I have always loved books. Ever since I learned to read, I have been easily captivated by a good story. There’s just nothing like finding a book that you can’t put down, and that feeling of sadness when you finish, like having to tell a good friend goodbye. I have read hundreds of books over the years; some have been informative, some entertaining, some life-changing. But no other book in the world is anything like the Bible. 

What makes the Bible different than any other book? The Bible is not just a long jumble of stories and sayings. It’s not merely a collection of rules to teach us right from wrong and tell us how to live. The Bible has POWER.

The message within the pages of the Bible has the ability to bring people from death to life! It’s the story of fallen man, and a Creator who loves his people enough to let his Son come live among them and eventually die so that they can find freedom from sin. Paul says in Romans 1:16 that this gospel message is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The Bible has life-saving power!

And not only does it save lives, but when we take time to read this miraculous book, God’s Spirit speaks to us. That’s just crazy. But it happens!

In Psalm 19:7 we are told that the law of the Lord revives the soul, and in Deuteronomy 32:47 Moses tells the Israelites that the word God gave to him is “no empty word” but “your very life.”

If this book holds so much power, why don’t we spend more time reading it?  Why is it easier to spend time scrolling through the mindless world of social media? Why would we rather turn to Netflix or Hulu in our downtime? The enemy clearly wants us to remain powerless and hopeless, continuing to fill our minds with empty, temporary nothingness.

Accessibility can never be our excuse. We have instant access to the Word of God any time we need or want it. When else in history could someone read the entirety of the Bible on a little handheld device that was basically by their side twenty-four hours of every day? Can you imagine what the Christians of the early church would have given for this ability? We are so blessed!

When Lexi was struggling through addiction and mental illness, I learned to rely on God’s Word more than ever before. My mind was constantly spinning in circles with anxiety, my life felt out of control, and my heart was in an endless battle with fear and doubt. What was one thing that brought more peace than anything else? The Word of God. It is truly amazing how a passage of scripture could speak directly to my heart. How those words could renew my understanding of God’s character and purpose, remind me of his goodness and faithfulness, redirect my perspective, and turn my mind back to his promises and love.

Sometimes a particular verse would really captivate me. Psalm 143:8 became one that I committed to memory and kept on repeat in my mind at the beginning of every day: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” I just love those words. 

Matt. 4:4 reminds us that staying in touch with God through his Word is a matter of survival.  “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Sure, we need food to sustain us physically. But how can we survive mentally, emotionally, and spiritually without the Word of God?

Lord, thank you for giving us the amazing gift of the Bible. Thank you that we have access to your Spirit and your Power just by reading its words. Give us the discipline and motivation to open it up and spend time in its pages daily. Just as we plug our electronics into a power source to charge them, help us plug into your Word to charge our souls! 

What are your go-to verses that redirect your mind towards truth and peace? How have you been able to make Scripture a priority in your life?