But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works-this person will be blessed in what he does.  James 1:22-25 HCSB

I spent many years of my life hearing God’s word. I have spent the last ten years doing God’s word. Let me tell you, there is a huge difference. For many years I was up and down like a yo-yo. I allowed my circumstances and my emotions to control me. I would go and sit in church and hear God’s word but I would leave out and not do God’s word. And then I even had the gall to wonder why God was not blessing me in certain areas of my life. Silly me, what was I thinking?

I would sit on a church pew on Sunday mornings and pat myself on the back for being able to squeeze it into my day. Then I would leave and go about my life with an occasional twinge of conviction from Sunday’s sermon which I would dismiss. I would justify and rationalize my sin. I would convince myself that God was okay with it because He certainly understood all that I had been through.

But as I began to be more devoted to my church attendance, that little twinge turned into gut punch. I was realizing that I had to choose. I could no longer hear and not do. I had to get involved. I had to give it all over to Him. I had to trust Him to take good care of me. Once I did this, it was as if a tremendous weight was lifted off my shoulders.

Something else happened, God started allowing me to be tested. A prime example of this is one Sunday morning, as I was reviewing my Sunday School lesson, I got a nasty text from the enemy. Now I will tell you that my first inclination was to fire back with all they had done and how wrong they were and really let them have it with both barrels. I had an endless supply of ammo. As I looked down at my phone and prepared to type my seething message, I saw the title of my Sunday School lesson on dealing with anger. So before I began typing, I prayed. I asked God to give me the words to type. It came out a lot different than I had originally planned. It came out with compassion for the stress that this person must have been under, I offered to help in any way I could and then I invited them to come to church and hear God’s word preached. Now I have not heard from that person since. But I held true to God’s word. I loved on my enemy and I prayed for the person that was persecuting me (Matthew 5:44). And let me tell you, it was not easy to do. I had to ask God many times for His help (James 4:2). I had to ask Him to remove bitterness from my heart over and over. I had to take some thoughts captive in order to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Now as you read this, I don’t want you to think that I am claiming to be perfect for I am far from it. I strive every day to do what is right and I will admit that some days it is quite a struggle. But then I remember that I am a blood bought child of God. He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me (John 3:16) and there is nothing I can’t do in His strength.

God’s word is a love story to us, His children. It is filled with inspiration when we read about those that loved Him and were blessed and those that were evil and were destroyed. It’s a great book and if you have not read it in it’s entirety, I strongly encourage you to do so. But more importantly, I encourage you to put it into action. Defend yourself against enemy attacks by wearing the armor God provides and always being ready with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-18). Learn to live your life focusing on God and trust in Him to take care of all other things for you (Matthew 6:33).

I no longer bounce up and down like a yo-yo, with God’s help I am able to remain steadfast. I know that as long as I stand firm in Christ, I will not be shaken (Psalm 62:1-3). I know that He gives His angels orders to protect me in all that I do (Psalm 91:11). This is why I strive every day to put God’s word into action. I do my best to live my life according to His word. It is a decision that I have never regretted.

Today I urge you to not just read this and take my word for it, but please try it for yourself. I can promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Have a great weekend!