Formula for success....Give God's Word the number one priority

Deut 11:18-25

Read your Bible and pray everyday...if you want to grow. An old familiar Sunday School song. But it still holds its meaning even today. As Christians we are taught to read God's Word daily, its the nourishment for the soul. Mathew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 

But as we progress, the pressures of work, family and other commitments tends to push the Word to a lower priority in the daily routine. Once held number one, it slips to the just before bedtime, something to put us to bed. Bible does not appeal to us as much as it did in the early years. Bible reading becomes a ritual, a duty, done to abbey the conscience. Books about the Bible become more important and takes more of our time, than  the Word itself. Slowly its forgotten for a few days and gets jolted back after a fiery admonishing sermon  in church. That sermon carries the momentum for a while. Sadly history then repeats it self.

In the Old Testament, everything in the life of the Jew was centered around God's Word. Deut 11:18-19 -  Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. The Word takes priority at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, in fact every time of the day. Its all over him, in his conversation, in his meditation, in his sleep as well. And when a Jew who is reading and meditating the word, he is seen mumbling under his breath with the forward and backward motion of his torso, one would think that he is mad. Yes mad indeed with the Word of God. Why would he do that. Because only when the Word of God become his number one priority, the blessings in Deut 11:23-25 follows:

• the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, 
• and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you 
• Every place where you set your foot will be yours
• Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. 
• No one will be able to stand against you. 
• The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go

Many charismatic preachers today labor on the second portion and totally dilute the first segment. Only when the Word is hallowed, the blessings follow. There is no other magic formula for success. If you are serious about God's Word, here are some practical suggestions to follow:

1.   Make God's Word your number one priority of the day

2.  Take time to meditate on God's Word daily. When traveling in the train or bus or in the car, let God's Word ring in your ears. Carry the electronic Word everywhere you go.

3.  Speak God's Word regularly. Let it become part of our conversation. Use it to encourage, challenge or advise someone.

4.   Memorize God's word as much as you can.

5.   At the end of the day, think of a verse as you lay down to sleep

6.   The most important thing - Obey God's Word