Have you ever heard it said that the best way to learn a foreign language is to go to the country that speaks it and live there for a while?
This is called immersion. The purpose is intense study of the language. It’s supposed to be very effective, and I would imagine that is really the case.
Have you ever immersed yourself in the Word of God and in prayer? What would it take to do that? What would the effects be on you and on your life?
There have been times in my life where I was desperate for an answer. Some issue loomed above my head. I needed to make a decision, but I could not make it alone. Sometimes, I did not want to share the issue with anyone else that was not already involved. Sometimes the folks that were involved did not have the ability to counsel me in a way that I needed to be counseled – especially if they were the cause of the problem!
Have you ever felt like that?
The answer to everything is in the Bible, and knowing this I would start to dig. I would read and read. I would not like the answer I found at times, and I would dig some more. Eventually, I would come to a fuller understanding. Then, even when I did not like the answer, I would submit to the will of God. I would accept it as the way to go. Then I would act on it.
If you will do that, you will find that the more you immerse yourself, the more answers you will have at your disposal. If you will do this, when something comes up, the Holy Spirit will bring a scripture to your mind.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
When we lived in 2 states, the almost 5-hour commute the boys and I made about every 10 or 12 days – occasionally less often – gave me plenty of time with God. I would put the boys in the back seat to play, turn on Christian music, and begin to pray.
The rewards of that immersion were so great that I miss that commute. The time with God was so precious. It is a challenge these days to get that much time alone with God all in one day. During that time, I was immersed in prayer. Some of the music was scripture based. In that way, I was immersed in scripture too.
Have you ever set aside 5 hours all in one day to spend alone with God? I am not talking about going to church. I am talking about you and God.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to set aside more time to spend with God. You may not be able to set aside 5 hours all in one day, but perhaps you can make the most of a long commute to work and back or skip a night of television. As you immerse yourself in the Word of God, pray, and praise Him for who He is you will find it easier to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.