Effects Of The Word

Historically, the majority of believers have relegated the Word to ministers, pastors, evangelists.  But the laity have not availed themselves to the all important effects of God's Word on their lives.  Over the past six years, I've been an avid reader of the word.  I've studied it in Hebrew, Greek, and with others who were astute and had an intimate relationship with God.  By an intimate relationship I mean one where God speaks to you out of the Word daily.  It doesn't take years and months to get an answer when you're daily inclining your ear at His gates and listening to the beat of His heart.  I abandoned denominational lines because it did not provide me with the level of truth that I desired.  I learned that the Holy Ghost, my Comforter is always the teacher, and He was given to lead and guide me into all truth.  I could not get it in Bible Class or Sunday School.  I have no doubt that God speaks collectively through a leader in those arenas.  But it's in quiet time with the Lord that He teaches from a depth that can't be shared with others.  Unless they have the same level of commitment and have enough of the Word on the inside, they can not ascend to the height of understanding that comes after years of investing oneself in the Word at the expense of all else.  My spiritual eyes have been enlightened. 

I understand why Paul went to the Arabian desert to be alone with the ascended Christ.  There is a place where only in quiet solitude you can hear the Master breathe inspired words of life that are so simple until you have to ask, "Is it really this simple?"  It's in quiet solitude that the Lord corrects years of error, frustration, questions that needed answers but I wasn't ready to receive them.  It's in quiet repose in the wee hours of the morning when the Lord wakes me up from a dead sleep to reveal a truth that my mind might not grasp at any other time.  It's in the still of the day, before the birds have had a chance to sing, that the Lord opens heaven and I can feast on the truth that leaves me yearning for more.  So when He calls, I respond because I don't want to miss anything.  I've found that now I'm anxious for nothing.  If they fire me, so what!  God will take care it! I would rather be at home in the Word. When people speak in anger, I more readily shrug it off because I don't have time for such mindless escapades.  I have been changed on the inside and the Holy Ghost holds me in check like nothing else ever could. I'm holding the hand of the Master, and His desires are my desires at last.  Peace at all cost!  Love without dishonesty or empty words.  A desire to see everyone reach the level of completeness that I experience everyday from spending time in the presence of God.