To change the way you act, you gotta’ change the way you think; to change the way you think, you gotta’ change what you think about. Making the Bible a daily part of your lifestyle will change your life like nothing else! In a sense, we’re downloading a new operating system that reconfigures the mind. We start thinking God thoughts. Our minds are literally renewed (Rom. 12:2).
You’ve no doubt heard people say all kinds of wrong-headed things about God, & maybe thought they were true–but Scripture will set you straight. You’ll be inspired & learn from all the great heroes of faith in the Bible. You’ll be warned not to repeat their jacked-up dysfunctions. Let Moses mentor you; let Isaiah instruct you; let David comfort you; let Solomon wise you up; let Jesus mess you up; let Paul rebuke & encourage you. It will challenge & motivate you to do great things for God–to make a difference!
The Bible is a book of blessings. It promises comfort, strength, hope, wisdom, joy, power, & purpose. It makes an incredible difference in your thought life & attitudes, & in the way you speak to people. You’ll be amazed at how God will bless you with wisdom and how He will speak to you! To keep a relationship alive & healthy & growing with anyone, you have to hang out & BE with them. So what happens if you don’t spend time with God? The relationship can falter. Reading the Bible daily strengthens your relationship with God.
If we decide NOT to build upon our relationship with God each day by reading the Bible because we’re just too busy, we’re missing the best things in life. Earthly things don’t satisfy our hearts. Scripture shows us how to possess & enjoy real life. A meaningful & satisfying life is found by receiving the Word of Life into our hearts. Jesus said, “The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life.” (John 6:63)
If you want to grow spiritually, you need a consistent diet of Scripture. In fact, you’ll never outgrow your consumption of Scripture. There’s no substitute or shortcut. Reading the Bible will start your day on a positive note. You will have the Word of God in your heart & be able to push evil aside when it comes against you. To have power over Satan, we need to know the Bible. When Jesus was being tempted by the devil, He said to him, “‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4)
In Psalm 119:11 David says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” When you store up God’s Word in your heart, it’s there when you need it. When you’re tempted, it’s there to remind you of what’s right & wrong. When you’re discouraged & need a promise from God, or you need a wise principle to guide you, it’s already there ready for the Holy Spirit to surface at the right time. It’s great to have an encouraging word ready for a friend. It’s great to pray using Scripture. It’s great for witnessing to folks who might have questions about your faith.
It doesn’t matter how old you are or how many years you’ve been a Christian, whatever part of the day when you’re alert get alone with God & your Bible. Don’t just open it up at random though–have a reading plan. Many try starting at Genesis 1 and reading straight through to Revelation 22. That’s probably not going to be the best plan for most. It’s better to start off reading the New Testament, then go on to the Old Testament. You can find Bible helps at OnlyGodCanHelp.com as well as reading plans on the YouVersion app or on BibleGateway.com.
In just 12 minutes per day, you could read the whole Bible in a year. In just 6 minutes per day, you could read the entire New Testament over 6 months. Whatever your pace, begin that good habit today & determine to read through at least the whole New Testament this year.