Does Your Car Have a Steering Wheel?

As I spend time with other Christians, I tend to encounter the same questions over and over. For example, people often ask me what to do when they don't feel close to God. My answer? Read God's Word. When they come to me because they are struggling to decipher God's will for their lives, I tell them to read God's Word. When they have troubled relationships, broken hearts, or hurt feelings, I tell them to read God's Word. When they are tempted to believe lies about their beauty, their futures, or their faith, I say, "Read God's Word." 

Can you spot the trend? God's Word has the power to make a real difference in our lives. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

The Bible is no ordinary book! It is alive and active. It has the power to change our hearts. It answers big questions about our lives. It teaches us who God is and how we can relate to Him. But sadly for most Christians, it is a resource that stays on the shelf. 

Trying to live out your faith without regularly reading God's Word is like trying to drive a car without a steering wheel. Sure, you're in the driver's seat, but it's impossible to control where you're going. There's no way to guide yourself. You can't determine your direction. 

If I could encourage you to make just one change this year, it would be to spend more time reading God's Word. You don't have to become a Bible scholar. It isn't necessary to carve out huge chunks of your time for Bible reading. But you do need to get behind the wheel. Make it a goal to read your Bible daily and see how God uses it to mold and shape you. 

I know it isn't easy. I usually feel like there are a million obstacles keeping me from reading my Bible. But I've found that the more I try to live without it, the more often I find my life in the ditch. 

How about you? Can you tell a difference when you spend regular time in God's Word? Is the Bible living and active in your life? Will you make the choice to read God's Word regularly this year?