LIVING LIFE | KAIROS GLOBAL | MAY 2019

How do I live with Word of God in my life.

As a full time mother of five little children, I simply cling on to the Word of God every day in my life to draw strength, courage and guidance especially when I feel helpless and vulnerable. These are a few things I do every day to plant myself in the Word of God. I read a few sentences from the Bible every morning before I start the day so that I can reflect on them during the day even while I carry out ordinary domestic tasks. Also as a good old practise, I carry a small Bible in my handbag where ever I go and read whenever I get some free time without bothering about others sitting next me even in a public places. During hospital admissions as part of births, I made sure my small Bible was kept on the table right beside me. This assures me of my real identity as a daughter of God and presence of the Word even during the most difficult days.   I am convinced that the Word of God is the Spiritual Sword given to all of us to fight the battle successfully ( Eph 6:17).

Deepa Jose Mathew, Fareham, UK

I praise God because I feel that I’ve really learnt to love the Word of God even more this past year than ever before. I usually spend some time every day reading and reflecting on the Gospel for the day. But this started becoming less of a passive task and much more intentional when I started college this year. God blessed me with a new way to delve deeper into the Word of God: through group Bible studies. I’ve been joined by many Catholic friends as we pray for and encourage each other to live out what we read every week. By God’s grace, I have been challenged to evangelise like the early apostles, grow in the virtues and understand more about the theology of our bodies but above all to say yes to what God is calling me to and to not be afraid.

Jaslyn Joy,Ireland

I realized that the Word of GOD which was used for communication with GOD, to get answers from GOD, to get comfort, for assurance, for Forgiveness, to receive HOPE over despair, had gradually and eventually made me build up a Personal Relationship with GOD. That is where I realized the truth that the Word of GOD is a Person derived from John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Reading the Scriptures, Meditating on the Word, Studying & Practicing the Word of GOD deepens my Personal Relationship with GOD, increases my Understanding and Knowledge about the Holy One.

Christo Benz, Mumbai, India

To be actively reading and growing with the Word of God took some effort and discipline but once I had it going it has become a daily routine in my life. Quite often, I find a lot of inspiration from the Word and though I have a sequential approach of reading the Word, God still finds a way to speak to my heart every time.  The Ignatian method of mediating on the Word makes the whole time of prayer a lot more personal and I am filled with a love that is simple but also very hard to understand. The Word helps me uncover areas in my life that are dominated by sin,  and through this God causes the Word to enlighten, convince, comfort and humble me. Each day I am challenged to drive me out of myself and to draw myself closer to Jesus Christ. 

Sid Mattappallil, Canberra, Australia

As ‘Cradle Catholics’, we read the Word in our prayer and carried the Bible when we had a prayer session. However, a few years back, we developed the habit of listening to anointed preachers when we realized that the Word of God is not just ‘a dictionary’, but something to live on, live in and live for.  Then, we started sowing the seeds of the Word into the family. As a first step, we chose verses, wrote on paper bits, stuck them wherever our eyes reached and started memorizing and reciting them. We also began having Bible story sessions once a week where we all sat together and watched videos of Bible stories, had reflections, discussions and even short quizzes with rewards. It created a lot of excitement, interest and curiosity in children. Yet another, but really effective practice of living the word was when we encouraged children to read, believe and profess the promises in the Holy Word even when they couldn’t see anything positive in their situations.  We foresee the Word becoming flesh and reaping a 100 fold.

Merin John, Oman 

Being brought up in a catholic family, I was always taught to turn to God and scripture whenever something was on my heart. Word of God is constantly giving me proper guidance and support. As Christians, we are called to be Christ to those around us and this is primarily by loving God and others with all our heart, mind and soul. This isn’t always the easiest task but when it gets tough, we have the examples, stories and lessons in scripture to turn back to and learn from. Sometimes this is by being thankful for all the blessings, and at other times, it is by embracing suffering. Like Christ, three thing I like to abide by is forgiveness, love and trust and this is how I live the Word of God in my daily life.

Maria Simon, Canada

It is something which I hold very dear to my heart. I thank God and my mother for encouraging me to learn the WOG from a young age. In times of joy, trial, distress, in fact every day, verses from the Bible come to my mind, which I believe is God talking to me through the WOG. When I was going through a difficult time, when I had lost hope with everything, the WOG spoke to me in Ps 27:14 asking me to wait, because of which I waited and was blessed to go to college. Another time, He asked me to take refuge in Him rather than to trust in men in Ps118:8 and I just kept believing in Him and was the first to be blessed with a job in a batch of 30 people when it was deemed difficult to get a job. During my personal prayer, I claim the WOG, saying Lord you have said in Joshua 1:9 to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or discouraged, for you will be us wherever we go, Lord I want you to be with me wherever I go today, don't leave me even for a moment. And doing this has worked wonders in my life! 

Jerin Niju, Canberra, Australia

I started loving the Word of God in the past year when I realised Christ is “the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us” and therefore when I love the Word of God I love Christ himself, the Word Incarnate. So I started developing the habit of reading the Bible in the morning daily. Instead of checking my messages first thing in the morning after I get up, I started reading the Daily Gospel on my phone thus starting the day in the presence of God. The Word of God helps me to pray, allows me to listen to God and it acts as my spiritual nourishment. I pray with the Word of God for it to be the lamp to my feet and light to my path each day. My favourite Word of God is Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength”.

Thomas Raju, Ireland