5 Steps to God’s Prescription for Life and Health
This passage of Scripture reveals God’s prescription for life and health. It contains instructions that, if properly followed, can literally change your life and your physical condition from sickness to health. Proverbs 4:20-24 states: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
1. Attend to My Words
“My son, attend to My Words….” That means you must give your undivided attention to God’s Word and pay heed to what He says. When you attend to something, you give your attention to it. Give your time to the Word. Give thought and meditation to the Word. Give action to the Word. Continually give the Word first place in your life. Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Your mind will be free from doubt when you keep your attention on God’s Word. When you are trusting in His Word, you are trusting in Him. God’s Word will keep you in perfect peace.
2. Incline Thine Ears
Next, God said you must “incline thine ear unto my sayings.” You do that when you desire and go after the knowledge of God’s Word and open your understanding to His Word. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith comes by hearing the preached Word. As you listen to what is being preached, listen with your spiritual ears as well. In Mark 4:23-25, Jesus tells us: “If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend... The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you.” The time you give to digesting the Word you hear will measure the return of the virtue (power) and knowledge that will come back to you through the Word.
3. Let Them Not Depart From Thine Eyes
It’s also vitally important to keep your eyes on the Word of God. Don’t look at circumstances or give your attention to feelings that are contrary to your healing. Look at and consider (or give thought to) the scriptures instead of your body. Jesus said, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matthew 6:22). The eye is the gateway to the body. If you focus on darkness, your eye will be unsound; therefore, your body will be unsound. But if your eye is single, focused on the Word of God, your whole body will be full of light. Looking at and giving your attention to God’s Word brings life! In some cases, what you give your attention to could mean the difference between life and death.
4. Keep Them in the Midst of Thine Heart
Allow God’s words to abide in you. “Keep them in the midst of thine heart” by meditating on the Scriptures and acting on what you hear. The portion of God’s Word you act on is the portion of His Word that is living in you. Continually feed yourself with God’s Word in order to keep the Word producing the force of faith. Inclining your ear and refusing to allow the Word to depart from your eyes keeps God’s Word alive in your heart. Jesus said, My words “are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Attending to the Word with your ears, your eyes and your heart will cause you to live in divine health.
Summary of God's Prescription
Below is a summary of the actions required to move from sickness to health based on the scriptural instructions provided:
| Instruction | Practical Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Attend to the Word | Give the Word first place and undivided attention. | Perfect peace; mind free from doubt. |
| Incline Thine Ears | Listen with spiritual ears to faith-filled teaching. | Faith cometh; virtue and knowledge return to you. |
| Eyes on the Word | Focus on scriptures instead of symptoms or circumstances. | Whole body full of light; darkness is expelled. |
| Keep in the Heart | Meditate on and act upon the Scriptures. | Divine health; life to all flesh. |
The Medicine of the Word
Proverbs 4 says, “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” The Word is God’s medicine. You can find out how to make His covenant promises work for you. Enjoy meditating on personal healing scriptures because God’s Word works! Find out how to make His covenant promises work for you.