“Oh, how I love your word! I think about it all day long.�
(Psalm 119:97, (Living Bible)
“All scripture is God-breathed…so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work�. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

It was a week of body-numbing activity as we worked in clinics near poverty stricken villages. We awakened early and fell into bed exhausted each night. Children seemed to pour from buses like water out of a bottomless pitcher. Challenges multiplied as we faced the logistics of meeting the endless vision, dental and medical needs of over 2,000 children.

We were Christians—surely we began each day in lengthy meditative prayer and gleanings from the Bible? While some of the team met each morning for a few quiet moments, the reality was that responsibilities swirled for those of us in leadership, demanding attention nearly every waking moment.

In the midst of these long days that were drenched with activity and people, the gracious Spirit of God repeatedly brought to my attention words that had long before been committed to memory and implanted in my heart.

From this resource, God brought to my attention answers to problems even before they were articulated. He provided all that was necessary for the needs of the moment.

The city in which I live depends on reservoirs for its water supply. When there is insufficient winter snow or spring rain, we are warned to carefully monitor our water use.  In a similar way, our spiritual reservoirs cannot go long without refilling. Returning from the humanitarian project described above, I was desperately thirsty for fresh and abundant “water of the Word� and God is faithfully refilling what I had spilled into others’ lives.

Father God, your word refreshes and fills and invigorates me as I faithfully meditate on it. Thank you for its life giving strength.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/06/07/me_reservoir/

“God’s word is not chained.�  2 Timothy 2:9

Albania, once the most restrictive of East Bloc countries, heavily wrapped in the chains of Communism, today is the site of a growing Christian Church. In 1949, many people believed China would be forever closed to the freeing gospel of Christ, but Li Baiguang, a prominent Christian and legal scholar in Beijing recently said, “In 20 to 30 years China will have several hundred million believers.�

Although the ministry of the Apostle Paul seemed to be over—he was imprisoned by the Emperor Nero, “chained like a criminal�—he could say with complete assurance that “God’s word is not chained.� Another writer of scripture describes the word of God as alive, active, sharp and penetrating.

As we simply believe and confidently speak the word—and words—of God, we can be sure that he will bless and bring results:  “The word that goes forth…will not return empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it� (Isaiah 55:11). God’s word cannot be chained!

May the knowledge that Your word is alive and eternal and will bring forth the results You have in mind give me courage to faithfully share that word. Thank you for having purposes far greater than I could ever imagine.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/03/19/me_unchained/