By Kimberly Davidson
I have the honor of ministering to women with a history of abuse in Oregon’s federal prison. The recovery curriculum is set on God’s Word, their sole source of real healing. Yet, I’d say 80 to 90 percent of the women never react to the Bible verses and passages; they’re often just “blank” which discourages me. The enemy whispers, They’re not ready for God’s Word. They’re not real believers, so if you push this on them, they’re going to drop your class.
I’m embarrassed to admit there have been times I’ve pulled back because I don’t want the women to feel “uncomfortable.” God continually reminds me of His promise, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
This is POWER! God is saying once His Word is out there—whether it’s read or heard, it:
- Will accomplish His desire.
- Will achieve a defined purpose.
- He sent the Word on purpose to the receiver.
I finally got it—It’s not what I do or say. It’s what He does and says. It’s all about Him! It’s not what I write on the pages of this book, or how I present this material in a classroom. It’s what He does to you through His Word.
Scripture is the foundation on which healing and restoration is built. The prophet Micah declared, “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light” (Micah 7:8).
Reading and studying God’s Word is how we come to know God more deeply, since it’s His revelation of Himself to us. If you don’t understand a word, look it up. When God speaks, He packs a lot into His words. I encourage you to open up your Bible and press into one verse or a short psalm each day. Ask, “What is God telling me? How should I respond?”
Something supernatural happens when we read God’s Word: our faith grows, our worries diminish, our strength increases, we become empowered, and our bodies and souls reap the benefits, and we develop new neural circuits in our brains for compassion and empathy!
You may be feeling guilty because you haven’t had time to study the Scriptures or pray as much as you’d like. Stress and trauma and loss does that to us. God understands.
Let this be a new experience between you and God. Pray something as simple as, “God, may your life-giving Word take root in my heart, mind, and soul. I need you to hold onto me tightly today; let your Word feed my soul and sustain me.”
Frances Ridley Havergal once said, “The Christian life hinges on one thing—taking God at His Word, believing He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very words that reveal His goodness and grace.”
[i] Timothy Jennings, The God Shaped Brain (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2013).
