“Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live….
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.”
Proverbs 4:4, 13
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to hold on for dear life? An inner tube, a hand railing, a safety harness, and a guardrail are a few items that come to mind. Laying hold conveys intention and intensity: if you find yourself struggling in deep water and someone throws you a life preserver, you don’t grab it with one finger. You wrap both arms around and lay hold with all you’ve got!
What if we began to see God’s Word as our life preserver in the troubled waters of this world? What would change if we intentionally chose to lay hold of God’s Word every morning—if our preeminent, first-and-foremost desire was that daily time with Jesus?
Making that the priority is not just a “have to” … it’s also a “need to” that will transform to a “want to” and even a “delight to” as the habit is practiced.
I’m convinced there can be no real, lasting transformation apart from laying hold of the Word of God.
It can be easy to lay hold first thing in the morning, then let go as the storms (or even the squalls) of the day come crashing in. Even the daily rhythm of full-but-not-stressful days can carry us away in the tide, and lead us to let go of what we laid hold of that morning.
It’s imperative that we not just lay hold, but intentionally hold on throughout our daily journey.
The writer of Proverbs warns and challenges:
- Do not let it go.
- Guard it well.
- It is your life.
We hold tight and guard that which is precious, treasured, essential. Is that your attitude towards the Word of God? Would you like it to be? Could you ask God to stir up your heart, helping you to see the Word of God as vital to your survival?
Are you holding on through the course of the day?
I don’t think any of us intentionally choose to let it go or lay it down. There are just so many other things to grab onto … good things, necessary things, fun things. They don’t seem evil or bad or even inherently sinful, but we must realize: anything else we grab hold of will replace God on the throne of our lives. Whatever we grasp, and let go of the Word to do so, becomes an idol.
Whether you have chosen to intentionally let go, or whether your grip has just loosened a bit, you are vulnerable.
Ready for lay hold and hold on check-up?
- Are you laying hold of God’s Word every day?
- Do you pray God’s Word back to Him, or ask Him how to apply what you have read?
- Later in the day, do you think about the words you read in the morning?
- Do you share the insights you’ve gleaned during conversations with others?
- Are you hungry and thirsty for the Word of God?
- Do you delight in God’s Word?
- Are you ready to ask God for a lay hold and hold on assignment?
I’m convinced it’s much easier to lay hold and hold on when you have surrounded yourself with others who are doing the same. If you are surrounded with floaters, it will be easier to float. But if your tribe—the ones near and dear to you—are all holding on, you will be spurred on to do likewise.
How is God calling you to not just lay hold, but to intentionally hold on all day long?
This week’s video from our Write the WORD journey through Proverbs, Laura shared thoughts on Proverbs 10:11. We invite you to listen, then let us know how you think the words of a woman of God can be a fountain of life!
It’s not too late to join our study of Proverbs during the month of July. Visit our Downloads page to get your own copy of our free bookmark and optional S.O.A.P. study pages.
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