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. . — PROVERBS 4:20–22

According to The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Hebrew word in verse 22 translated “health” actually means medicine. In other words, this scripture actually says, “. . . they (God’s words) are life unto those that find them and medicine unto all their flesh.”

Notice that this passage of Scripture begins, “My son, attend to my words. . . .” What does it mean to attend to God’s words? It means to put His words first. Then we are told to incline our ears unto His words, or to listen to them. Finally, we are told to keep His words in the midst of our heart. So there are three things we are told to do with the Word of God: (1) Attend to it or put it first; (2) listen to it; and (3) keep it in the midst of our heart.

Why are we told to do this? Verse 22 says, “For they [God’s words] are life unto those that find them, and health [medicine] to all their flesh.” I believe that! God’s words are medicine. Does God have medicine? Yes! What is it? It’s His Word! His Word is medicine to all your flesh. That means it’s good for stomach troubles, blood diseases, and for all your flesh—liver, kidneys, heart, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and so forth!

Confession: I attend to God’s Word. I put it first in my life. I listen to it.