When your child reaches their teenage years, it may seem that he or she doesn’t want or need your physical or emotional affection. But perhaps more than any time in their life, teenagers need the security of unconditional love from their parents.

Your Kids Just Want to Know They’re Loved

A young girl wrote these song lyrics about her absentee dad:

I wear your old clothes, your polo sweater. I dream of another you, the one who would never leave me alone to pick up the pieces — a daddy to hold me. That’s what I needed.

That young girl, Lindsay Lohan, would grow up to record those words in her song “Confessions of a Broken Heart.” She would perform in movies, be in and out of jail, go to rehab and struggle to “get her act together.” When we look beyond Lindsay’s erratic behavior, we see a girl in desperate search of her father’s love.

Another example: An extraordinarily talented 5-year-old boy was rehearsing songs with his four brothers for an upcoming TV special. The boys’ father was frustrated that the boys weren’t getting their parts just right. The little boy wanted clarification, so he addressed his father. “Daddy,” he began. Interrupting him, his father stated sternly, “I’m not your father right now. I’m your manager and don’t you ever forget it.”

Little Michael Jackson never did forget that moment. A few years before his death, Michael was speaking to students at Oxford University to his newly formed foundation, Help the Children. About fifteen minutes into his presentation he began to weep. After regaining his composure, Michael vulnerably shared: “I just wanted a dad. I wanted a father to show me love. But I never once heard my father say, ‘Michael, I love you.’”

More than fortune or fame. More than peer acceptance. More than anything else your kids can dream for. They mostly want to know you are there for them with unconditional love.

You don’t toss out your rules or lower your boundaries to protect them. Your kids need those rules and boundaries to feel secure. But they also need your rules and boundaries within the context of your loving relationship. The power of your love will be the motivating factor in their being able to make sound moral choices.

Demonstrate Your Unconditional Love

Here’s a suggestion: Go to your child or teenager right now and surprise them with a big hug. As you wrap your arms around them, tell them, “I love you.” Commit to letting them see you model your love every day. As you do, you will provide the security that you really are there for them with unfailing love.

Your loving relationship can empower your kids to believe right, embrace godly values, and live in ways that honor Him. That’s the power of love.

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> Need to talk to your kids about sex? Check out this bonus Chapter from Josh McDowell’s book Straight Talk.

> Check out the other parenting resources in our store.

> Want to hear Josh’s story of how he overcame his own difficult childhood? Click here to  learn about Josh’s journey!

 

Life often feels like an ongoing battle. On a raging battlefield, what protects a soldier? Armor. Can you imagine any soldier stepping onto the battlefield without it? He or she would be defenseless, cut down in minutes!

In the book of Ephesians, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul uses the analogy of armor to describe how Christians can create a strong spiritual defense against the world’s secular influence. I’ve laid out each piece of the armor Paul mentions, for us to discern their unique purposes and to see how they strengthen and sustain us with God’s supernatural power.

The Armor of God 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Paul uses a lot of great metaphors in this passage to help us to understand how God can empower us to resist temptation and do good. As we go through each piece of armor, make note of whether you’re already wearing it.

Belt of Truth

Truth is a central theme in the Bible. Jesus, for example, proclaims himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” When I get confused by the world’s perspective of truth and lies, I turn to the Bible’s truth to gain clarity. Reading about Jesus’ teachings to his disciples really helps me to know what is true.

Breastplate of Righteousness

Righteousness is about applying God’s truth to our lives. In verse 14 Paul tells us to wear “righteousness like armor on your chest.” Most of our vital organs are located in our chest area. Our heart and lungs, for example. But Paul is actually referring to the condition of our heart.

Seeking to live with righteousness influences how we think, how we treat others, and how we respond to situations and temptations. But to live righteously, we must base our thoughts and actions on God’s standard of righteousness, not our own personal standard.

There are times when I get irritated with someone. But God’s Word tells me how to respond: with humility. Knowing this helps me to keep my temper in check. God knows my heart, and he is pleased when I choose to respond in ways that honor him. It’s not always easy, but I’m getting better at it each day.

Gospel of Peace

In verse 15 Paul tells us to fit our feet “with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” To demonstrate God’s righteousness, we should look like Jesus in how we treat others. Our words and actions matter to God, because every single person matters to God.

The world does all it can to entice us to live self-centeredly. But living to our own standard of righteousness tends to create drama and conflict. But when we stay focused on the Gospel, we gain a “readiness” to live in peace with others.

