If you’re a Christian, you may have heard over and over again, “Read your Bible!” but have we ever thought why we should? Are there any benefits that we can reap from reading the Bible that we can gain? Why does it seem like a chore for us to read?
If these are questions you’ve been asking yourself, then this article may be just for you. So keep reading to find the amazing benefits of reading the Bible.
Reasons for Reading the Bible
The first reason most people give when they’re asked the question of “why should I read the Bible?” is “the church told me I should,” but this isn’t the only answer. To read the Bible is to get closer to God, to know what He did for us before He died for our sins, and to understand how He wants us to live our day-to-day lives.
How can we know this if we have never read His scripture?
If you feel distanced from your faith, or lost in life, maybe it’s time to pick up the Bible and give it a read.
Benefits of the Bible
There are endless benefits to reading the Bible, but here is a quick list of five benefits for you to get you started.
- Learn God’s Truths: the Bible is literally the word from God, so to learn what He speaks, we need to read the bible.
- Receive guidance on how to live: there is so much guidance in the Bible that we only need to read it to understand how He wants us to live.
- Fill us with hope: through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He gives us hope for the future, that we may be returned to His kingdom one day.
- Grow in our faith: every time we open the Bible to read, He helps us grow in our faith in him by reading His words every day.
- Learn, know, and worship God: If we want to know God, why wouldn’t we choose the very book He recommends for us to read?
How to Read the Bible
There are so many ways in which we can approach reading the Bible that it really shouldn’t be an overwhelming task to take on. Once you’ve given your life to Christ, many people don’t know how to get closer to God by reading His word. They can get confused or discouraged.
Don’t let this be the case for you. If reading the whole Bible cover to cover seems daunting, then it’s entirely okay to break it up into small, more manageable pieces or even take it verse by verse. Just ask the Lord to guide you as you open His book, and He will lead you to where you need to be. But, of course, it takes time to hear God speaking through you, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find clarity right away; just keep at it.
Best Bible Verses
There are so many amazing verses in the Bible; how do we find the right ones or the pertinent ones? First, of course, we can try the method we discussed before, praying to God for guidance and then opening to a verse that He wants you to see.
Otherwise, below are some key verses that you might enjoy.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, these verses might bring you some peace:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.†– Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.†– Matthew 6:34 NIV
Read these verses when you’re feeling sad:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.†– Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.†– Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
And if you’re feeling lost in your faith, these verses may help:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” – Numbers 23:19
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” – Romans 15:13
Adding a Personal Touch
Your Bible is a very personal item. It is the book you pick up when you’re feeling shaken in your faith, when things are going badly, and when you need some guidance. There are so many ways you can make your Bible your own, but one of the quickest ways is a new cover.
But which do you choose? They come in all types of material, but the one we most recommend is a high-quality leather cover. You can find some fantastic leather bible covers out there, so why not customize your Bible, or even give a cover to a friend or loved one as a gift? It’s a gift that will last a very long time.
Reap the Rewards
Reading the Bible daily is a good task to take on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Through Scripture, you can get even closer to God, and begin to live how He envisions, through understanding, empathy, and forgiveness.
If you enjoyed reading this article, be sure to have a look at other articles from our Self-Realization category.