Family members’ actions and words can change a home’s environment. A peaceful household can have a tremendous impact on the well-being of family members. Take time to actively speak God’s word, and you will see a positive transformation in your home’s atmosphere.
When we read the Word of God to ourselves, the sword is pointed inward and does its work inside. We need this deep-cutting work in us as we grow in our faith. The Word challenges us to not be prideful, harbor unforgiveness, and live according to its principles.
For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
When we read aloud, the sword goes both ways. It not only cuts inwardly but also outwardly into the room we are in. It slices through stored-up negativity, anger, frustration, depression, anxiety, sadness, criticalness, addiction and fills the room with God’s Word and His Truth.
I experienced this firsthand this summer when I started reading the Bible aloud in the mornings. This started one morning when my husband had to go to work at 3:30 a.m. I was up with him and couldn’t fall asleep again, so I read the Word aloud to keep my mind engaged and comprehending. I started in Hebrews and read for an hour.
At about the half-hour mark that morning, something happened in my home. It felt like someone had turned on a light. However, I did not realize that the change had been spiritual. I lifted the slat on the blinds, thinking it was getting light outside, but it was still dark at 4:30 in the morning. The room also felt light weight, and that heavy feeling had disappeared. The change was so impressive that I read aloud daily for a week.
Each morning, I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to help me find a passage and would then read for 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes I read a whole book like Jonah or a longer book like Job, which took three days to finish. I would bounce back and forth from the Old Testament to the New Testament. I kept a log and wrote down the scriptures I had spoken aloud.
During the summer, I continued reading scripture aloud for two months and noticed several positive effects on my home’s peacefulness.
Why Reading Aloud Makes Changes
You may wonder, what are the reasons for these positive changes after reading scripture aloud? It’s because the Word is a weapon. Most of the time, it may seem like we are fighting flesh and blood, but we are wrestling against spiritual forces and the schemes of the devil.
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm.
Eph. 6:10-13 ESV
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Eph. 6:16 ESV
Keep up the Fight in your own Home
Recently, I haven’t read the Bible aloud in my home, and I’ve noticed more tension between family members, and screen addiction is way up again. So this week, I started to get up and read for an hour again. Sure enough, I already noticed a difference. Glory be to God. His Word is powerful and cuts through the negativity in our homes. Evil sneaks in through our attitudes, sin, and devices, but our homes are peaceful again when we put God’s Word first. Read it and let it work in our hearts.
Of the 200 people that read this, if only five people decide to make this a priority, then I’ve done my job. I see five homes more brightly lit, five families growing closer to God, and the enemy has less of a grip on each member. I know five moms and or dads have put first things first by placing a priority on God’s Word. One less hour on social media, games, TV, or other addictive behaviors.
I’d love to know if you are one of the five. Please fill out the contact form or email me today.
The word of God is beautiful when read out loud.
Great point.
Shortly after reading this post, I saw an article on Fox News about leading a “joyous life” which opened with Psalm 40:4, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.” I was laying in bed and feeling overwhelmed by all of the tasks on my to-do list after returning home from a week-long trip. I opened up biblegateway on my phone and read the entire psalm aloud and felt encouraged to take on my day. In fact, I just read it aloud again to remind myself of the encouragement.
God created the universe and everything in it through His *spoken* words. This was a powerful post today!
Awesome!!! Proof of the power of the spoken Word of God! Yes and Amen.