Shield of Faith

Paul then tells us to “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”

In Paul’s time, armies added fire to their arrows, to cause more damage when attacking their enemies. The Romans designed their shields to withstand these flames. Similarly, our faith in God shields us from fiery attacks. And the deeper we know and trust God, the stronger our faith grows.

One way that I grow my faith is by daily reading the Bible, which shows me God’s nature. This knowledge helps me to see when Satan tries to lead me into unrighteousness. I also build my faith by praying. Especially when I feel anxious. I always feel stronger after I spend quiet time with God.

Helmet of Salvation/Sword of the Spirit

In verse 17 Paul tells us to “take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Wearing the helmet of salvation protects our head, but it also changes our heart.

Because I know that God has promised to forgive my sin, I can ignore Satan when he tries to tell me that God hasn’t really forgiven me, and doesn’t really love me. Or that I’m not really saved. I like thinking of the Holy Spirit as a sword to help me battle Satan’s lies.

The Word of God is our defense against worldly arguments, and a weapon to dismantle them. As I read my Bible, I am growing my knowledge of God’s truth. I want to fully understand the Bible, so I pray over its meaning and research what confuses me. I also seek the counsel of the people of faith that God has placed in my life to help me gain clarity.

We leave ourselves vulnerable to attack if we leave off even one piece of armor. Are there any pieces of armor you need to add to be protected by God’s supernatural power?

NEXT STEPS

> Interested in knowing God personally? Get started here.
> Need prayer? Contact us. We would love to pray for you!

GUEST BLOGGER CLAYTON THOMAS CARTER, A STUDENT IN PLANO, TEXAS, IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE KNOWLEDGE OF A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. HE ENJOYS PLAYING TRUMPET AND SERVING AT HIS CHURCH.

Let’s first agree on what faith is. The Bible doesn’t say, “Throw your mind away and believe in someone or something blindly.” Rather, it says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). The two important words there are assurance and conviction, which stem from personal knowledge. You have faith that planes are safe, for example, because of FAA rules that keep them flying. You had faith in a parent who cared well for you. You have faith that the sun will set and rise. The Israelites put their faith in God after seeing Moses perform numerous miracles.

Our faith in Christ grows from our knowledge of him. Despite not being able to touch, hear, or see him, you can trust that he loves you and is working for your good by getting to know his character, his heart, and his desires for you. This knowledge allows you to draw close and dig deep during the times your faith is tested by the hardships of life.

Scripture tells us, “These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than pure gold” (1 Peter 1:7). How are you handling those fires?

Each test, even the ones you fail, are drawing you closer to reliance on God’s unwavering love. Your faith is allowing God to transform your life – and the lives of those watching your Christian walk.

Question: Why does the bible say it’s impossible to please God without faith? (Hebrews 11:6)
Question: What area(s) of your life are easiest and hardest, when it comes to trusting God fully?

Content adapted from Josh and Sean McDowell’s book, 77 FAQs about God and the Bible.

Each time you and I are confronted with a moral choice, we’re at a crossroad. Do we make the right choice, or a wrong one?

There is a relational process of making right choices that, if we follow it, will bring God’s protection and provision into our lives. Josh McDowell calls this the 4 “Cs.” Let’s review them.

> The first C of Right Choices: Consider the Choice

You probably don’t realize how many choices you make on a daily basis. But here’s a nifty experiment: Tomorrow, from sun up to sun down, write down every single choice you make. The big ones, but also the tiny ones.

It might surprise you to see just how many choices you make on a single day. You’ll also see that you make a lot of choices on autopilot, from past thoughts, feelings, and habits you brought into the day.

After you choose to get out of bed, and head to the kitchen, do you choose a donut or an apple for breakfast? We all know which choice is better for our bodies. But the sugary donut tastes so good! So what helps you to decide?

> The second C of Right Choices: Compare the Choice to God

As you begin to think about your day, you likely jump into some level of anxiety, depending on what you have going on. Each of your thoughts then create feelings. When you have a moral choice to make, it’s critical to recognize that your thoughts and feelings will definitely influence you if you’re not actively monitoring them. “We must,” notes Josh, “pause long enough to remind ourselves that we are facing an opportunity for a right or wrong decision.”

Building the habit of that pause matters. Because it gives us time to consider how God wants us to live. Will our choice reflect God’s nature, or mirror our own selfish human nature? It’s not easy letting go of our ego and our hurts, our prejudices and our biases. But in his Word God has specifically told us how to live — from how to handle money issues to how to treat others — to help us to not sin.

