The Addiction that Changed My Life
When I was living during the darkest and loneliest days of my life, I developed an addiction.
I was in the throes of depression due to years of infertility and repeated miscarriages. I sent 5 babies to heaven when they had grown to between 12 and 20 weeks in utero. It was a time of non-stop grief, dashed hopes, and raging emotions.
In addition to being heartbroken over my circumstances … having empty arms month after month … and being in the throes of a dark and violent depression … it was then that I developed an addiction.
The addiction that I developed was not to over-the-counter drugs … it was not to alcohol … it was not to shopping or chocolate or binge-eating.
The addiction that I developed was to the Word of God.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” - Charles H. Spurgeon
During those days … when the black hole of depression was calling my name … the Bible also was in hot pursuit of my soul.
The power found only in the Word of God helped to heal my profound and relentless depression … before my circumstances ever changed.
“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.” - Ronald Reagan
What the Bible did for me … it can do for you.
How the Bible healed me … it can heal you.
The power in the Bible isn’t only for me … but it is also for you.
And so, today … over the 3 decades from those days of ragged hormones and infertility … I want to share with you five ways that the Bible can change your life.
I know this to be true … because it changed mine.
First of all, the Bible will help you stay focused on what is good.
You will discover that life can be good … because God is always good.
The Bible reminds you that our God is well able to take every situation and circumstance in our lives and use it for our highest good and for His greatest glory.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
The Bible will help you to stay focused on the goodness of God when you wonder what He is doing behind the scenes of your life.
“But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me.” Psalm 109:21
The second profound benefit from reading the Bible is that it will help you deal with temptations and overcome your sin issues in life.
I can tell you this … all of us are tempted to give in to sin.
None of us is immune to moral compromise … impure thoughts … a lack of integrity … or selfish actions.
None. Of. Us.
There is not a man or a woman alive who does not face temptation every single day.
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” - Dwight L. Moody
When the Bible is your guidebook through life, you will develop a magnificent strength that will enable you to overcome sin and defeat compromise in your life.
“How does a young man (woman) keep his (or her) way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word.” Psalm 119:9
Now … this ability to walk away from sin may not happen overnight … but with a steady diet of Scripture and God’s sustaining presence …. suddenly you will notice something!
You are kinder to your spouse and more patient with your mother … what happened to you?!
The Bible happened to you!
You decide not to enter into the gossip at the office … what happened to you?!
The Bible happened to you!
You won’t overspend on the credit cards and justify it as a needful purchase … what happened to you?
The Bible happened to you!
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
The third way that the Bible can revolutionize your life is that it will help you love difficult people!
If you are in constant frustration due to the irregular people in your life, know that God is not surprised by their presence.
He may have strategically placed them in your life because He wants them to see Jesus in you!
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.”
I Corinthians 13: 4 & 5
For this reason alone … it is worth it to read your Bible every day!
Let me tell you … the world is filled with difficult people and it seems that they are attracted to me like bugs to light!
I need God’s help to be patient … loving … and kind … to irregular, dysfunctional, and weird people … and the only way I will accomplish this challenging task is by connecting my heart to the truth of Scripture.
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:44
Fourthly, if you wonder why you were born and what your purpose in life might be … let me assure you that the Bible will definitely help you discover your unique and God-ordained purpose in life!
“Down through the years, I turned to the Bible and found in it all that I needed.” - Ruth Bell Graham
If you have found yourself wallowing in various choices … with a constant lack of direction … and in a purposeless existence … ask God to give you His direction from the Word!
“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
The God who told Noah to build the Ark … who instructed Moses to lead the children of Israel out of slavery … who gave Esther favor with the king … who brought Joseph to Egypt … and who promoted Daniel at his moment in history … is the God of the Bible!
He will lead you just as He led those who lived thousands of years before you.
‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3
And finally, the fifth reason why you should be addicted to the Word of God is because it will enable you to develop a laser focus on the truly important issues of life.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
As human beings, we often magnify the wrong things and minimize the important stuff.
However, when we are committed to the wisdom in the Word of God … our priorities miraculously change … and we are able to focus on the eternal things of life this side of heaven.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8:3 & 4
God’s Word is living and active today and is able to change you from the inside out! Reading your Bible on a daily basis … just may be the best choice that you have ever made.
“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will.” - Billy Graham
And so today … for these 5 reasons and for thousands of others… read your Bible.
Develop a glorious addiction to the Word of God!
You will become the person you were made to be when you delight in His Word!
Thanks for listening to my heart this week. As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart, but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me. And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!