One paradox in life is the concept of “simple vs. easy”. As a doctor of chiropractic, I learned over and over again that the truths of health are “simple” but not always “easy”. Exercise more, eat better food, get your spine adjusted, etc…

God’s commands to us are simple and straightforward. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Mark 12:30-31). “Call those things that be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). “If any are sick among you, go to the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up”…(James 5:14-15).

Even if we know a simple truth, applying it isn’t always easy; we tend to complicate matters by saying, “yeah, but…”

Why do we do that? Two scriptures come to mind: John 10:10 says that “the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; Jesus came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.” and 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST.”

There is a thief out there. His name is satan and he wants you destroyed and dead. He knows that if you follow God’s commandments, you will find out God’s will and purpose for your life. He doesn’t want that. He will do anything to stop the plan of God. Satan can only do to you what you let him do. He starts by planting images and thoughts of doubt and unbelief in your mind. If you don’t know the Word of God well enough, you won’t know to  cast down those imaginations that are against God’s Word and will. If you don’t know if a thought is from satan, you won’t bring it into captivity and it will grow into something bigger and bigger, getting you off track of God’s plan for you.

There is a reason God told us to “not let this book of the law depart from our mouth, but meditate on it night and day…” Joshua 1:8, and to “renew our minds to the Word “(Romans 12:1). It’s so we will know His Word, which is His will and speak and do it. If we let those imaginations and satanic thoughts take over, the simplicity of God’s Word has lost its power.

Read the Word. Speak the Word. Do the Word. You will be blessed.