I am reading in the beautiful book of Jeremiah. It’s a tough read because God’s people , Israel, have turned their backs on the Lord. Jeremiah pleads with them with beautiful tears of a broken, selfless heart to turn away from their sin and rebellion and return to God. But the people refused to listen.
But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction. Jeremiah 17:23 NKJV
Jeremiah comes to a place where they have rejected God’s message and are even persecuting him for the words he is speaking. He knows their destruction and captivity are inevitable. Jeremiah surely had to battle giving up hope and continual discouragement.
If you can relate… teetering between the hope God once placed into your heart and the discouragement that comes so swiftly from the enemy of God, there is a nugget of gold nestled in the 15th chapter that is for you! It was written by Jeremiah during this great time of difficulty and sorrow.
Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV
It’s God’s word, eaten (or better translated devoured) in your life that will cause joy and rejoicing in your heart, O child of God! Picture it like a small child who eats a cookie. Oh how much that child wanted that cookie and how quickly the cookie was devoured!
Do you experience discouragement?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Do you battle against depression?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Do you ever feel lonely?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Do you ever have feelings of hopelessness?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Do you lack joy?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Have you ceased to rejoice?
READ GOD’S WORD!
Even (and especially) through good seasons in our lives, when we take in or devour God’s word it will have a lasting affect that will bear much fruit through the tough seasons. We are desperate for it! Make it your priority! If you’re in a tough season, I guarantee that pressing in close to your Savior through his word will be the ONLY thing that gets you through. It has the power to REVIVE you, ENCOURAGE you, CONVICT you, COMFORT you, BLESS you, OVERWHELM you, ENLIGHTEN you, SURROUND you, SPEAK to you, AMAZE you, ESTABLISH you, LEAD you, ENVELOP you, DELIVER you, MOVE you, POUR HIS SPIRIT in you, CARRY you, and SUSTAIN you.
Just as Jeremiah declared, God’s word will cause you to rejoice and your heart to sing! Who doesn’t need this desperately in their life? You are His child and he wants to feed you. He longs to nourish your soul and pour out His Spirit upon you. He does this through His word.
My life is a testimony of the faithfulness of God through His word. He has done everything I’ve mentioned and far more for me. I rejoice greatly in who He is and all that he does to bless my heart daily through His word.
If this is a new concept you, I challenge you to begin in John (look it up in your table of contents) and devour the entire book, 1 chapter at a time. If you have a hard time with it, perhaps you need to consider a different translation (I personally recommend ESV and NLT if you’re beginning). I also have received much blessing by going through the Psalms, chapter by chapter. Take a chapter a day, journal what you’ve learned and see what God will do! If you want to learn to better study your Bible, I highly recommend an author named Kay Arthur (check out Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days). No matter where you read, I pray it will be consistent and daily and that you will take it in as desperately as the very air you breath. I promise when you do, your heart will see much joy and rejoicing!!