We’re human, so we’re gonna mess up. Some days it FEELS like we’re one big prickly blob of feelings. Those are the hard days to get through, for sure. But that’s why God has given us so much guidance in the Bible about making right choices. When we read the Bible, we gain an inner compass to know if our choice will honor God. And if we do screw up and make the wrong choice, that compass (the Holy Spirit) works on us, to lovingly lead us back to restitution with others and God.

God knows we’re not perfect. This isn’t a discussion about perfection. It’s about encouraging you to commit to living to God’s standard, for your benefit. Life is hard enough; why make it harder for yourself through your thoughts and actions?

> The third C of Right Choices: Commit to God’s Way

This is our daily struggle, because of our inherent sinful nature. But it gets easier to make choices that honor God as we daily build this habit. It helps to know yourself really well. What thoughts, feelings, and habits do you keep repeating from the past that are hindering you from making God-honoring choices? What do you need to release to change your heart and mind?

As our thoughts and feelings do so strongly influence our behavior, we have to take them “captive,” as the Bible puts it. We don’t have to dwell on the automatic thoughts that pop into our head from our subconscious. We can send them packing by saying, “No. I reject that thought. I choose to think this one, instead.”

You know how bowling lanes have lane bumpers they can put down to prevent gutter balls? When you actively monitor the thoughts and feelings you allow to influence your choices, so that you choose God’s ways, you add helpful bumpers to your life.

> The fourth C of Right Choices: Count on God’s Protection and Provision

Living to God’s holy standard brings us many spiritual blessings, including freedom from guilt, a clear conscience, and far less drama than we will experience if we live to our own standard. God also promises to bless us physically, emotionally, psychologically, and relationally — in his timing, and in his ways.

Take joy in the fact that you’re spiritually maturing every time you choose to make a right choice that align with God’s nature. Your choices, especially your moral choices, matter more than you realize. Because they have a supernatural component. Some of your choices will ripple out, others could hold the power of tsunami waves.

“As followers of Christ,” notes Josh, “we need to learn how to resist our natural tendency to decide for ourselves what is right or wrong and choose God’s way.”

Next Steps

> Do you want to know more about God’s loving nature? Start here.
> We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, to understand the depth of God’s love for each of us.

What is it that you and I long for most? Loving relationships.

To belong. To be in loving, meaningful relationships with others. And that shouldn’t surprise us, because God MADE us that way. He planted within us his capacity for loving relationships, his “relational DNA.”

God gave us his ability to love, so that we would “do life” in loving relationship with others.

As Genesis 1 tells us, God created humans in his own image; he patterned our design after himself. God wants us to experience life through loving relationship, just as he has done in perfect harmony as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches us that life is sacred at every stage, and that every person matters. Christianity is meant to be a tangible expression of God’s love.

To do Christianity “right” requires that we seek to walk in love. And to be in “right relationship” with others requires that we see them with the value that God does.

We are unique, one-of-a-kind individuals, each with our own gifts, talents, and personality. You may wish you had someone else’s talents, or someone else’s life. That’s understandable, as we tend to play the comparison game and get sucked into society’s view of “success” rather than God’s.

But if we believe that God specifically created us for his purposes, we can choose to trust and appreciate that. Then we can surrender our egos and let go of comparison. We can look forward to partnering with God, finding joy in developing our best selves so that we are open to being used by him.

We have to offer ourselves grace as we do this growing — and offer it to others, as we’re all messy humans in the process of sanctification. What fuels relationships is kind, generous, authentic connection. Lifting each other up, rather than tearing each other down. Remembering that love is always the goal.

Our universal need for connection and acceptance might sound like this: “I’m not perfect. Please allow me to make mistakes. Please look beyond my failures and imperfection and love me anyway.”

When we relate to God and to each other through the lens of love, as he planned, we bring him glory. Our human efforts to love don’t compare to God’s love, of course. He’s a master painter; at best we’re preschoolers scribbling in a coloring book. But God is not surprised by this. And he has far more faith in us, perhaps, than we do ourselves.

In our best moments, when we do love others exceedingly well, he is delighted.

Next Steps

> Do you want to know more about God’s loving nature? Start here.
> We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, to understand the depth of God’s love for each of us.

