January 23, 2015

Like a Fire and Like a Hammer

“ ‘He who has My word, let him speak my word faithfully.

What is chaff to the wheat?’ says the LORD.

‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the LORD,

‘And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’”

Jeremiah 23:28, 29

Perhaps you wonder how long one needs to persist in praying and saying Biblical promises before seeing results. Perhaps you are discouraged, ready to give up even, because you have faithfully persisted for some time and still you see no benefits. If so, take heart from the text above.

Sometimes a mere spark is enough to consume a massive forest, if the trees are tinder dry and winds fan the flames. Other times a heap of damp rubbish smoulders for days although doused with petrol and regularly stirred to let oxygen in.

How many blows are needed before a hammer shatters a rock? That, of course, depends on the size and hardness of the rock and the skill and strength of the person hammering. Remember this: if 1,000 blows are needed, every single one of those blows is doing a work although unseen. Imagine hammering 999 times and falling one blow short of the desired result!

When we memorise, meditate on, sing, pray and declare scriptures we are renewing our minds- replacing lies and false beliefs with the truth of God’s word. We are growing our faith. How long this takes will depend on how long the false beliefs have been entrenched in our hearts, how invasive the effects have been in our lives, and how persistent and consistent we are in claiming the promises.

Keep speaking God’s word faithfully. God’s promises are sure:

“Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Galatians 6:9