My son recently started a new sales job. The product line is complex and there are many details to remember. The other day he made a statement about the massive amount of data he’s been taking in.

“I wish I could attach a USB drive to my head so I’d be able to access all of this information instantly.”

Since he’s only been on the job a few weeks, I told him that in no time at all, he’ll be spouting off these facts like a pro. It just takes practice. It just take some experience. It just takes putting what he knows into action.

Later that day, I got to thinking about he said and I was reminded of my days in corporate when I would attend seminars. At the event, everyone soaked in a ton of information, we all walked away with our trusty manuals, and were fired up to put what we had learned into practice.

Then real life took over when we returned to our desks and the manuals were placed on the shelf to gather dust. Sadly, many times. little to nothing was put into practice.

Here’s the thing: Knowledge is power yet knowledge that is not used or acted upon is powerless.

If we never put what we know into practice, we will likely forget it. And if we don’t practice a new skill or implement a new piece of information, then it has no power to help us.

For example, recently I learned a new way to produce the videos for the Elevate the Day podcast. Full disclosure, video editing is not my lane! The first few times I did it, it took a looong time. Then, it became easier and now I’m feeling more confident in this new skill. (However, I’m praying for someone to do it for me who is gifted in this area!)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1:22-25 NKJV)

The same thing holds true when we read God’s Word. If we read about a promise or a truth in the Bible but don’t actually act on it, then it remains as only words on a page. It has no power to help us in our daily lives.

Here’s one example. If we are feeling overwhelmed, the Bible tells us to cast all of our cares on Jesus because He cares for us. (First Peter 5:6-7) But do we actually do this? Or, do we try to fix things ourselves or do we just wish our challenge would go away? 

I heard a minister once say: “You don’t get blessed by the parts of the Bible you READ. You get blessed by the parts of the Bible you DO.”

Those workbooks and seminars I attended could’ve had the power to transform work projects or processes but because the information in them was never implemented, nothing changed. Nothing improved.

If my son never references his notes, never commits the product information to memory, never speaks to a customer, he will not be successful in his job. He will not make one sale. He must put what he knows into action…every day.

Likewise, if we want to see victory in our lives, then we must put God’s Word into practice. Not once, not twice, but every day. 

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

This week I’d like to encourage you to put the promises of God to the test. Do what the Bible says to do – if only in one area. Do it over and over until it becomes as natural to you as walking and talking.

The Word of God is alive! If we put it into practice and become “doers of the Word” as James says above, then our faith muscles will grow and we will see victory in our lives.