Exploring the Transformative Power of the Word of God

Baha’u’llah, the prophet and founder of the Baha’i Faith, stated that “a single letter” of the verses of God “is greater than the creation of heavens and earth.” 

Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, the Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah revealed a treasure trove of verses that hold immeasurable power and influence. And, unlike numerous past religions, Baha’is have thousands of authenticated original letters, tablets, and books that Baha’u’llah wrote, as well as the writings and talks of Abdu’l-Baha, his son and the authorized interpreter of the Baha’i writings, and Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.

It is such a gift to ponder and recite these sacred holy writings as we, as Baha’u’llah asked us, “strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action.” In my exploration of the power of the word of God, I identified five ways that these verses can transform ourselves and our world: 

1. The Word of God Has the Power to Reveal Hidden Mysteries to Us

Baha’u’llah wrote:

Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.

My mother and I can easily spend six hours meditating on just one paragraph from the Baha’i writings. Our notebooks are often filled with scores of new insights and reflections as we gain greater clarity and understanding. If you need guidance, inspiration, solace, or certainty, I encourage you to take time to immerse yourself in God’s words.

2. The Word of God Has the Power to Heal Us

The central figures of the Baha’i Faith revealed thousands of prayers for us to say on every subject for every need we may have. When we recite these powerful verses of God, we can physically and spiritually heal. Abdu’l-Baha wrote:

The prayers which were revealed to ask for healing apply both to physical and spiritual healing. Recite them, then, to heal both the soul and the body. If healing is right for the patient, it will certainly be granted; but for some ailing persons, healing would only be the cause of other ills, and therefore wisdom doth not permit an affirmative answer to the prayer.

3. The Word of God Has the Power to Kindle Our Souls

The following Baha’i prayer beautifully describes the effect that intoning the verses of God has on your heart and soul:

Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb.

Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.

4. The Word of God Has the Power to Renew and Revive Us

When your heart and soul are healed and kindled, you feel revived with new life. Baha’u’llah wrote:

Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame, if ye be of them that comprehend this truth.

5. The Word of God Holds Powerful Remedies for Humanity

The holy writings offer remedies for every ill that inflicts society. Baha’u’llah wrote:

The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require.

In this age of Baha’u’llah’s revelation, Baha’is around the world are working to bring about world peace, guided by the revolutionary principles of the Baha’i Faith, including the eradication of all forms of prejudice, the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, the equality of women and men, the agreement of science and religion, the truth and oneness of all religions, the independent investigation of truth, and the importance of a universal language and education. Abdu’l-Baha wrote:

It is my hope that out of the bestowals of the Lord of Hosts ye will become the spiritual essence and the very radiance of humankind, binding the hearts of all with bonds of love; that through the power of the Word of God ye will bring to life the dead now buried in the graves of their sensual desires; that ye will, with the rays of the Sun of Truth, restore the sight of those whose inner eye is blind; that ye will bring spiritual healing to the spiritually sick. These things do I hope for, out of the bounties and the bestowals of the Beloved.