But on a practical level, how do we do that?  Over the years of walking with Christ, I've learned five ways in which we can take in God's word to our lives. First, we need to read the word of God. Jesus said, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you" (John 15:3). The word of God has a cleansing effect upon our lives as we read it. It's important that we read the Scriptures systematically, regularly, and devotionally. As we read it methodically, we will begin to see the nature of God. We'll discover what's on His heart. We'll learn who He is and how He works.

But we need also to read it regularly. We couldn't survive if we didn't eat physically on a regular basis. Then what makes us think that we can survive spiritually if we don't eat God's spiritual food on a regular basis?  But we, also, need to read the Bible devotionally. That means that we take the word of God into our lives through meditating on the word. As we read the Scriptures, we need to think on them. The Bible can't be read like it's just any other book. The Bible is the word of God. It's how God speaks to our hearts. Therefore, we need time to assimilate what we've read into our minds, emotions, and actions. We need to think about what we've read and then apply it to our lives. It helps if we begin our day by reading the Scriptures. Then as we drive, walk, work, or study throughout the day, we can meditate on what God has said to us.  

A third way in which we can take the word of God into our lives is by hearing the word of God. Paul wrote, "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Rom. 10: 17). That's an amazing statement. Have you ever wondered how you could develop more faith or grow in your faith? Paul clearly states that such growth comes by hearing the word of Christ.  

Several years ago I was preaching in two cities in Peru. In the first city, the sports arena was about two thirds full. I preached a clear and simple message about God's plan of salvation for our lives. There were about the same number of people in attendance in the second city as the first one, but there was one major difference. There were many more people who responded to the message to give their hearts to Christ in the second city than there were in the first one. I wondered why that had happened. In both places, people had prayed. There were about the same number of non Christians attending the meetings in both cities. Then, I remembered that in the first city we had problems with the sound system. The people in the first city couldn't hear the word of God proclaimed nearly as clearly as in the second city. There was a very distinct sound in the second city. At that moment a great truth occurred to me. Faith comes only when we hear clearly and distinctly the word of God. How we hear the word of God determines how able we able we are to respond in faith.  

There's a fourth way in which we can take the Scriptures into our lives - memorize the word of God. This enables us to grow in several ways. First, when we learn by heart the Scriptures, it enables us to more ably apply the word of God to our lives in a moment of need. We've tucked it into the inner recesses of our soul. Just at the moment when we need a promise, a command, or a testimony, God's provision through His word comes to our mind. Thus, we are enabled to renew our minds. We can bring every thought "captive unto the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). Second, we are enabled to give an answer upon every occasion to the questions about our faith. Consequently, we become more courageous in sharing our faith.  

Finally, we need to study the word of God. The Apostle Paul told young Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). There are several ways in which we can study the Bible. However, no matter which way we study the Scriptures, we must always have a heart to encounter God in them. Study, not just to get intellectual understanding, but study to get to know God better. One of the greatest times of personal growth in spiritual life came from doing a character study on the life of Moses. I met with God during that study, and He was able to change the direction of my life. There are other types of studies to which you can give yourself. You can do an expository study - a verse by verse or book by book study of the Bible. Or you can have a topical study of the Bible, a study on the grace of God, or prayer or some other subject. Another manner in which you can study the Bible is a word study. Study the original meanings of the words used in the Bible. No matter which way you approach the study of the Scriptures, just make sure that you're doing it with a heart that's hungry to know God.  

The Bible says that God spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man speaks with his friend" (Ex. 33:11). God wants to speak to you just as personally as He did with Moses. The way He does that is through His word. If you want God to share with you what's on His heart, then you must take the word of God into your life. When God speaks, you will be made clean, and you'll begin to walk in victory.