I LOVE the Word of God. I believe every precious word in the Holy Scriptures is inspired, infallible and perfect in its authority for us to stand on. There is no doubt in my mind that God’s Word is alive and active, always ready to teach, reprove, and equip us for good works (Hebrews 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:16). The Scriptures are to be searched for the purpose of finding truth and grace and for helping us with our sanctification as well as for our daily encouragement. How I need that daily encouragement.

I don’t take it for granted that I live in a county where I am free to own a Bible and am still free to read it in public! I pray not even a speck of dust will ever cover my Bible from not being used. My heart aches for my sisters and brothers who live in countries where it is not only illegal, but they also could lose their lives over owning even a torn-out page from the Bible!! Their faith comes at such a high cost. I imagine they value and cherish every single verse and page they can get ahold of. Think of the Bible as a love letter written just for you. What if your mate, child, or parent wrote you a loving letter but you put it on the shelf and never picked it up to read? You miss out on "hearing" their voice. Imagine the hurt the one that wrote to you felt! God waits to speak into your life by His Word.

********************

It saddens me how few churches read, teach, and preach the scriptures to their congregations. It seems as if they don’t trust in the power of the Word and feel they need other “carrots” to bring in the people or to make them stay there. How insulting that seems to me in not trusting God’s Word having power enough on its own. I wonder sometimes if they would think people so incompetent that they wouldn’t understand or have interest in the Scriptures—that is not true. God has made Himself plain so that even a child could understand. The more we read, understand, and trust, the more our desire heightens for the Word. If only more Christians realized that it’s the Holy Spirit who helps us in our desire to understand and ponder over those words so that we can cherish and anticipate God Himself to speak into us by the reading of His Word. It’s as if they rely on what they read “years ago” or what they hear on the radio. If we are only getting our time in the Word on Sundays with our pastor, we are missing so much. Henry Morris says studying the Word is a lifelong occupation. I agree!

Just the other day I was reading the first paragraph in Isaiah 32 and God just ministered to me by showing something that I had either skipped over before or just didn’t really need until now. It states, “Behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. Each will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land.”

I love it, I just love it! This Old Testament verse is talking about Jesus. That He is our refuge from the things that blow into our lives and He covers us when life’s cares try to besiege us. But to me, the sweetest picture here is Jesus, our Rock, with His cool and protecting shade spreading over us when we are at our weariest. That is refreshment! And we have that peace today!

O, to love His Word. To know that God reveals Himself more and more to each of us through His Word is the beginning of wisdom. I challenge you today. No, rather I invite you to start again if it’s been a while, to open the Good Book up. Wait on Him to minister to you just like He does for me every day.

May it be our desire that we be women who live in the present and are aware of the world around us. May we take notice of the blessings God gifts to each of us, and always long to hear His whispers. Shall we also pray with a more purposeful focus on God’s will? And as we stay connected in our relationship with Christ, we will become more thankful followers. Let us commit to doing this together! Close your eyes…Open your heart, let God’s Spirit empower you today.