“My word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” —Isaiah 55:11
In James 1:22, we’re admonished to not just be a “hearer” of God’s Word but to be a “doer.” But how can we do this? The answer is in 1 Timothy 4:7: “Train yourself in godliness.”
The word train comes from the Greek word gymnazo, which means to exercise or discipline. We need to exercise spiritual disciplines—the study, meditation and memorization of the Word, prayer, fasting, worship, etc.—where the Holy Spirit produces spiritual growth. For example, going to your favorite place to pray and meditate on the Word is the spiritual equivalent of going to a gym and using the weight machine.
If we really want to know and love God, let’s not settle for listening to a good sermon or reading a good article, but let’s try to pray about it and put it into practice. Let’s be like those who recognize a need, look for the solution, and apply it, thus achieving the desired goal.
Make it Personal
Pray that you would be transformed from being a hearer of God’s Word to a doer, putting it into practice in all aspects of life.