Even When You Don't Feel It, You Need the Bible Every Day

There is a long, long list of things that I know are good for me that I really should do every day. I know I should take my vitamins, drink plenty of water, exercise, meet my step goal, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables, get at least eight hours of sleep… but I often don’t do those things. Why? Because I can’t always tell if they’re making a difference.

I’ve never once taking my vitamins and felt anything change right away, so it’s hard for me to feel like it really makes a difference if I take them or not… even though I do know they’re good for me and it would pay off in the long run.

Reading my Bible is often the same way.

Many times, I have read my Bible without feeling anything change about my life or circumstance right away, making it hard for me to always feel like it really makes a difference in my faith.

The more I press on to know God better, though, the more I have come to realize that absolutely nothing is as essential for my faith than reading God’s Word every single day with intention. Even on the days I don’t feel like it’s making a difference, I know that reading Scripture is shaping my heart, reminding me of truth, helping me grow closer to my Savior, and equipping me with the tools I need to be a kingdom-builder on this earth.

Leslie Bennett recently shared five reasons we need God’s Word every day in her article “Christian, Thrive on Daily Bible Intake” for Revive Our Hearts.

Here are three of the points she shares, all based on truths found in Psalm 119:

1.     “I want to know God and love Him more.” As Christians, this should be our highest goal. It’s easy to forget to prioritize Christ when our schedules are full and we are burdened by responsibilities in our homes, careers, and other activities, but we should daily strive to grow deeper in our faith and in our love for God. “The secret of knowing and loving God is knowing and loving His Word,” Bennett writes. “One never surpasses the other. Through the language of Scripture, God’s undying love for His Son is imparted to His children.”

2.     “I need hope and peace.” The world is not great at offering us hope that we can actually cling to when things get hard. It’s good at offering temporary fixes or fleeting theories, but the kind of hope that can truly anchor our souls throughout life’s storms is only found in the Bible. “God’s blessed Word endures forever and possesses peace-giving properties,” Bennett writes. “In sorrow, there’s strength. In pain, there’s comfort. In trouble, there’s peace. In despair, there’s hope.”

3.     “The Bible shows me Jesus, the living Word.” The whole Bible is telling the story of God’s glory, his saving grace through his Son, Jesus, and his work through the Holy Spirit in our lives. “Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory, is the full embodiment of truth,” says Bennett. “The more I look into His lovely face as I pour over each word of Scripture, I am swept up into the heavenlies. I am captivated. I am changed (2 Cor. 3:18).”

For the rest of Bennett’s list, read her original article here.

This year, like several others in the past, I’m committing to daily Bible reading. I’ve signed up for my reading plan, downloaded helpful resources, set my alarm clock for a little earlier in the mornings, and created a cozy little nook in my home where I go to spend time with God. There are days it changes everything about my perspective, and days I feel far from God, and many days in between where it just seems like I’m just crossing it off the to-do list, but it is essential for my faith nonetheless.

I do know it pays off in the long run, even if I might not seeing it working just like I can’t see my vitamins working. I know that every time I’ve read passages in Scripture, I’ve encountered truth and seen God’s redemptive love and glory on display. I know that the words I’ve read have seeped into my soul, becoming more and more of the language I use to speak to myself and to others with grace. I know I need God’s Word every day, even on the days I don’t feel like it.

“The transforming blessings of daily fellowship with Jesus over the years are too many to count,” Bennett says. “But because of the Word, and through the Word, I can recount that Jesus has become my supreme treasure. So when the winds of spiritual dryness blow, I hunker down and pray for hunger after the very thing I need most… Jesus, the incarnate Word.”

How are you thriving in your Bible reading so far this year?

Photo credit: Unsplash

Publication date: January 12, 2017

Rachel Dawson is the editor of BibleStudyTools.com