Sweet Like Honey…

It Is Sweet Like Honey
Our Perspective Changes With God’s Word
Published by Deborah Negron M.A.

I don’t suffer with anxiety myself except when I’m driving in an unknown area. But I have counselled some who suffer from anxiety.

I myself used to tend to be more pessimistic than optimistic before. However, one thing that has helped me immensely has been to study and read scripture, God’s Word each day has changed my outlook and my outcomes.

Our lives as Christians are always confronted by two Natures that live within all those who serve Jesus.

The flesh and the Spirit man.
Well, I too have moments where I feel like I do not want to do things I know I ought to.

The enemy capitalizes on us when he has us think thoughts that pull us alway from doing what God says we ought to do.
Scripture holds the help we need. It sttes,

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
Galatians 5:16‭-‬17

For some reason when it comes time to read, my eyes get heavy. I begin thinking on the meal I have to prepare later on. I might begin to start thinking on some thing I have left undone. This is all part of our human experience.

However, then enemy then puts thoughts like… this is a waste of time. You have more things to do. This is useless. Why bother things are not going to change. The pressures of life bein to weigh heavy on us. The stressors can overwhelm our minds. Real issues and those imagined can hinder us from our time of intimacy with God. Our alone time with the onwho loves us most.
We need to fight the thoughts and decisively take action.

The key is to allow our spirit man to be fed with God’s word first. Praying and asking God to help us and then begin a daily routine.

Just like the vitamins and exercise that is so important for us. Our spiritual routine is essential for our walk of faith.

A routine and schedule daily then enables us to not rely on feelings and thoughts but on what is on our schedule.

Little by little the thoughts and feelings change. The Holy Spirit begins to work in us and we develop a desire to have that time with the Lord. It then is not some heavy burden but we begin to delight in God’s Word.

It begins to transform us and makes us more apt to receive the Word as a treasure and food to our souls.

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.”
Psalm 119:103‭, ‬105‭, ‬111‭-‬112

The Word of God begins to grow our spirit man and we are strengthened in our faith.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
Psalm 27:1‭-‬3

We then begin to face life’s challenges with he knowledge that the Lord is ever present to empower us to live in victory.
The pressures of life may come.
Loss and pain, sorrow and difficult times are then met with th assurance that the Lod is for us.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:1‭-‬6

We are his sheep. He watches over us. He meets our needs. He heals our hearts and mends our brokenness.

He reminds us that He is ever present as we read His word.

Roman’s 8, one of my favorite passages says this,
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1‭, ‬31‭-‬35‭, ‬37‭-‬39

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1‭-‬2

As we read God’s Word we find we can persevere even in light of circumstances. In the midst of tragedy we can still look to Him. For our Lord present in the midst of life’s storms. Nothing can separate us from his Love.

In God’s Word we are dressed for the battles we face day to day.

Ephesians 6
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13

We are not have to fear what may com because in Christ Jesus we have all we need.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:25‭-‬33

Somone shared this idea….
I think it can help some to begin a daily Ible reading routine.
To start reading the Book of Luke in the New Testament on December 1st.
Each day read 1 chapter in Luke. By day 24 you would have read the entire account of Jesus birth.
I add to his Begin reading one chapter in Genesis and one chapter in Marhew every day going through the Bible starting in January.
I assure you there will be days you won’t want to s tr op on just one chapter. The Bible is thrilling and full of adventure.

You can use a Bible App. Like YouVersion too. They offer reading plans.

My mom buys a new Bible every year and reads in the morning and at night. She also reads a little Psalm as her “Bedtime Snack” as she calls it.

We just lost our dad. My mom is grieving as we all are. Her Bible reading and prayer time keeps her grounded even in this time of sorrow.

You can do it. Pray and go on. You have the Holy Spirit to empower you to choose what is good and right.

God’s Word will be the key to Changing your life into a life of Gratitude as you learn how to trust the Lord in all the issues of life.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I pray you are able to Say It is Well Ith My Soul as you Trust God and His Word in Your Life.