What steps can we take to prioritize God's word as Jeremiah did? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah 30:1 “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD”. One short verse, yet it spotlights a prophet whose entire life revolved around receiving, recording, and relaying God’s word. Below are practical steps to help us do the same. Step 1: Clear the Line for God’s Voice • Jeremiah regularly positioned himself to hear (“the word … came to Jeremiah”). • Cultivate unhurried, distraction-free time each day. • Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God.” • Silence phones, close laptop lids, let Scripture have the microphone. Step 2: Capture the Word in Writing • God told Jeremiah, “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you” (Jeremiah 30:2). • Keep a Bible journal. Date the page, note the text, jot insights and applications. • Habakkuk 2:2 — “Write the vision and make it plain.” Writing slows us down to listen. Step 3: Return to the Word Often • Jeremiah reread and compiled his prophecies (Jeremiah 36:32). • Schedule repeat engagement: – Morning intake (Psalm 5:3) – Mid-day reminder (Psalm 119:164) – Evening reflection (Joshua 1:8) • Use audio Bibles during commutes to recapture idle minutes. Step 4: Proclaim the Word Courageously • Jeremiah delivered messages whether welcome or not (Jeremiah 26:2). • Share Scripture naturally in conversation, texts, social media. • 2 Timothy 4:2 — “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season.” • Courage grows each time we speak God’s truth aloud. Step 5: Obey the Word Immediately • Jeremiah modeled instant obedience (Jeremiah 32:6–9). • James 1:22 — “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” • After reading, ask: “What concrete step can I take today?” then act before excuses set in. Step 6: Trust the Author of the Word • Jeremiah endured rejection yet relied on God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-24). • Hebrews 10:23 — “He who promised is faithful.” • Prioritizing Scripture is ultimately an act of trust that God knows best. Putting It All Together 1. Make space. 2. Write it down. 3. Revisit often. 4. Speak it out. 5. Act on it. 6. Trust the One who spoke it. Follow Jeremiah’s pattern, and the word that once merely “comes” to you will soon steer every facet of life. |
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