Heart for the Word

For so many years, I didn’t really read the Bible for myself. I went to church every week and listened to the sermons, but when I was with other women who could quote Scripture, I would wonder why it was so easy for them and not for me. How were they able to remember what they read? How did they even remember where it was in the Bible? When I did read my Bible, I certainly didn’t remember it well enough to confidently say, “The Bible says…” My time in the Word was sporadic and inconsistent. My mind would wander; I’d get bored. What was wrong, I wondered? I was so frustrated.

Through the example of godly women, I was able to see that they were intentionally setting aside time to be in God’s Word. The practice of being in the Bible embedded it in their hearts. At the time, I felt like I didn’t have the time to read every day. I didn’t think I had the attention span, and I certainly didn’t recall verses to fit life's situations. It seemed so much easier for everyone else.

But God showed me what the real issue was: the problem was my heart. I didn’t value the Bible as I should have. I wasn’t prioritizing my time; I was treating it like any other book instead of treasuring it as the very words of God. I was looking at it the wrong way because I was being deceived by Satan’s lies.

Satan doesn’t want me in God’s Word. He will do anything to separate me from a deeper relationship with God. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says:

Satan doesn’t want me in the Word because if I am, I will be able to recognize his lies. He doesn’t want me to grow and thrive in Christ. If I am not reading the Bible on my own, I am not going to fully know God, His will, or how to live daily in a way that truly reflects Jesus in my thoughts, actions, and words.

The first thing I did was ask God to help me have the desire to be in His Word. I took small steps. I continued to ask God for help with motivation, remembering, and understanding, and for the strength to put what I was reading into practice. Even when I didn't feel like it, I asked Him to help me do it anyway.

Through the consistency of being in the Bible daily, I began to make connections with passages I had read previously. With the repetition of reading, I started to recall verses (not always the book, chapter, and verse, but still!). Over time, I could see growth. In Acts 17:11, we learn that the church was so hungry for the Word of God that they were eagerly examining the Scriptures daily. I was finally growing to have that same Spirit-driven hunger!

Reading the Bible and growing in my walk with Christ is a lifelong pursuit. I am discovering so much more about who God is. I am becoming aware of misconceptions I have had and seeing areas where I need to grow. I am maturing in my relationship with Christ, being transformed and shaped by the truths of His Word. I have finally found joy in the practice of daily spending time with God.