Many Christians have inherited a view of the Bible as a dusty handbook, but God wants us to experience it as him speaking directly to us. Let me build on what we started, exploring how to make reading the Bible addictive and life-changing.
**Take Stock of Your Current Relationship**
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 NKJV)
What is the relationship you would wish to have with the Bible for the rest of your life? Imagine on the last day of your life looking back and taking stock. There are decisions we will be proud of—like spending time with family or giving to good causes. But there will be regrets—things that were a waste of time. What would thrill you about your relationship with God’s word? What advice would you give your children or grandchildren? You cannot change yesterday but you can change today and tomorrow. It is a glorious truth that we can choose the relationship we have with God’s word. We do not want to inherit it from parents grandparents church or denomination. Often what has defined our relationship is our own failures stutter starts moments where we tried but learned badly. Give yourself a few weeks or months to recalibrate form new habits create space and time assemble resources.
**Allow God to Give You a Vision**
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV)
Go on a journey where you spend time allowing God to give you a vision of what that could look like. The kind of thing where in your imagination you think that is so cool this is how I am going to be I am going to have this romance with this book with the God who wrote it. Imagine a teenage girl or boy getting a text from someone they are in love with. It is just information bits ones and zeros but their heart leaps with joy or breaks if the message is bad—they have relational communication through that message. That is how God wants you to relate to his word. Read it like a lovesick teenager and you will get more of what God is trying to say. If it is worth stepping into creating lifelong habits then spend weeks or months forming them.
**The Bible as God Speaking**
“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 NKJV)
The starting point for some is not the Bible—they have the relationship they want with others or themselves but not with God’s word. Be brutally honest if you find it boring—go to God and say I am struggling. He knows anyway. Being honest repentance starts there. Self-deception comes when beliefs do not match actions. The Bible is not a book about God but God speaking to you. When God speaks his word is the vehicle to the spirit. You can read for information and build denominations around it but that misses the point. Jesus said the words I speak are spirit and life. When you engage faith with the word the spirit behind it becomes alive to you.
**Practical Steps Ahead**
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
I will share practicals in coming teachings but start with honesty vision and commitment. The word of God is alive living powerful sharper than any two edged sword—it will bless you if you engage it that way.
Let that truth settle in your spirit.
Selah.
**Scriptures for Further Study:** James 1:22, Jeremiah 15:16, John 6:63, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:105, Joshua 1:8, Romans 10:17, Psalm 119:11, Deuteronomy 8:3, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 6:17, 1 Peter 1:23, Isaiah 55:11, Acts 17:11, Psalm 119:130, Luke 24:32, John 5:39, Romans 15:4, 2 Peter 1:19, Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:18, John 1:1
**10 Questions for Reflection:**
1. What is my honest relationship with the Bible right now?
2. How can I allow God to give me a new vision for his word?
3. What habits do I need to form for lifelong delight in the Bible?
4. Where have I deceived myself about reading God’s word?
5. How can I read the Bible as God speaking to me?
6. What would a thrilling addictive relationship with the Bible look like?
7. How do I move from chore to joy in Bible reading?
8. What failures have defined my current approach to Scripture?
9. How can I recalibrate my time with God’s word?
10. What does it mean for the word to be spirit and life?
