A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t: Part 2Sample

God’s Word: What You Believe, You Do

Many people know the Bible, but in order to be blessed by it, we need to do what it says.

You act on what you believe, meaning your behavior and attitudes are a reflection of what you think is true. Think about it this way: The only parts of the Bible you truly believe are the parts you put into practice.

If what you say you believe doesn’t change how you live your life, then you probably don’t really believe it. That’s why, when you have a difficult decision to make, you need to remember: “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true” (2 Samuel 22:31 NLT). When you follow God’s Word and do things his way, you’ll be able to do the right thing at the right time.

Now, in order to put God’s Word into practice, you need to know it. That means you can’t just skim through the Bible and hope something sticks. You need to make time for Bible study every day.

There are many ways for you to learn God’s Word. For instance, you can write Bible verses on cards and put them in places where you’ll see them throughout the day. You can gather verses into your heart by memorizing them, or you can listen to Scripture on your phone.

It doesn’t matter what methods you use to learn God’s Word. The important thing is that you’re studying, memorizing, and applying it to your life. When you do those things, you’ll experience the freedom that cannot be diminished by the problems and challenges you face today.

Talk It Over

• How can studying with a friend help you stay consistent in learning God’s Word?
• What are some things you can do to help you know more of God’s Word?
• How have you seen God work within a situation where you applied his Word?
• What one practical step will you take this week to be more consistent in memorizing God’s Word? What are ways you can put what you learn into practice?

This devotional © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.