Life Expressions by Lifesong

“E” Eat the Word of God to feed the spirit within you.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread
alone, but on every word that come from the mouth of God.’
Matthew 4:4

What we place in our body determines how well it will function.  If all we eat is junk, we become tired and eventually we could become very ill.  If we don’t feed ourselves at all we will starve to death.  It’s the same principal for our Spirit.  The Word of God is our only source of ”good food”.  God created us to need Him and how he speaks to us is through His Word.  We need full course meals of His Word and hey! we can have as many snacks as we want too!  One way to do this is through memorizing verses.

The Word “is” God! (John 1:1)

God has given us His Word that is “near” to us.
(Romans 10:8)

His Word is a “lamp” to our feet
and a “light” to our path. (Psalm 119:105)

His Word is “truth”. (John 16:26)

His Word is “flawless” (2 Samuel 22:31)

But don’t just hear the Word
be a “doer” of the Word
(James 1:22-25)

All passages taken from the NIV version

We are all made up of 3 parts Body/Mind-Soul/Spirit.  But God has also given us His Spirit that comes to live within us when we are saved.  He is given as a gift to lead and guide us.  When we read the Word of God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit His fruit will be produced into our lives.  Here is some good food for thought!!  I encourage you to chew on it, meditate on it, and get it deep into your heart.

Joy!

Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came,  I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight, for I bear your name O Lord God Almighty.

John 15:10-12
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Peace!

Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 37:11
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

Proverbs 14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of righteousness will be peace;  the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Patience!

Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly.

Proverbs 16:32
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming.  See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Kindness!

Proverbs 11:17
A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

Proverbs 12:25
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Goodness!

Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Proverbs 14:22
Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Matthew 12:35a
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him.

Luke 6:27-28
“But I tell you who hear me:  Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

1 Timothy 6:18-19
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Faithfulness!

Psalm 18:25a
To the faithful you  will show yourself faithful, Love the Lord, all his saints!  The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full.

Psalm 97:10
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;  bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Gentleness!

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but  harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Philippians 4:5
Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:15-16
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Self-Control!

Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant you sluggard;  consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.  How long will you lie there, you sluggard?  When will you get up from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

1Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action;  be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near.  Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

and the Greatest of these is…

Love

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.

Proverbs 19:22
What a man desires is unfailing love;  better to be poor than a liar.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you:  Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Matthew 19:19
honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.

John 13:34
A new command I give to you;  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil;  cling to what is good.

1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.  But where there are prophesies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes the imperfect disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.  Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;  then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.