In Proverbs 4:20, where the scripture begins, “My son…,” it is talking to us. As born-again believers, we are children of the King. We are born into the Kingdom. We are inheritors of the promise. Every biblical promise and all of the Word of God applies to us if we confess with our mouths and accept the promises.
Now, how do we sign the contract on our side of the promise? We either receive it, and confess that we receive it, or we reject it, and confess that we reject it. It’s all done with our words.
This is one thing about the Word of God we need to understand as Christians. It’s God’s plan. We can kick as much as we want to, but the only thing that is going to work is when we follow His plan. Our words are important because that’s how God planned it.
If you think that’s too simple, maybe you need to realize that God tried to make it as simple as He could for us. Have you ever thought that God loved us so much that He didn’t want to make His plans difficult? He didn’t say that in order to be saved you have to walk one thousand miles, or pray twenty-two days, or fast for a month.
His plan only requires that you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord. And when you confess that, you’ve signed your half of the contract and it becomes valid. You’ve got eternal life. It’s so simple and yet some people will still miss it.
Giving Our Attention to His Word
Proverbs 4:20 says, “My son, give attention to my words….” God is carefully telling us to pay attention, take in, meditate on, and surround ourselves with His words.
Why is He directing us? Because He knows if we pay close attention to what He is saying, that out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths will speak the right things.
When you get yourself into a jam or you’re backed up against the wall, you don’t have time to think about what God’s Word says.
You may be driving down the highway and a drunk driver swerves into your lane and there appears to be no way of escape. What you don’t need to say at that moment is, “Oh, my gosh, I’m going to die!” If you’ve got the Word of God in your heart, you will probably end up saying something like, “Jesus!!!”
The result will be 180-degrees different because the Word of God says you get what you speak. So if we keep the Word of God in our hearts, it will be in our mouths at the times we need it, even when it’s needed quickly in a moment of crisis. Then we will be protected.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.