“God’s Word is the final authority on every issue of life – from marriage to motherhood to ministry and everything in between.”
Annie McGuire, Daily His Disciple
Are you living a life that’s surrendered to God’s Word? Are you saturated with God’s Word? Those are challenging and important questions.
Sharing stories of how God has impacted our lives encourages us and builds our faith. It’s one of my favorite things to do! The Women Wielding The Word series is meant to be an encouragement to you. I’ve asked other bloggers to share what their time with God looks like and how the Bible has impacted their lives.
My friend and fellow blogger, Annie, tells how God has been teaching her about surrender to and saturation with God’s Word.
How to Live Surrendered to and Saturated with the Word of God
For 29 years I was lost and looking for love in all the wrong places, until I began attending a Bible-believing church. It was in this place that the living and active word of God broke my hard heart and brought me to my knees before the Lord. In repentance and faith I committed my life to Jesus Christ. From that moment to now, the Lord has been teaching me how to live surrendered to and saturated with the word of God.
Surrendered: The Authority of the Word of God
One of the most transformative truths that I was taught from the pulpit was that the word of God is the final authority on every issue of life. In order to grow and bring God the glory he deserves from my life, I had to make the decision to submit to the authority of scripture. Not an easy task by any means, but a necessary one.
Day after day I surrendered my previous thinking, prior experiences, and the popular opinions of the world around me to the scriptures. The word of God became the standard by which I measured everything else.
From marriage to motherhood to ministry and everything in between, I looked to the word of God to light my path and direct my steps. I searched the scriptures for God’s mind on every issue of life.
Sin patterns were broken as I surrendered to what was pleasing to the Lord. I was being sanctified as I sought God’s will over my own. But in order to be surrendered to the authority of the word of God I had to make reading my Bible a priority in my life.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)
Saturated: Making the Word of God A Priority
When God saved my soul and made me a new creature I had no clue about anything in the Bible. He quickly got me up to speed as I devoured the scripture with an insatiable hunger for more. It was like the veil was lifted off my eyes and I could clearly see and understand truth. God’s word was a mirror to the depths of my soul and a magnifying light upon the darkness in my heart. And I loved it.
I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. (Psalm 119:162)
I began to prioritize time daily to read, memorize, and meditate on the word of God. In the early years of my walk with Jesus I stayed at home with our four young kids and watched a few others, so my days were loud, busy, and full! I had to get up at least an hour before the kids so I could be saturated with the word of God. By making the word of God the priority of my morning, I was preparing my heart and mind to serve my family with love and joy.
I desperately needed that time with the Lord. Before Jesus, I was an impatient, irritable, and stressed-out Momma. But after Jesus saved my soul, sanctified my heart, and began to saturate my mind with truth, my view of motherhood changed. What had felt like a burden became a blessing.
Fast forward 11 years and the house is quieter but my calendar is just as packed. I’m a pastor’s wife, mom, ministry leader, Bible teacher, and writer. In order to do what I’m called to do well, and for God’s glory, I have to be in the word daily. When I’m squeezed by the stress of life I want the word of God to come from the overflow of my saturated heart.
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42)
Through daily reading, discipleship, Bible studies, and attending the Bible Institute at our church, the Lord renewed my mind, redirected my heart, and renovated my life. The word of God became my authority and priority as I continually surrendered my will to his word, and saturated my mind with the scriptures.
The word of God can be your authority and priority as well. Take some time to examine your schedule. Are there any time-wasters you could eliminate or cut down on? Free up some time in your day to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak up his word. As you saturate your mind with the scriptures, he equips you for service and enables you to share his wonderful words of truth and life. What a privilege and delight!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)
Annie McGuire
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I spend my time passionately pursuing his presence, studying his scriptures, and teaching his truths. I serve alongside my husband as he pastors a new church plant, and have the privilege of leading the women’s ministry and serving in the children’s ministry. We have four kids who are leaving the nest quicker than I’d like, and writing is my labor of love.
My Blog: www.dailyhisdisciple.com
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Read the other posts in this series here.
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I’m like you, Annie. I feel like God’s word brings so much calmness to my heart, allowing me to respond with greater love and patience with those I encounter in my day. My hubby used to feel abandoned and frustrated when I wanted to pull away to pray and read Scripture after an argument. But then he began to see how much of a difference it made in my attitude that he now is happy to let me run off to the arms of the “Lover of my soul” so I can be a better lover to my hubby when I return. 😉
When I study the Bible I have a set of 12 questions I ask of every passage I study. I am tempted to shorten it sometimes, but every time I am patient to wait for God’s voice I’m so thankful. I love to look back through my notebook at what I have studied.
Danell, I can relate to this. Just this week, I was feeling a lack of energy one morning and was tempted to forego the study I’m working on. I pushed myself to do it and was so glad! The surprising treasures I unearthed were life-giving! I never regret digging into God’s Word.
Annie, I love the emphases you’ve chosen here. We are subject to the Word, and this is not necessarily a popular stance. We women like our pink Bibles to encourage us and to make us feel “good” about our life choices, but we sometimes forget that the Truth is not up for grabs.
Thanks Annie! I love your use of scripture here. Followed on FB & Insta. Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Yes, Annie, I agree we need to be in Gods word daily. When I stray away I notice a difference.
Beautiful post. Sitting at the feet of Jesus is the most important thing we can do any day! Thank you for sharing this!
Yes, Cheryl. May we be like Mary and make “the better choice” in prioritizing time with Jesus.
Annie, thank you for this truth about God’s Word. This is my heart’s desire and pursuit, “I surrendered my previous thinking, prior experiences, and the popular opinions of the world around me to the scriptures. The word of God became the standard by which I measured everything else.” And love your opening quote…EVERY-thing in our life should come under the authority of Scripture. And that’s the heart of a true disciple!
Annie, I appreciate your focus on the absolute importance of God’s Word. Saturating ourselves in the Word and submitting to its authority is critical in the life of a disciple. Essentially, we are apprentices who need to learn the standards by which we are called to live and to know the God we serve. A great reminder that because everything we do and think must come under the authority of God’s Word – we must know the Word.
His Word is the final authority in my life, too, Annie. We must be in the Word daily and allow His wisdom and ways to create new mindsets for living. Your story is a beautiful testimony of the transforming power of God.
Thank you for this wonderful post, Annie. We do need to weld the word every day! Thank you for today’s reminder.
A great reminder of how important God’s Word is in every area of my life… thanks for sharing! Stopping by from #faithonfire
Thanks for stopping by, Laura!
I went through many years of great struggle and clung so closely to God and His Word during that time. The past few years I’ve been experiencing much better years with more peace in our home. BUT, since things have become more comfortable at home, I’ve become more slack in my time spent reading and meditating on the Word, I’ve allowed more busy-ness and have thus been starving spiritually. I am currently in a period of re-evaluating and this post has helped to confirm how much this is needed. Thank you!
The wildernesses and the valleys of life are where our faith actually grows and matures. Suffering is hard, but it is so good for our souls. It allows God to show us who He is. I’m thankful Annie’s post ministered to you today. Praying you are nourished by God’s Word to overflowing.