I heard the Lord say “tell my people to get in the Word of God!”
I had a vision where I was in a small, hidden room, filled with gold dust. In this room, I was reading the word and recording revelations in my journals. The room was filled with the glory of God and represented the secret place.
As I left this warm, cozy room full of gold glitter, I walked out into utter darkness.
I held my Bible in front of me and I heard the scripture “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
The days ahead are dark and the world is growing dim. The lamp is most important to us, for it will lead and guide us in every way.
As I held the Bible in front of me, it was literally glowing and giving me light to see a path before me. As I began walking this path, utter darkness around me, I came upon creeping, crawling creatures of many kinds. These were demons of various sorts.
As I held the Bible up to them, they were instantly repelled by its presence. They would jump back and shriek at the presence of it. I began to swing it side to side, as if it was a weapon, because the Word of God is the sword of the spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)
As I walked, more of the creatures began to crowd around my feet, trying to nip at my heels. But then a golden form, like a forcefield, encased me, and they could not penetrate it. The golden glow that appeared around me was emanating from the “lamp” of the Word. It was remarkable to see these demons teeming around me, but unable to touch me. They were quite literally seething to get at me, but the golden glow kept them at bay as I walked.
But then, instead of a Bible in my hand, I held a phone. As I was walking on the dark path, I was holding the phone in my hand, completely immersed in it. The blue glow was now leading me, but it did not possess the capability of the golden glow.
Suddenly, I see all the creatures again, but this time they are actually biting my ankles, and lunging at me from every side. I am so distracted by my phone, I half-haphazardly swipe at them while my eyes stay glued to my phone.
When I was walking with my phone leading me, I was at great risk, and I was in fact, being attacked from every angle.
When I was walking with the Word of God leading me, I was impenetrable and unscathed. I was powerful.
God is concerned with our eyes.
He is concerned with what we are watching, doing, and feeding on.
True spiritual food is scarce these days and so many of us are focused on looking at our phones instead of looking at the source of life.
We all know the statistics, the addiction, and the surface-level things about phones.
But do we really know the spirit-level things?
We have become addicted in every way, and because of this addiction, we have neglected to know the word of God. We have neglected to go after what God wants most from us- our time, our attention, our thoughts.
He wants us to love him with our whole minds.
Some of you have the heart, but not the mind.
You have loved the Lord, but neglected discipline.
For it does take discipline to get into the Word- to make time for it, to spend energy on it, to pour over it.
It is much easier to turn to Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
Being entertained always feels easier than applying yourself to something.
These are cheap forms of entertainment that burn your brain cells, yet leave you wanting more.
But the Word of God is lasting spiritual nourishment that also leaves you wanting more.
Which is better? More fruitful? More enduring? More sustaining?
I want to pursue what has benefit with no consequences.
We need to know our Bible.
We need to wage war with truth.
We need to be found in due diligence for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD.
We need to be hungry and thirsty for only that which can satisfy.
We need to be able to understand and comprehend the depth of our choices and daily decisions. Moment by moment, day by day, we must be aware of what we are choosing.
And when we choose social media over saturating ourselves in biblical truth, we will be led astray, every single time.
Why are we so focused on consuming what is not of God?
Why are we so focused on consuming what may be of God, but did not come from us actually reading the word of God?
Why are we so focused on what is not lasting or enduring?
Why?
I don’t need another sermon on YouTube, I need scripture.
I don’t need another quote from Pinterest, I need scripture.
I don’t need another opinion or debate on Twitter, I need scripture.
I don’t need another day showing myself worthy on Instagram, I need scripture.
I need scripture, because I do not need to be led astray or attacked or confused.
I need scripture, because it is my daily bread.
I need scripture, because we live in tumultuous times that have skewed the truth.
God is putting a finger on the fact that when you do not know his word, and use it as a weapon, you are open prey to the enemy- day in and day out.
The hour we are living in does not call for a retreat from the weapons of battle, but for a sharpening of the sword like never before.
So we must sharpen ourselves with it!
We must not be swayed by strong voices, or good opinions, or pretty aesthetics.
We must be rooted and grounded in the truth that remains no matter if heaven or earth pass away.
The word of the Lord endures FOREVER.
I am a spirit-being that will live FOREVER.
I need to be nourished by what is created with the substance of FOREVER.
Therefore, I need to be fed, taught, encouraged, and equipped by the enduring, lasting, eternal word of truth.
For Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
His truth remains.
And His word is His truth.
Do not sweep this aside, or promise yourself to assess your habits later.
Do not hope to be better, or strive to do it all.
Pray, seek, fast.
Ask the Lord where he wants you to go in the word.
Ask the Lord how it should look to sit with him in it.
Ask the Lord what to do, when to do it, and how often.
He will tell you and he will show you.
He is asking his bride to be glorious, rich with words of wisdom and clothed with the raiment of truth.
He is asking you to lay down your phone, die to your flesh, and pursue that which is not only beautiful, wonderful, and glorious- but is also the answer to all that you will ever need- now and for whatever may come.
I often think of the regret I would feel if Bibles were suddenly banned tomorrow and I could no longer access the word of God.
I would regret not knowing more scripture.
I would regret not knowing the prophecies for what is to come.
I would regret not knowing God’s words of love, encouragement, and faithfulness over me as I lived in a spiritual desert.
I would regret not reading my Bible.
I want to know the Bible, and if there is ever a day I no longer have my Bible, I want to feel confident that I partook in the gift that had been given to me with my whole heart, mind, and soul.
Selah.