“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

What have you learned? After reading the Bible, what do you do with the knowledge you’ve received? Do you live it out—or just let it stay as head knowledge?

I know for me, I’ve had a habit of reading the Bible but not always putting it into practice. It can be hard because it requires intentionality. You have to step out of your comfort zone and truly change from your old ways.

Like I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, you have to change your thought life to produce different fruits. In the same way, you have to change your actions to experience the peace of God. Your thoughts and actions are connected—what you think will determine what you do.

So, the same two ways we grow in our thought life also apply to our actions:

1. Read Your Bible

God’s Word teaches us what is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. You might think you already know what those things mean, but to truly grow in your actions, you need to understand God’s heart—and His heart is revealed through Scripture.

2. Pray

Prayer isn’t just talking to God—it’s building a relationship with Him. You can know about God and still not know Him personally. As you build that relationship through prayer, your thoughts begin to align with His. You’ll start to recognize His voice and gain discernment about how to act in every situation.

Application:

I challenge you to read your Bible and let God’s Word guide everything you do. Pray about everything, big or small. As you do, God will be with you and lead you in the right direction. You’ll know you’re hearing from Him because even in difficult or uncomfortable situations, His peace will be present.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for everything You’ve done. I boldly come before Your throne and ask that You lead me in everything I do. Help me not to just gain knowledge, but to live out what Your Word teaches. I love You, and I praise You. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.