Choose God’s Word

People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4

There is an old saying that goes, “When faith goes to market, it always takes a basket.” I like that. Faith moves. It requires action, even if it means we must wait.

There is nothing complicated about the Christian life—unless we let our human perspectives and weaknesses clutter our hearts and edge out the space rightfully reserved for God. Through the power of Jesus Christ, faith in Him is the simplest, least burdensome way to live! His Word, the Bible, tells us what that looks like.

In Deuteronomy 32:46-47, Moses said to God’s children, the Israelites, “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.”

I’ll take the liberty of modernizing the quote that began this devotion: “When faith goes to the grocery store, it always gets a cart.” Before I go to the grocery store, I always make a list of the things I need to pick up for our weekly meals. I drive to the store, select a grocery cart, choose my items, and place them in the cart. I have never been grocery shopping without putting something in my cart.

Living by faith requires that we pick up the Word of God and actually put His promises in our personal grocery carts. When we practice this habit on a daily basis, our appetites will grow to want more of Him. When we want more of Him, we’ll be motivated to do things His way and act in faith to move in His direction and not our own.

Remember that God’s Word is nonperishable, and His words are as life-sustaining as the food we eat. Feasting on His goodness sharpens our craving for more of Him.