Be Grounded in the Word

As the pandemic began in 2020, our world was going in a million different directions as people rushed to find answers. During this time, I realized studying God’s Word was the only certainty I could stand on.

For years, I considered myself to be God’s servant, a follower of Christ. Even a witness. From John 8:31-32, I recognized that immersing myself in Scripture was a priority: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The other roles would then flow out of that understanding.

Going back to the basics of working out my salvation and being a student of the Word brought more joy and consistency to my life than anything else. I recognized how important it was for Christians to have a biblical worldview and the truth it provided. Something I found invaluable was investing in a new study Bible.

I became a student of the Word and prioritized my own relationship with Jesus. Over the years, learning how to use commentaries and reading different translations helped me develop a greater understanding of God. I even loved going all the way back to the Greek and Hebrew meanings and cross-referencing those with what I was reading. The best part was that God met me in my doubt and questions, and I experienced his presence and care. My faith wasn’t based on what my friends and family believed or what I had been told. It was mine all along.

Trials come our way. We need to know why we believe what we believe so we can stand on the truth of our faith and remain joyful in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:16). The Bible is the revelation of Christ Himself and what He wants to communicate to the world. Joy and hope will come to our lives as we grow in our understanding of the gospel and the authority of Scripture. It’s like a light bulb goes off, and we finally see things for what they are. My views on God, the world, myself, His purpose for me, and how I live completely changed with deeper clarity of God’s transformative Word.

Prayer: Father, give me a growing desire to fall in love with Your Word. I pray that Your words will come alive and that You will use the Bible to speak to me, change me, and be my sustaining bread of life.