New Life!

“This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life,” Psalm 119:50 NKJV 

The Word of God is essential for an abundant life. It allows us to grow and not stay where we are. You can exist without God’s Word but you won’t truly live as He intended.

God’s Word brings forth new life in us. It combats fear and despair. The Word provides a hope for tomorrow. It fuels our faith. The Word of God is our defense against the hard cruelties that we must endure in this world.

The blossoms on this pear are beautiful but short-lived. The blossoms are often celebrated, but it is actually the leaves that are vital for the growth of the tree. The leaves provide nourishment and rejuvenate the tree after the long cold winter. The leaves are the sustenance for new life just as God’s Word is for us.

Most people celebrate the beauty that comes with spring and new growth. Achievements and promotions can herald our own season of “spring.” We can make gains toward reaching a goal or realize a dream.  These things are often “blossoms” in our lives adding beauty and joy. Yet, it is God’s Word that sustains us and allows us to flourish.

Promotion and blessings come with new challenges, tests and even temptations. The Word of God offers wisdom, stability and direction. The Word promotes humility, love and charity. The Word combats pride, arrogance and greed.  Obedience to The Word prevents your blessings from overtaking you!

In this season of Lent, I have committed to spend more time in The Word. I am hopeful that my heightened awareness will continue far beyond the Easter season. I want to become so dependent on God’s Word that I can’t function without it. I want to read it until I breathe it. I want to be transformed into someone new.

God’s Word has the power to make that happen. He is faithful to me and I want to be faithful too! 

“Then I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh,” Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV 

But He said, “More than that, blessed [are] those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28 NKJV 

But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” Luke 4:4 NKJV

By Lilka Finley Raphael

Author, Editor, Gardner, Photographer, Pharmacist

16 comments

  1. Beautifully written and so true! God’s word is a living, breathing thing. As such, it lends life to us as we learn to take it into our lives. It is all things to the believer, and we appreciate Him for that blessing!

    Good post, Lilka!

    Steve

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      1. It is my pleasure, Lilka! I like the theme and “vibe” of your blog and intend on visiting regularly.

        God’s word keeps all of His children “grounded” in a Godless world. By it we hope, dream, and take comfort. By it we grow and can have some understanding of what’s going on around us.

        “Lean not on your own understanding” says the Lord. I don’t think we CAN understand some things. So we simply leave it all to the Lord…it’s all under His control anyway!

        Take care, my friend, and have a super day!
        Steve 🙂

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather!

      Ezekiel just kind of “spoke” to me, it’s wasn’t one of my “go tos” but it is now. Always something more to digest…

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  4. Beautiful message and photograph to illustrate it. Psalm 119 means a great deal to me and the scripture you share here at the top, that God’s word gives us life, new life, shines hope and joy in my heart. Thank you dear friend and I hope you have a spring-filled weekend 🙂

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    1. Spring is here but I’ll be at work all weekend It will become cold again here very shortly. However, I am encouraged by the promise of warmer days and budding blooms.
      Enjoy your weekend! Lilka

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  5. “Promotion and blessings come with new challenges, tests and even temptations. The Word of God offers wisdom, stability and direction. The Word promotes humility, love and charity. The Word combats pride, arrogance and greed.”

    I recall my mom loving me dearly. I was full of fear so much as a child — not because of abuse; quite different really. It seems as I recall the past, I was filled with fear always. Maybe I was born that way. It finally was something that I dealt with by coming to faith; including recalling the memories differently. You remind me of how powerful the love about us really is. The memories of my parents dedication to our family really also were stored within. The fear was hypnotic, but their love was there too… Love is a wonderful force and yet a deeply mysterious power… when we hold on to suffering there is hope if there is a glimmer of recognition of love.

    Thanks for posting from your heart.

    Blessings.
    ~ Eric

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    1. Thanks for the kind words Eric. I too, used to be haunted by fears and for no valid reason until I found comfort in God. I was afraid even especially when things were going well for me just waiting for despair to break into my joy. I’ve come a long way from that time but every now and then I still need a reminder. I go to His Word and it gives me the faith to combat the fear.

      Thanks so much for your comments as always and I pray you have a wonderful weekend. Much love and peace!

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