As a follower of Christ, you may have heard many times that you should regularly read your Bible. However many times we are often not sure of the benefits of reading God’s word in our lives. Today I would like to explore that topic with you.
First, imagine that you are in a relationship with someone and this person is wonderful and you want to do things that will make this person happy. So would you go out and buy this person a gift without knowing their preferences? Would you buy them an outfit without knowing their size? Would you cook them a meal without knowing what they like to eat or if they had any food allergies or sensitivities? Of course not! So how would you gather this information? You could give them a questionnaire, but that seems a little impersonal, right? Chances are you would spend time with them and get to know them. You would ask questions and really pay attention to what they were saying. If you were in a store with this person, you would pay attention to what they commented about, or if you went out to eat with them you would pay attention to their favorite restaurants and dishes that they ordered. This would give you a lot of valuable information about this special person in your life.
Our relationship with God is the same. We learn of God’s love for us and we can’t help but fall in love with Him, but that can’t be the end of it. We need to continue to learn about Him. To figure out what makes Him happy, what brings Him joy. We want to spend time with our Love and to please Him. Communication with God is generally a two way street. We pray to Him, this is how we commune with Him. Most of us have this part pretty well down. The other way is when we read His word, this is Him communicating with us. This is how we know what He expects from us and what makes Him happy. I can’t imagine a healthy relationship without these two things.
So let’s look at how a consistent Bible study or quiet time can be of benefit in our lives. The first and most obvious benefit is that God speaks to His children through the Bible. If we want to know about who God is, it’s in the Bible. If we want to know what He promises to do for us, it’s in the Bible. If we want to know how to live our lives, it is in the Bible. It is all there, everything we need to live a successful life for Christ. We just have to read about it. Now I have had people tell me that they don’t like to read the Bible. It’s too hard or confusing. And yes, I will admit that reading the Bible is very different from reading a novel, but how much more important is it? And let me tell you a little secret, you will never perfectly understand everything in the Bible. But you will get better at it as you practice.
Reading the Bible can bring us peace. I love reading the Psalms and Proverbs when life seems to be really off – kilter. Seeing how God cared for His people and hearing the words that it will all be ok, is so comforting. Books like Nehemiah and Ezra remind us that God loves us even when we mess up and He has a plan for us. It also gives us courage, hope and joy! Wow! This book packs a punch. The Bible tells us about one of our greatest hopes – our hope of eternity with Christ. Wouldn’t you like to find out what our real “forever home” will be like?
If we want our children and grandchildren to follow God, we need to model that for them. I want my kids and grands to know that I spend time in God’s word learning how to live and so can they. I want them to see me having a healthy relationship with God through the pages of His word so they know where they can turn when things get tough.
Reading the Bible on a consistent basis can help us to cement what we believe and why we believe it. Being able to tell others about our faith and then backing it up with scripture is a valuable benefit of spending consistent time with our Bibles. Knowing God’s word will help us to defend our faith when we need to…and we will need to.
Spending time in the Bible helps us to replace the lies we think about ourselves with the truth that God says about us. When we don’t see ourselves as God does, we are living half lives. We allow the enemy to hold us back and slow the advancement of God’s kingdom. Time spent studying God’s word will also help us to see the lies from without. It will help us to spot and refute false teachers that will come across our path.
Spending consistent time in God’s word shows us how we should behave as women of God. It shows us how we should treat our husbands and children. We learn how we should keep our homes and how we should respond to our communities. Being in God’s word gives us everything we need to do God’s work. He will equip us as we spend time with Him.
Consistent time with our Bibles shows how we should imitate Christ and strive to be more like him each and every day. It will point out when sin is trying to enter our lives, or maybe it already has. God’s work will lead us to repent and return to Him.
Consistent quiet time strengthens our spiritual muscles and helps us to grow in all areas of our lives. It was through my consistent Bible study that God has shown me how to be a better wife, mom, grandma, teacher and friend. My Bible study times have helped me to develop a heart of compassion for those around me.
And perhaps the very best benefit is that God will become increasingly more real in your life. You will hear His still small voice when He is guiding you. You will know what to do in a situation that you find yourself in. You will feel His presence when you think you are all alone.
I hope that these benefits will inspire you to get into the word of God and to get to know Him better.
If you’re looking for a way to develop a Bible study habit, check out my book; SEEK: a 28 Day Journey to Consistent Bible Study. You can find it on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/SEEK-Journey-Consistent-Quiet-Time/dp/B0C1J1RGGN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XS5VVV8YCRUK&keywords=SEEK%3A+a+28+day+journey+to+consistent+bible+study+by+christine+pleiman&qid=1689095308&sprefix=seek+a+28+day+journey+to+consistent+bible+study+by+christine+pleiman%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1
Adventures in Abundance 
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