Do what the word says...

 James 1:22-24

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

The word of God instructs and teaches us (2 Timothy 3:16), hence, in this verse today, the Lord is cautioning us not to just hear the word and leave it at that, but to be doers of the word. What the Lord teaches us through His word, we must do what the word says. Otherwise, the purpose would be defeated, in that it meant to teach us something, but because we didn't do what it said, we don't learn and grow at all. It's like as a parent, you give your child instructions on how to behave in the house and in general; if they don't apply what you taught them, then you would've wasted your time as the teaching didn't accomplish what it was meant to. This verse explains it that it is like looking yourself in the mirror and then forgetting how you look. The purpose of the mirror is defeated.

The word of the Lord is there to transform us to be better people and to become more like Jesus.  Romans 12:2 says: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." The mind is renewed by reading the word of the Lord, the bible! This is the reason why some people go to church every Sunday, but they don't seem to grow spiritually, this could be the reason why; where they hear the preacher, but they don't apply what the word they received through them. This is where we fall short. Psalm 119:105 teaches us that the word of the Lord, is the lamp to our feet and a light for our path. These two are important for our journey on earth...

Therefore, to improve our lives, let us allow God to transform us, by reading and hearing His word, and start doing what it says. James 2:26 tells us that faith without works, is dead. You may have faith, but if you don't action what you have faith about, then it becomes pointless. I pray God help us to put feet to our faith...