This Thanksgiving week, I number among my blessings God’s Word. The Bible is often referred to as a love letter from God. While that is true, the Word also has power. The power to restore identity and transform lives.
Before I list the 8 benefits or powers of the Word, I want to mention that translators use “God’s Word” from two Greek words: “logos,” which means “written word,” and “rhema,” which refers to the “spoken word.” Also, the number eight represents “new beginnings.” God’s powerful Word brings a new beginning in our lives.
1- Produces Faith - Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing the Word (Rhema) of God. Rhema means “wind” or “breath,” and by extension, the spoken Word of God. It is important to declare the word of God over yourself and family. Your mouth speaks God’s (Rhema) word, your ears hear, and your heart eventually follows. You are training your heart to trust God and His word.
2- Seed of New Birth - Incorruptible seed produces an incorruptible life (1 Pet. 1:22-23). The seed you plant will be the fruit that you bear. Heavenly Father, I choose to water and feed Your incorruptible seed in my heart. I let all other seeds lay dormant and dead. I want only Your seed to grow in me so as to produce abundant, incorruptible fruit. Amen.
3- Spiritual Nourishment – “Milk” in 1 Pet. 2:2; “Bread” in Matt. 4:4; “Solid food” in Heb. 5:12-14. Just like in the natural, there are things that I should not eat because they are poison for my physical body. So too, in the spiritual realm, there are things that I should not eat. A couple of the things that I should not feed my spirit are scary movies and disagreements. One opens the door to fear, the other to division. What should you avoid consuming?
4- Mental Illumination – (Ps. 119:130) Knowledge is not light, but wisdom comes from God’s Word. Wisdom is accessible even to those who cannot afford an expensive education. Even as my physical brain fades and loses its memory, wisdom is still available to me. That IS good news!
5- Physical Healing – (Ps. 107:17-20; Prov. 4:20-22) God’s Word heals, saves and delivers. God’s Word is life to our spirits and health to our flesh.
6- Victory over sin and satan – (Ps. 119:9, 11; Matt. 4:4, 7, 11) Being free from the power of sin and death is the new beginning, the new life of freedom. God has given us authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).
7- Cleansing and Holiness – (Eph. 5:25-27) If we will read the (logos) Word and believe the (rhema) word, then He can recreate us into that pure and spotless bride He is longing for. We will grow in our identity, authority, and power in Him. Then we will be ready to become one flesh with Him. Wow! That was a new concept for me: We -the bride- will become One Flesh with God. Can you imagine being One with our Bridegroom King?
8- A Spiritual Mirror – (James 1:23-25) Unlike a physical mirror, the spiritual mirror has the ability to change our appearance and shape us into Christ-likeness.
I am so thankful for the freedom and fruit in my life from studying God’s Word. I pray the same for you - fresh illumination to nourish your hungry spirit. Amen.