Go On...Take It Personal

As a kid, I always hated hearing those words..."nothing personal. I just don't..." Regardless of what followed, I some how always took the rejection personally. As I've aged, I realize somethings are meant to be personal...other things arent. Sometimes people will   love us...sometimes they won't. BUT...one thing I am learning and applying more and more...one thing meant to be taken personal is God's Word.

I know this may sound simple but if practiced practically can revolutionize our relationship with God and empower us beyond our greatest imagination. I believe God wants us to take Scripture Personally. Oh of course we have to take it within the historical context and allow the Holy Spirit to apply it to our individual lives...But there is power when we pray the Scriptures...there is power when we read the Scriptures and take them personally.

For example, this morning as I read, God made it personal to me. I read from Isaian 44:21, it says, "Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant. O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have wiped out your trangressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." As I read this passage, I sensed the Lord saying listen to this Julie and "TAKE IT PERSONAL."

So, I read it again...and interjected to make it personal...I encourage you to do the same...to take God's word personal. "Remember these things, my daughter, Julie, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant. JULIE, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

WOW. I am His servant? He has formed me? I will not be forgotten by Him?

What a perfect word for me this morning. But it's not just this passage of Scripture...personalizing Scripture is for every day. Verses like "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation" can be used to fight the enemy's accusations and used as a weapon, when personalized to say, "I am in CHRIST...and I AM a new creation...old things have passed away...behold ALL things have become NEW." Personalizing God's promises and applying His Word Personally makes devotional reading become life!!!

So, today, I want to encourage you...GO ON...TAKE GOD'S WORD PERSONAL! That's how He intended it!