“the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down.” ~Psalm 146:8

Jesus identifies with our feelings, including our personal pain. By becoming human, Jesus experienced daily life as a baby, child, teenager, and man. In his ministry, in which he selflessly poured himself out, he suffered embarrassment, humiliation, abandonment, betrayal, and rejection. He knows how it feels to be emotionally and physically broken by other people.

Whatever pain you’re feeling today, know that God fully understands, and is near. You are seen and supported.

For 50+ years, Josh McDowell Ministry has been leading seekers into a deeper knowledge of God’s truth and power. 

Trust God With Your Pain

Jesus is both God and human, so we can trust that he FULLY understands our pain. And because we’re his children, when we hurt, he hurts, like any good dad. If you’re pulling away from him, because you’re thinking that he might not understand, think again. God may allow us to go through pain, but we can bank on this: What God allows, God also promises to work through for our good. This doesn’t make us feel better, perhaps, but it gives our pain purpose.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Pain holds the potential to help us grow, unless we allow it to make us bitter. Pain also can expand our empathy and compassion. Who better for God to use to help someone in fresh pain, than someone who has passed through it? Our willingness to sit in another’s pain with them is a gift without measure.

God works through relationships. He tells us to do life together, supporting one another, so that when we are down, others can left us up. Isolating ourselves, which we tend to want to do when we’re in pain, isn’t helpful. It’s also not healthy to hold pain in. When we’re hurting, we need others to come along side us and remind us that things will work out. We need others to listen, to help us process through it. We need to feel like we’re not alone. And we’re not, because God is always near.

When you are in pain, picture God settling in beside you. Hear him say, “When you hurt, I hurt. I’m here. Want to tell me about it?” 

NEXT STEPS:

• Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus? Start here.
• We invite you to read Josh’s book, More Than a Carpenter, to learn how much Jesus loves you.
  
• Check out our Resolution Movement, to overcome hurt and thrive!

Let’s talk about faith.

Faith is an important and recurring theme in the Bible. Believers are called to put their faith in God’s word. But what is faith, and why is it so important that we develop it? Does faith change our lives?

The Bible provides what I consider to be the definitive answer. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” Faith is believing in God’s power, and taking comfort in his promises.

We gain mountain-moving power when we place our lives in God’s hands!

Faith Is Trusting God’s Power

In Matthew 17:14-20, the disciples are unable to drive out a demon from a man’s son until Jesus shows them how it’s done. When his disciples ask why they couldn’t drive out the demon, Jesus tells them it’s because they lacked faith. If they had faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, he adds, they could command a mountain to move, and it would do so.

We find the power of faith also demonstrated in Matthew 8:5-13, when a Roman centurion runs up to Jesus to ask that his servant be healed. Jesus asks the centurion if he wants him to accompany him to his house. The centurion demonstrates his faith by replying, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed.”Jesus marvels at his faith, and does as he asks. The centurion returns home, to find that his servant was healed at the exact time the centurion was speaking with Jesus.

Faith is Trusting God’s Goodness

Doubt can be considered an enemy of faith (Matthew 17:14-20). When looking around, it can feel like the world is crashing down around you. But God hasn’t left us alone. And he’s given us tools to help us keep our faith strong.

God’s Word tells the story of his goodness and guiding hand throughout history. Even when things fell apart, God still had a plan. And nothing can thwart it. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:28, which reminds us, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

God’s power is demonstrated through his creation. The natural world is so intently and complexly designed that scientists still struggle to comprehend much of it. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.”We can have faith in God’s power, because we can trust in his goodness.

Keep Feeding Your Faith

If something isn’t fed, it dies. The same is true for our faith. So we must continuously strengthen it. I keep my faith strong by studying my Bible and reviewing my favorite encouraging Bible verses, some of which I listed earlier. Praying is another way I keep my faith strong. Prayer helps me to talk to God, which deepens my relationship with him. God wants to be in a personal relationship with each of us.

How do we deepen our relationship with him? With faith, time, and communication. We build our faith in God as we deepen our trust in his goodness and power.

Are you actively building your faith? In what ways has God proven his goodness and power to you? In what ways have you demonstrated to God that you have faith in him?

NEXT STEPS

> Interested in helping people to know God personally? Get started here.
> Need prayer? Contact us. We would love to pray for you!

GUEST BLOGGER CLAYTON THOMAS CARTER, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN PLANO, TEXAS, IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE KNOWLEDGE OF A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. HE ENJOYS PLAYING TRUMPET AND SERVING AT HIS CHURCH.

