When I was living through the darkest and loneliest days of my life, I developed an addiction. I was in the throes of depression due to years of infertility and repeated miscarriages. I sent five babies to heaven—each between 12 and 20 weeks in utero. It was a time of non-stop grief, dashed hopes and raging emotions.
The addiction that I developed was not to over-the-counter drugs, alcohol, shopping or binge-eating. I became addicted to the Word of God.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
When the black hole of depression was calling my name, the Bible also was in hot pursuit of my soul. The power found in the Word of God helped to heal my profound and relentless depression, even before my circumstances changed. That power in the Bible is also for you and I’d like to share with you five ways that the Bible can change your life, too.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
First, the Bible will help you to stay focused on the goodness of God even if you wonder what He is doing behind the scenes of your life. The Bible reminds us that our God is well able to take every situation and circumstance in our lives and use it for our highest good and for His greatest glory.
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” – Dwight L. Moody
The second profound benefit from reading the Bible is that it will help you deal with the temptations that are presented to you and then its inherent power will enable you to overcome sin. None of us is immune to moral compromise, impure thoughts, a lack of integrity or selfish actions. But when the Bible is your guidebook through life, you will develop a magnificent strength that enables you to resist sin and defeat compromise in your life.
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Cor. 13:4-5).
The third way the Bible can revolutionize your life is that it will help you love difficult people! If you are in constant frustration due to the irregular people in your life, know that God is not surprised by them. He may have strategically placed these fractious folks in your life so they will see Jesus in you. For this reason alone, it is worthwhile to read your Bible every day!
“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).
The fourth benefit is that the Bible is the blueprint for your God-ordained purpose. If you have ever wondered why you were born and what your purpose is in life, let me assure you the Bible will gloriously and clearly help you discover your unique and God-ordained assignment!
“Down through the years, I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed.” – Ruth Bell Graham
The God who told Noah to build the Ark, instructed Moses to lead the children of Israel out of slavery, gave Esther favor with the king, brought Joseph to Egypt and promoted Daniel at his moment in history is the same God who will instruct you as you follow Him.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
The fifth and final reason to stay in the Word of God is because it will enable you to develop a laser focus on the truly important issues of life.
When we are committed to God’s wisdom, our priorities miraculously change, and we are able to focus on the eternal things of life even while we live this side of heaven. God’s Word is living, active and able to revolutionize and restore you from the inside out!
For these five reasons and thousands more, read your Bible. Develop a glorious addiction to the Word of God! You will become the person you were made to be when you delight in His Word!
Carol McLeod
