22 Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you,
and pay attention to all that I have to say.
21 Fill your thoughts with my words
until they penetrate deep into your spirit.[a]
22 Then, as you unwrap my words,[b]
they will impart true life and radiant health
into the very core of your being. (TPT)

Proverbs 4:20-22 has so much information. It is so important to listen to what God is saying to us in his word. God speaks to us through his word, and if he is telling us something, we must pay close attention. He is telling us things for our good.

Verse 21 goes on to say that to fill our thoughts with his words until they penetrate deep within us. Why do you think that our father is telling us to fill our thoughts with his words? I believe that when it comes to healing and just, in general, the thoughts we think are crucial. For example, if you are expecting God to heal you, it would be counterintuitive to think that he won’t he you. If God says in his word, he’s going to heal you, you have to believe it and take him at his word.

I also think that it’s vital in all aspects of our lives to believe in God’s words because when we think unhealthy or ungodly thoughts, it can lead to sin. For example, let’s say you are lusting after someone. If you continue to ponder on that lustful thought, it will take root, and before you know it, that thought will become action. You went from thinking sexual thoughts about a person to acting out those things sexually.

The last verse goes on to say how we will have true life and radiant health in our being. God’s word gives life to us, and it keeps us physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. I believe this verse is telling us when we allow God’s word to penetrate and go deep within us truly, it gives us life and health.

When we think things that go against the word of God, it can make us sick both physically and spiritually. For example, if someone lies to another person that they care about, they may continuously worry about the person finding out about the lie in the first place. Because they are worrying about being caught in a lie, the worry can bring down their immune system and bring about sickness. Also, they can become spiritually sick if they are not close to God and not allowing his word to penetrate deep in their hearts. (Especially if there is no repentance.)

Lastly, when it comes to healing, speaking God’s word over your body is like taking your physical medicine. If you are physically ill, you may reach for Advil, or even antibiotics if the ailment is serious. By speaking the word of God over yourself, it is equivalent to taking medication. God’s word is our medication, and it heals our mind and body.