The Word

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:14

As we enter a new year, there are many resolutions that are made, however, I want to encourage you to consider one more to your list.

Reading the bible

Even if it’s just one verse at a time; I would challenge you to read as much as you can throughout the year. I believe this is where the real breakthroughs happen in our lives. This is how our character is formed, how we begin to know God’s love for us; where you can find encouragement when needed. It is the most powerful way to change your life and yet so many Christians that I know don’t read their bibles.

Now, I’m not perfect, I don’t read it every day, but I can always tell a difference in the days that I start off reading it vs those that I don’t. Your perspective changes, priorities realign, and you can find strength to endure the storms life throws at you. I also believe it is one of the most underutilized weapons we have against the enemy. When Jesus was tempted in the garden, His response was always…”It is written….” and he would quote scripture to him. This is how He overcame the enemy. You can read more in Matthew 4.

There will always be excuses, there will always be dishes in the sink or kids to get off to school, but if you can carve out even five minutes in your day, it can make a difference. I have gone through seasons in my life where holding onto a scripture and repeating it over and over again gave me the strength I needed to endure. Let it be a source of strength for you as well.

A Few Tips to Get Started

Opening the bible and seeing all of the books, chapters, etc. can be a bit overwhelming; trying to figure out how or where to begin reading. I’d like to share some tips I’ve used that have helped me study with more purpose and direction.

Tip 1: Get a good bible

If you are new to the bible, getting a King James version may be a bit overwhelming. I would start out with simpler translations like NIV. I also recommend using a study bible as it can give you a lot more context to what you are reading. There are book summary pages as well as footnotes throughout helping you understand the text better.

Tip 2: Use the Concordance

Whenever I am struggling with a specific problem, or need encouragement in an area, I use the concordance to help me find bible verses dealing with that particular issue or concern. Then I read through the chapter(s) surrounding the verse to get a better understanding of the context of the verse. I find this an easy way to pinpoint an exact need and find out what the Lord has to say about it.

Tip 3: Start With the New Testament

If you are new to the bible, I recommend starting with the gospels of the new testament first. This will give you a good idea of Jesus, his life on the earth, and his love for you. My mom always says she tells people to start with John.

I hope these tips will help get you on your way to reading the bible and seeing how it can transform your life as it has mine. I pray that for anyone reading this that the Lord would give you an overwhelming desire to read his word, to overcome any distractions that are keeping you from having this intimate time with Him. I pray that His Word will penetrate your heart and change your life forever.

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  

– Psalm 119:105