What Are You Allowing to Seep Into You?

For the last couple of years my husband and I have been on an adventure. The Lord led us to a beautiful rural property, and on our days off we have spent many hours planning, and then planting a large garden. I was looking back at some photos we had taken when we were planting hedging, and remembered journalling at the time of how we prayed over each sapling and seedling. Words have power, so imagine the power of words fashioned into prayer.

The late Dr Maya Angelou had much to say, both with and about words. She said, “Words … have the power to seep into everything around you. I think they get on the walls, they get in your wallpaper; they get in your rugs and your upholstery and your clothes. And finally, into you”.

At this time in particular, we need to consider well the words we allow to seep into our body, soul and spirit. In the Amplified translation of the Bible, in Proverbs 18: 21 it says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words’.

Today, in this season, we have a choice about the words which we allow to seep into us. Will they be words of fear, panic and overwhelm, most likely delivered by an anxious and headline-driven media? Or will they be the words of ‘The Word’ Himself?

Look at the words of great beauty which begin the book of John: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’. That’s our Lord, the Word become flesh. He is the light that shines, no matter the darkness of the times, and the Saviour who cannot be overcome.

If you have suddenly found yourself with time on your hands, grab your Bible and find the ten best verses you know which will encourage you to keep the eyes of your heart on Jesus. Write down these words, and then put them on your walls, your upholstery (with care!), your clothes, your plants – wherever you will see them and be reminded. I paraphrased Psalm 91:4 as my first one: ‘You cover me with your feathers, and under your wings I find refuge; Your faithfulness is my shield and rampart’.

He is your word, your light, your Saviour. This is a time to speak life. When many of our choices are on hold, this is one which always remains.

Prayer: Father God, all around us appears in chaos, yet nothing takes You by surprise. Thank You that we dwell in the shelter You provide us. You are our refuge and fortress regardless of circumstances. Help us to put all external information through the filter of who You are, and to rest in the reality that You have the words of eternal life. Amen.