Word!

Word!

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 KJV

There is a confidence that comes from knowing the source and power behind the Word of God. For some people, the word of God is just like the word of any other man, because they have not yet experienced the power, grace and effect that God's Word has. For other people who have once had a personal experience of the power of the Word, they would not settle for any other confidence or assurance. It then means that God's Word is powerful and effective, not because I believe it is, or because I want it to, but no matter what it is I do or say. That power is there, available for all who put their faith in God and hold on to what He says. Today's extract again reminds us of the power behind the Word of God, and why I can be confident in that power. 

First, it has to do with the person whose Word is the focus here. This is God who puts his Word on the scale here, asking me to trust that he can do all he has promised. He speaks here, reminding me that this is He, His Word and his person. It's God saying that whatever you hear me say is backed up by who I am. If a man will make a promise of millions of money to me, I would usually want to see the mark of those millions on that person. The one who is the Omnipotent God is the One who speaks here, and from evidence and proof, he can do all he has promised.

Secondly, he makes it clear that it is impossible for his Word not to be able to accomplish what he has sent it on errand for. It's like God's Word is his messenger, carrying out his mission exactly on God's terms, not to please man, but to please the one who sent it out. As soon as he has said it, that Word has inherent power to bring itself to pass in whatever situation it has been sent to solve. It then means that the first thing to do here is to make sure that what I am pursuing is backed up by a Word from God. I cannot be living contrary to God's Word and still be expecting the Word to support the wrong I am doing. 

Thirdly, it has power to change anything and anyone, as long as that situation or person is lined up with the Word of God. Not only will the Word of God not return empty, but it has power to effect change. The Word of God always returns to the One who sent it. The Word of God answers to the One who sent it. The word of God cannot be limited, except by the exercise of my freewill to limit its operation in my own life. It will accomplish that which pleases the one who sent it, and prosper in that thing that the sender sent it to address. That is confidence. 

What then is my role? First and foremost, I have to check my life's alignment with the Word of God. Can the Word of God impact my heart? Can it convict me of sin, righteousness and judgment? Can God speak, make me heed, listen and obey, or does he need to keep pricking my heart to make me respond? The answer here defines the next step. Then, I must get a Word from God for that situation I am in. God is always speaking, so I must go to him and listen for what he has to say on that matter. It is His Word that will define my daily pursuits and priorities. I can face storms when I know his Word is the anchor for my soul. I can look ahead to all things when I know that all things answer to the Word of God. So Lord, I ask for grace to make my heart and ears ready to listen for your voice, and to obey whatever you command, so that my life can be a visible and audible expression of the power of your Word. God's time of favour is here.