Have you ever had a day like this? A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day where one thing after another keeps piling up, as it did for Job, one of the Bible’s most inspiring characters? 

“One day … a messenger came to Job and said, ‘…the Sabeans attacked…’

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘…fire…burned up the sheep and the servants…’
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans…swept down on your camels…’
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters … are dead…’ 

In all this Job did not … blame God.”

Is Job’s response amazing, or what?!

It seems like the whole past year of my life has been mostly made up of bad days. One very bad day, in particular, everything seemed to go south in just hours: expensive car repairs, a sprained ankle, hospital admissions, and even a stroke and the deaths of people I love. 

In our moments of “Not one more thing!,” do we find it in us to respond like Job? Or is it our instinct to blame God?

While it’s perfectly normal and healthy to deal with high stress with crying, yelling, or a long nap, our minds typically tempt us to search for who or where we can place blame or guilt. 

In sharing my frustration with others, someone brought up Buddhism’s First Noble Truth: “All of the things a person goes through in life cause suffering…” I would mostly agree. Even the Bible says, “In this world you will have trouble and suffering…” 

But Buddhism and Christianity diverge significantly:
Buddhism: “[A person] cannot do anything about it.”
Christianity: “But cheer up! I have conquered the world.”

Deep in my despair, I won’t blame God. Because he promises that he is more powerful than our troubles and suffering. As we turn to him:

• We can have calm within our mind and body to think clearly and ride out the storm.
• We can hang onto the promise that our problems won’t last forever.
• We are reminded that our problems often resolve, as we wait and watch. 

I don’t always understand the purpose in my suffering, but I can place my hope and trust in God for healing, provision, and insights. I can experience a sense of deep calm, instead of being wrecked by the chaos. I wonder if Job was able to not blame God because he, too, had learned that God keeps his promises. Despite the calamity trying to overwhelm him, Job clung to God’s goodness and power.  

God promises to work for the good of those who love him, which gives us hope and solid footing when the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days attempt to destroy us. 

When some of these days literally brought me to my knees, I was only able to keep going because God has a proven track record with me. I have seen him show up, time and time again, ultimately providing for my needs and hurts — whether a new job, car, or a calmed spirit. So, no, I won’t blame God for my very bad days. He’s my rock and anchor when the waves of life get really big.

> Is God good? Is he trustworthy? Click here to read this blog post.

> Need prayer? Contact us. We would love to pray for you!

GUEST BLOGGER CHRISTINA GORDON ENJOYS INSPIRING AUDIENCES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE.

Does the noise of the world get to you, too?

Living in an age where, because of the internet, everything can be shared on a whim, we are constantly exposed to all the different views and opinions of the world. It all can feel very confusing, especially if we’re teens struggling to figure out our path in life.

As someone living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), sometimes all the noise can really get to me. But when I find myself overwhelmed, I know there is one solid foundation that I can always turn to for clear direction: the Bible.

Peace Amid the Noise

The Bible is the Word of God, given to humanity so that we might know God’s character, His will, and who we are in Him, through Christ. His Word details the creation of the universe and humanity (Genesis 1 and 2), the way to salvation (John 3), and historical events in which we can see God at work. Its expansive writings are amazing and encouraging — and convicting. It’s great stuff.

What is it about the Bible that makes it a worthy foundation for our lives? The Bible’s reliability is based on two facts: One, God is good and wants to guide us in our daily lives. Two, the Bible is history, so we are reading the experiences of other real, flawed people. We get to see how God worked in their lives.

When I was a kid, I needed the guidance and wisdom of my parents to gain knowledge as I physically matured. God, our Creator and spiritual Father, gives us guidance and wisdom to mature spiritually. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.” James 1:5 adds: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.”

Due to my sinful nature, I am prone to faltering and disobeying God. It’s the same with you, too. But in His goodness, God shows us how to live well. His Word is like a mirror: It helps us to become aware of our sin, to see our need for repentance, and to turn to God for His ceaseless love and forgiveness. We can live with that assurance.

History is a great teacher. It is a blessing to be able to read the Bible and learn from the failure and victories of real people — from Adam and Eve, to the Jewish prophets and kings, to the committed disciples who spread the Gospel message far and wide. In reading their stories, we get to see the heart of God, and His understanding and patience for us. He knows we’re human!

