“Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.” Jeremiah 13:15 NIV

Power in the Spoken Word

When I was a teenager in the 60’s, we didn’t have the concept of “short-term” missions in the church. The only missions I knew about were from the missionaries who would come to our church with reports of their work in strange and distant lands. These missionaries would have slides or movies of strange-looking people in strange clothing (or no clothing) who ate strange food that kind of made your stomach feel queasy, and I would wonder, “Who in their right mind would want to leave their comfortable home, go off to some dark corner of the world and risk their life among people who may not be so happy to see them?” I was sure happy that God hadn’t called ME to such a horrendous life.

Fast forward to the 80’s. My son goes on a “short-term” mission trip that his youth pastor encouraged him to go on, and came back a changed person with miraculous stories and an announcement that God had called him into ministry. I’m almost jealous of my son and the amazing adventure that he has been privileged to experience.

It is now pretty common among churches to sponsor “short-term” mission trips, and ever since my son’s experience I have harbored a secret desire to experience one of these “trips” for myself.  It seems pretty easy, right? Go for a one- or two-week adventure, have some interesting experiences, and come back to the comfort and safety of my home! Then, last summer my husband and I had the opportunity to do just that! The plan was to go to Mexico, do our part to fulfill the “Great Commission” to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth, and be back home in a week!

To be honest, even with Pastor Rick’s thorough missions boot camp sessions to prepare us, as the time drew close, I had a few misgivings. After all, I was no spring chicken anymore! I pictured Mexico to be a scorching desert with a few cacti to provide some paltry shade, and I was worried that I would faint dead away after a few hours in the sun. With worries of being a detriment to the team, I had thoughts of backing out. But God must have wanted me to go because He encouraged me with these words during my devotion time: “The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” (Isaiah 58:11 NIV). As I read those words, I could hardly believe it: God was talking to me personally, telling me that He would make me to be a well-watered garden in a sun-scorched land!

All my worries were for naught! God did sustain me in Mexico, and as I repeated and spoke that verse over and over during that week, He gave me strength to get through the late-night sessions and early-morning meetings and everything in between. I was able to come back with my miraculous stories and exciting adventures because I trusted in the power of His spoken Word!

What difficult challenge are you up against? Pick some encouraging verses and speak them aloud every time you start feeling discouraged or defeated. I PROMISE you that amazing things will happen as you trust in the power of His spoken word!

Dear Lord, thank You for the power of Your Word, and the incredible power your Word has when You speak it directly into my life!