Alētheia

Alētheia — has such a sweet on the tongue sound. It'd make a perfect name for a daughter.

Yet, this sweet sounding word is the Greek word for truth, both objective and subjective. This is the same word Jesus used when He said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32 NKJ).

Truth is sweet. Yet, truth has unimaginable power. As Jesus told the Jews who believed Him, it is the truth of His Word—knowing and abiding in His Word—that makes the difference between being a slave and being a son.

Truth has the authoritative power to turn a slave into a son. And, truth not only works in such a way practically or "legally" to give one all the privileges of a son, it also works internally to transform the character and thinking.

When truth invades a heart, no longer does one operate as a slave under obligation to serve and submit; one acts as a son out of love to please the Father.

It is as Chris Foster wrote, "Life change takes place when the Spirit of God within us connects with the Spirit of truth in the word of God. What is truthful will be life changing."

Life change is what Jesus desired when He prayed to His Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17 NKJ)

Truth is sweet because it transforms our desires "by the power of the Holy Spirit via internal revival," wrote Michael Youssef. Yet, in order to do that, Dr. Youssef adds, "the truth of God’s Word must be written on your heart. It must become your internal compass for every road you travel and for all that you do."

Take a moment to read the following two verses out loud, the second not so familiar as the first, noting the conjunction "And" between them.

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.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)

The reason the Word of God is living and powerful is because Jesus is living and powerful. That is why He said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36 NKJV)

God's Word of truth is vital to every part of living life as a disciple of Christ. In fact, without His Word of truth, we have no clue what a disciple is. You can't be a disciple nor make a disciple without the Word of God.

That is why for us moms we must make abiding in God's Word of truth a priority. For that reason, when we come to our Lord in prayer, we use His Word of truth to spur our prayers of praise and intercession. God's Word of truth frees us to abide in the rest of faith that He wants us to have. Kay Arthur defines the "rest of faith" this way—"uniting the Word with faith and living in it at that very moment."

My prayer for us is that as we take our children to the Lord in prayer, praying God's Word of truth over them, that we will unite His word of truth, alētheia, with faith and be set free to rest sweetly, trusting that the Lord has heard our prayers and is at work for our children through them.