What steps can we take to prioritize God's word in our daily lives? The sobering lesson from Jeremiah 36:30 “Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: ‘He will have no one to sit on the throne of David, and his corpse will be thrown out and exposed to heat by day and frost by night.’” (Jeremiah 36:30) Jehoiakim sliced up Jeremiah’s scroll and burned it (Jeremiah 36:23). His contempt for God’s word cost him his dynasty, his dignity, and ultimately his life. His story presses us to ask: How can we ensure the opposite—making God’s word central every single day? Cultivating a heart that trembles at His word • Isaiah 66:2—“This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.” • Pray for a tender conscience before opening Scripture. • Read slowly, pausing to acknowledge that every line carries divine authority. Building an unbreakable daily rhythm • Psalm 1:2—“His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” • Choose a fixed time and protect it as firmly as meals or work. • Keep a reading plan; trace entire books, not scattered verses, to grasp context. Planting Scripture in every room of life • Deuteronomy 6:6-9—write it on the doorposts, talk of it at home, on the road, lying down, rising up. • Place open Bibles or printed passages in kitchen, desk, car, phone lock screen. • Let visual reminders invite quick glances and frequent reflection. Replacing competing voices • Colossians 3:2—“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” • Limit news, social media, entertainment that drown out Scripture. • Whenever a device is opened, pair it with at least one verse first. Memorizing and meditating • Joshua 1:8—“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth… then you will prosper.” • Carry verse cards; recite while waiting in line, walking, exercising. • Mull over key words, asking how they reveal God’s character and shape your choices. Obeying immediately • James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” • After reading, note one concrete action: apology to make, generosity to show, habit to end. • Record answered obedience; seeing fruit spurs deeper commitment. Speaking the word to others • Deuteronomy 32:46-47—“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared… they are your life.” • Share insights over meals, texts, or social media posts. • Leading a brief family devotion multiplies personal intake. Anchoring decisions in Scripture • Proverbs 3:5-6—trust the LORD, lean not on understanding. • Before signing contracts, switching jobs, or dating, seek passages addressing motive, honesty, purity. • Ask, “Which biblical principle governs this choice?” then follow through. Guarding the gathering • Hebrews 10:24-25—do not neglect meeting together. • Corporate worship refills the word level through preaching and shared songs (Colossians 3:16). • Commit to church attendance as non-negotiable. Reinforcing with accountability • Ecclesiastes 4:9—two are better than one. • Partner with a friend to track reading plans, memory verses, and obedience steps. • Celebrate progress; gently correct drift. Living under the blessing, not the judgment Jeremiah’s scroll was rewritten after Jehoiakim’s fire (Jeremiah 36:32), proving God’s word endures despite human rejection. Those who honor it find endurance of their own: • Revelation 1:3—“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it.” • 2 Timothy 3:16-17—Scripture equips for every good work. Choose daily moments to read, memorize, obey, and share. In doing so, we move from Jehoiakim’s tragic example to the blessed path of those who treasure every word God has spoken. |
    |