Fruitfulness Through Meditating On His Word, Part 4 – By Bart Hadaway
Ps. 1:1-3 NASB “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither;
and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
In our last writing, we talked about being fruitful through trusting God. Trust is a condition of the heart that is developed through intimate relationship. In our relationship with God, it begins by taking Him at His Word. Taking Him at His Word begins with knowing His Word. Ps. 1:3 (See also Josh. 1:8) is filled with amazing promises of fruitfulness to those who meditate upon His Word. It is so important here to establish what we are talking about when we refer to the Word of God. For the Word of God to have its intended impact in our lives, it is imperative that we see it for so much more than information about God. Jesus said that the Words that He spoke were Spirit and Life. The flesh profits nothing (See John 6:63). Cognitive and intellectual knowledge about God without the life breathing Spirit of God will ultimately lead to pride that is devoid of God Himself. But when we see and receive the Word of God through the eyes of the Spirit (See II Tim. 3:16), then we have the life of God literally imparted to us as we meditate upon it.
There are so many scriptures that speak to the truth, power, and value of the Word of God. Here are just a few to consider:
Ps. 138:2 NKJV – “You have magnified Your Word above all Your name.” The meaning of the Hebrew word for “name” in this verse is “reputation, fame, and glory.” In other words, God is staking His reputation on His Word!
Job 23:12 NKJV – “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” This confirms the importance of God’s Word when He said that we are to “live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Jer. 15:16 NKJV – Your words were found and I ate them. And Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Not only do we receive amazing promises of fruitfulness and blessing when we cherish and meditate on upon the Word of God, but our lives are also promised to be filled with joy!
Ps. 119 NKJV – This chapter could easily be subtitled “According to Your Word.” This phrase occurs 12 times in this Psalm. Every promise, prayer, and declaration spoken of in this chapter is realized “according to Your Word!” I believe that Mary the mother of Jesus was rooted in this truth when she declared in Luke 1:38 to the angel “let it be to me according to your word!
Jesus solidified the importance of the Word of God in His last prayer for us before His crucifixion. He prayed in John 17:17 that the Father would “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.”
I want to close this blog with a twofold prayer. First of all, over the years I have heard people say countless times that they just can’t get anything out of the Word of God no matter how many times they read it. I pray over you now two scriptures; Ps. 119:18 and Eph. 1:17-18. And in the name of Jesus, I take authority over every mindset of those reading this that blocks and/or hinders them from receiving ALL that the Father desires to reveal to them through His Word. Secondly, I pray for all of us that God will grant to us a fresh hunger and desire for His precious Word, in Jesus’ name. Father, grant it to us according to Your Word because we desire to know you more intimately than ever and we desire to bring forth fruit that brings glory to You. Amen and amen!!
