Words to Live By By Bryan Craig

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Josh 1:8 ESV

I am always amazed, though I shouldn’t be, at how there are certain verses which always seem to come in front of me.  They jump off the page, as if they were in bold and highlighted and underlined.  What strikes me is their repetition.  I’ve always thought that if a particular verse is presented to me three times in a row, I better pay attention to it, for God must be trying to tell me something.  Of course, I’m a big believer that God’s Word is ALWAYS a direct word to me that I should heed.  

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12 ESV

I’m also reading a great book, by John Mark Comer, called Practicing the Way- Be With Jesus, Become Like Him, Do As He Did.  He does a great job of digging into this life of being a disciple of Christ.  In it, he talks about how we all have a “Rule of Life” whether we know it or not.  He says, “You have a way in which you live:  a morning routine, a typical workday, a network of relationships, a budget, activities you spend your free time on, and so on.”  It is our life system, usually formed out of a desire to reach a desired goal or end.

He asserts that for a disciple of Christ the “Rule of Life is a set of practices and relational rhythms that create space for us to be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did, as we live in alignment with our deepest desires.”  I love this.  I believe our ministry uses The Journey to help believers find this Rule of Life.  

But this morning, I was struck by how certain verses have been my life verses.  God’s Word has been my roadmap, my rule of life, and it has never let me down.  I was inspired to write my life verses down as a tapestry of wisdom, love and guidance and all about Him.  This is my Rule of Life.

I come to Jesus and He gives me rest.  I take His yoke and learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart, and I find rest for my soul.  (Matt 11:28-29) He knows the plans He has for me, plans for good and not for evil, to give me a future and a hope. I call upon Him and pray to Him, and He hears me.  I seek Him with all my heart and I find Him. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) He makes me strong and courageous, and I don’t let His Word depart from my mouth; I meditate on it day and night and I’m careful to do all that is written in it.  He is with mewherever I go. (Joshua 1:6-9) I abide in Him and He in me.  When I abide in Him and He in me, I bear much fruit. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. When I abide in Him, and His words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be done for me. (John 15:4-7) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. (Psalm 23:1-3) The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Psalm 27:1) He gives me a new heart, for He removed my heart of stone and put His Spirit in me. (Ezekiel 36:26) I offer my body as a living sacrifice, not conforming to the world, but being transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I may test and discern the will of God, His good and acceptable and perfect will.  (Romans 12:1-2) I will rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for me.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) I am devoted to God’s Word and the fellowship of believers, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) I believe prayers of faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will raise them up. If they have committed sins, he will forgive them. When I confess my sins to others and they to me and pray with them, we find healing. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.  (James 5:15-16) I desire to love my wife like Christ loves me, so that I might present her to Him spotless, holy, without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27) I will go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to know the way of a disciple of Christ, knowing that Jesus is with me to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus died for my sins and made me holy through His sacrifice, and He gave me His Spirit.  His Spirit takes His Word and transforms my heart.  He has changed my perspective and my life goals and my sense of being and purpose.  The verses contained above He has used specifically time and time again to etch them permanently on my heart.  They have become my Rule of Life.  

I am so thankful for this life, this way, this Word, this map, this Lord.  You might consider taking time to consider your life verses, the ones the Holy Spirit has used with you over and over again, for in them, you will find your life plan.