was told that morning I could be waiting as long as two weeks for a repair. That afternoon I got a call from someone who said that they could fix it the SAME day, and he did! Praise God for answered prayer and your timely post. Thought you might want to know.
Janet
Yes, praise the Lord for answered prayer! Thanks for sharing, Janet!!
I’ve been connecting with Hebrews 11:1-2 for a while. When the enemy brings harm, FAITH in God & trusting that Jesus ALREADY paid the price for everything can bring a different outcome. Sunday before Memorial Day our son cried out for help. Even before I saw the situation , I spoke in faith loudly to God and gave thanks that all is well. Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH IS is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 for by it the elders obtained a good report. The last joint bone of his little finger was totally severed through and split up the middle by a table saw .It was held together by a piece of skin. I spoke life to that finger in Jesus name. They went to the ER & came home with antibiotics, pain meds and made an appointment to go to hand surgeon after Memorial Day. The doctor only tacked his finger together with a few sutures saying they didn’t amputate there. The surgeon didn’t have much hope at the first visit but wanted to give him a week more to evaluate it again. A week later, the finger had color, feeling, and a tendon had attached. The doctors were counfounded & made videos to show other doctors as they had never seen a miracle like this. More functions were visible in 2 weeks . His nail was growing & he was able to play classical Spanish music on his guitar as muscles were firing. On 7-5-16 he was discharged & given exercises with no follow-up needed. God is so good to His children. I just give Him all the praise. Thank you for your encouraging messages on Facebook e mails and your late night messages.
God bless and cover your family with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth…that is incredible! Praise the Lord! Praying for continued healing and restoration for your son’s finger. Thank you for sharing that encouraging testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness.
This is excellent Lance!
We love you and thank you for blessing us.
You’re a blessing to me, Sue!!