3 Important Benefits of Reading God's Word Every Day

Many people do not realize how important it is to read God's word. We pray when disaster strikes, when bad things happen, when we are sad and life feels heavy, or when we are diagnosed with a chronic illness—but why can we not regularly read the word? 

We are satisfied listening to the pastor's sermon once a week. Reading the Bible only occasionally, only when we feel like it, or when we need comfort. For the rest, the Bible is only a decoration on the bookshelf. Merely an accessory carried to church so people know that we are Christians. More sadly, there are those who consider the contents of the Bible to be merely a collection of fables, history, or stories from the past that are not suitable to apply in modern times.

Is that assumption true? What are the benefits of reading God's word every day?

God's Word, a Lamp and a Light for Our Steps 

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

Imagine you are walking in the middle of a dark forest. You do not know whether there is danger around you, whether a deep ravine or a wild animal lying in wait. Without light, you cannot see obstacles or hindrances that could make you stumble, get hurt, or even threaten your life. On the other hand, light helps you take the right path, so that you do not get lost or meet with harm.

I realized this through an incident when I joined the mission team to Pontianak in 1996. One time, we taught the word of God to a friend whose house was far from the main road. He lived in an inland area, where the footpath was flanked by rice fields and farms. There, by seven in the evening, no vehicles were passing anymore. 

That night, we left at eight o'clock. Heavy rain was falling, and everything around us was so dark; there was no light from the residents' houses. I and a sister who was my partner walked in the darkness. Seeing that I was afraid and anxious, this sister comforted me. “Do not look at the dark road, but look up. In the sky there are thousands of little stars giving us light.”

At once, the light of the stars in the sky drove away my fear and चिंता. Finally, after walking for two hours, we arrived at the main road where public vehicles passed toward the place where we were staying.

Without God's word, you live in darkness. You do not know the direction and purpose of your life, or whether the path you have chosen is right or wrong. It may even be that the road you are taking is actually leading you farther and farther from your dreams and your purpose.

Get to know the teachings of Jesus, His commands and His prohibitions, and what God wants from your life through His word. Not only that, the Bible also contains signs, guidelines, direction, and even solutions for the problems of our lives.

God's Word Gives Life

So He humbled you, let you hunger, and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, to make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word spoken by the LORD. – Deuteronomy 8:3

Most of us need to eat at least three times a day. According to research, humans can survive without food for no more than three weeks. However, for people who have a history of gastric illness, being even a little late to eat will cause stomach pain, nausea, dizziness, and weakness.

No matter how busy we are, it is almost impossible for us to forget to eat at least once a day. Even without being told, we will eat every day because we know food provides nutrition for our survival, and produces energy for our daily activities.

As Christians, we too must know and believe that the word of God gives life and sustains our activities every day. Jesus Himself said that it is not only bread or physical food that people need to live, but also every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Just as food supports a strong and healthy body, you have a need to read the word of God. In this way, your spiritual body can also live strong and healthy. When you do not read God's word, your spiritual life will be disturbed. You become easily stressed, worried, bitter, resentful, angry, acting selfishly, harshly, and so on.

Therefore, set aside time every day to read the word of God, and you will see the difference!

God's Word Shows the Truth

Then He said to the Jews who believed in Him: “If you abide in My word, you truly are My disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32 

As I entered my teenage years, I began to learn many things, both good and bad. However, I was often confused and did not understand what the real truth was. Moreover, people often said:

“Lying for a good cause is not a sin.”

“There are sins small and big sins.”Sin that is small is not fatal in its consequences.”

“Having lustful thoughts is not a sin. It is normal. The reproductive hormones are beginning to form. What makes it a sin is if we commit sexual immorality.”

“Simply believe in Jesus, and you will be saved.”

The things above made me uncertain. On the one hand, my conscience accused me. I felt guilty. Yet on the other hand, I gave justification to gray truth.

I am grateful that after studying the word of God, I finally understood and came to know the true truth—not truth based on what people say, or what people generally do—and this brought me relief.

To be able to see the truth of God's word , you need the help of others. You cannot do it alone. Find a community whose members are doers of the word, so that they can show you the truth, and be examples of living it out. Give it a try!

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Related Articles:

• Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
• Diligent in Reading God's Word, Is It Enough?
• Maximize the Potential of God's Word in Your Life
• It Feels Unpleasant, So We Disobey: How to Carry Out God's Word Without Picking and Choosing
• Three Methods to Dig Deeper into God's Word

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