Psalm 119 exalts the Word of God like no other passage of Scripture. The Word is referred to in every verse and is referred to by many different names such as the law, commandments, testimonies, statures, precepts, judgments, ordinances, and the way.

The benefits of the Word of God are numerous. Some are as follows. Those who keep His testimonies . . . do no iniquity (vv. 2, 3). His statutes prevent shame (v. 6), and sin (v. 11). His Word cleanses, revives, and strengthens (vv. 9, 25, and 28). His Word brings salvation (v. 41), mercy (v.58), gives life (v. 50), hope (v. 74), and keeps us from straying (v. 67). His commandments give understanding (v.73), and that's only the beginning!

Let take a look at what Jesus said about the Word, and what it can and will do for you.

John 8:31,32 -  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Notice what Jesus said here in these two verses, “If you abide in My word, . . .". The word abide means, to persist in, to continue in, to endure, to last, to remain in, to hold on to, and to live habitually in. He went on to say concerning the results of abiding in His word, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth (that you know and continue in) shall make you free.” So in order to remain free from the authority of sin and it's effects we need to not just know the truth, but we must continue and remain in the truth of God's Word.

Continue In The Word

When we continue in the Word of God, it will become a lifestyle for us. It is easy for one who does not continue in the Word to forget it, and they won't know how to live according to the will of God. James chapter one teaches us that the individual who merely hears the word and does not apply the word will quickly forget it, and will not live by it. However, the individual who hears and continues in the Word of God, will apply it and live according to it, this one will be blessed in all that he does (See James 1:21-25).

Joshua 1:8 (Amplified Version) - "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."

Notice the benefits of living and continuing in the Word of God. God said, that when you meditate in it day and night (that is make it a lifestyle) you won't forget it and you will be a doer of it. He goes on to say, then you will make your way prosperous, and you will deal wisely and have good success. This is God's will for you and I, to have wisdom, prosperity (full supply), and success in life. However, we must do our part! We must continue in, abide habitually in, hold on to the Word of the Living God.

God's Word Is The Foundation For Life

There are many Christians, born again believers who sincerely love God who don't continue in the truth. They don't live habitually by the Word of God and wonder why they keep struggling with the same problems time after time. Let's notice what Jesus said in the following verses of the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 6:46-49 - “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say? “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: “He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. “But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

What was it that both these men had in common? They both heard the word, and they both went through the same storm. Yet both of them received two very different results. Why? Was it because God loved one more than the other? No! It was because one continued in the truth and acted on what he heard. In other words, he built his life on the sure foundation of the Word of God, and weathered the storm victoriously and didn't fall victim to it.

What was it that caused the other man's house to be destroyed? Some may say it was the storm. But it wasn't. Because if it was the storm, then the other man's house would have fallen also. It wasn't the storm that caused this man's house to fall. It was the foundation on which he built. He didn't build his life on the Word of God, but built it on the earth or earthly principles, and standards. One way for us to know if we are abiding in the Word or not is to see how we react to the storms of life. If the first thing we do is react according to the world's thinking and reasoning then our foundation is not a sure one. However, when we begin to think and say, "What does God's Word say concerning this storm?" , and then act accordingly to what the Scriptures say, then we are going to make it through the storms of life and come out victoriously and be victimized by them.

We are going to go through the storms of life, that is a fact. The word teaches us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (Psalm 34:19). How we come out of the storms is up to us. How we come out depends on what our foundation is. Is your foundation God's Word, the truth that sets free, or is it the principles, teachings and reasonings of this world? What is your foundation? I pray that you will begin today to make it God's Word, because the Word is eternal and will last forever. Build your life on it and no matter what comes your way you will be firmly established on the sure foundation, the Word of God. CLC