Though I am still in my teens, I recognize that daily life can feel like standing in the midst of a storm. But every storm has an eye; a place of peace, despite the chaos. The Bible is that eye for me. The quiet space where I can feel God’s peace, and where I can gain wisdom and confidence.

What “storm” is causing you distress right now?  

Today, open your Bible. Ask God to meet with you, and to provide you with peace and clarity as you read His Word. God is not distant; He is always near. His Word grounds us in the midst of noise and chaos.

NEXT STEPS

> Interested in helping people to know God personally? Get started here.
> Need prayer? Contact us. We would love to pray for you!

GUEST BLOGGER CLAYTON THOMAS CARTER, A STUDENT IN PLANO, TEXAS, IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE KNOWLEDGE OF A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW. HE ENJOYS PLAYING TRUMPET AND SERVING AT HIS CHURCH.

The Bible discusses many topics, from our human limitations and weaknesses, to the nature of life, to the sublime magnificence of our God. Much more than a descriptive list of facts, Scripture hints at the truth of things – the essence and purpose of God’s creation – the things that are real beyond our human interpretation and perception.

I read Scripture because I want to understand who God is, and what He wants of me. I don’t fully understand all of the Bible, but I have been finding God as I linger in it. Perhaps the way I connect with God in His Word can work for you, too, if you’re struggling to connect. 

Why Read God’s Word

It’s frustrating that we can’t fully understand all that we read in the Bible, for numerous reasons. We often bring our subjective lens to the text, which can change the intended meaning. Or we take the text out of context, and end up making wrong assumptions. But it’s often because we hurriedly skim as we read, rather than taking the time to ponder, because we want to check “Read Bible” off our busy daily to-do list.

We can fix these issues. But a bigger reason we can feel a disconnect with the Bible is because we lack God’s knowledge and perspective. Which can make reading the Bible feel like work. But God repeatedly tells us to dive into His Word, with delight, because we need its knowledge to have a firm understanding of what Christianity is all about.

First, Scripture tells us who God is. Second, the Bible tells us who we are — and why Christ selflessly chose to die for us on the cross. God’s Word gives us peace, which we need in a world that feels increasingly anxious. As 1 Corinthians 13:12 reminds us, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Finding God in Scripture is for our benefit. So how can we best grasp God’s truths? There’s no right way. But what I do know: “Get in, get out” doesn’t work with the Bible. Finding God requires that we build the habit of lingering with Him to really know Him.

Finding God As I Linger 

God chose to give me an engineer’s mind. That means that I approach any task or problem from numerous angles, with various methods, as I seek out the best solution.

So when I read the Bible, my logical brain kicks into overdrive. I don’t read just one translation, but many translations — which I compare! I also research words in Hebrew or Greek, to better understand subtleties and nuances in the original text. I also read commentaries, just to learn what respected theologians think. Like I said, I’m a geek! And I know I have a lot to learn.

But I can be so analytical and methodical in my approach that I often miss the overall message. It’s like observing a painting with such focused scrutiny, that I can only see the brushstrokes and blobs of paint, not the subject matter. 

Especially if I read the words silently in my head. My geeky brain not only filters out the overall theme, but much of the poetry and beauty of the words. Or my thoughts wander, or the words knock around in my head, without making sense.

So here’s what I do: I read Scripture out loud. It’s as if, in the timbre and nuances of my voice, the poignant request of my yearning heart for God amplifies. I feel an emotional connection with God, and am able to fully focus on what He wants me to learn.

As I speak His Word aloud, God’s presence pierces my heart with a deep assurance and certainty. Not a logical certainty, not anything I can put into words or grasp with my mind, but certain nonetheless — fair and true and deeply wonderful. I am seen. I am loved. I am known.

My soul opens, and I am able to catch incandescent glimpses of our God’s magnificence. My tears of joy are the truest response of my heart’s overflowing gratitude. I am blown away that the Creator of the universe wants to be known by me!

See If It Works For You

So, that’s my daily practice, if you want to give it a try. As you read God’s Word aloud, imagine that you hear Him speaking. Read slowly. Savor the words. Emotionally connect with the message. There is always something that God wants to reveal to us, when we give Him our pause to do so.

We discern the ineffable beauty of God more with our open and surrendered hearts than we do with our logical minds. Finding God becomes a sacred event when we get in His Word and allow Him to connect with us. It doesn’t matter that we don’t understand everything in it. Our walk with God is about our journey, not just our destination.

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Guest blogger Dan Muenchau is a retired engineer who enjoys showing the love of God to others.