We live in a self-help, self-care society. People spend hundreds of dollars each year on products or programs that will make them feel or look better. Books. Classes. Manicures. Massages. Vitamins. Therapy sessions. Life coaches. Fitness programs. Botox. Medicines. Rehab. Yoga. Shopping. Weightlifting.
But recent research shows your life can be changed just by reading your Bible every day. The Center of Bible Engagement surveyed 40,000 people from the ages of 8 to 80. Asking about how they engaged the Bible, they discovered profound results. If someone engaged with Scripture one or two times a week, there was negligible difference in their lives. If they read their Bible three times a week, there was a slight difference in the behavior of the reader. However, the true-life change came if someone read their Bible four or more times a week. Though the researchers expected a steady increase and impact, the effects were mind-blowing with both emotional, physical, and spiritual results.
- Emotionally, the respondents noticed that their feelings changed after reading the Bible. Their loneliness dropped by 30%. Their anger issues decreased by 32%. Their bitterness in relationships dropped 40%.
- Physically, they saw incredible results too! Alcoholism decreased by 57%. Sex outside of marriage dropped 68% and viewing pornography decreased 61%.
- Spiritually, the people were revitalized. Their feelings of stagnancy in their spiritual walk dropped 60%. They began to share their faith. Evangelism jumped 200%! And this led to discipling others which jumped 230%.
What the Bible Says
This shouldn’t surprise us, because God’s Word attests to the power it can have in our lives:
“For the message of the cross…is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18)
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16)
How to Read the Bible Every Day
So, if we want to experience a true-life change, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on the latest fad or trend, featured by self-help, self-care gurus. You need to read your Bible. In addition to emotional, physical, and spiritual impacts, some other things that daily Bible reading will change in your life are:
- Worldview: A worldview is how we understand and perceive the world in which we live. It can be thought of like eyeglasses, because it is a comprehensive viewpoint from which we see and answer the basic questions of life. When we read the Bible every day, it shapes our worldview (Rom. 12:2). We begin to think rightly about God. We begin to recognize our sinful ways and rely on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We learn how we can have eternal life. In addition, we begin to understand historical and future events more properly, in view of God’s redemptive plan. Our worldview offers us a new way of interacting with our culture and dealing with ethical issues that surround us. Most importantly, a worldview shaped by Scripture offers meaning and purpose for life.
- Wisdom: Every day, you and I need wisdom. We need wisdom in our marriages and families. We need wisdom in our workplace and the decisions we need to make. We need wisdom with our finances and friendships. We need wisdom with our time management. God promises in His word that if we ask Him, He will give us wisdom (Jas. 1:5). And someone who seeks wisdom in His Word through daily Bible reading grows in godly wisdom and can make wise decisions in this life.
- Words: As we read God’s Word, our words begin to change as well. That’s because Scripture changes our hearts. We begin to know God and love God more. And the Bible tells us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) So, as our hearts change, our words change. Instead of using our words to tear down someone else, or gossip, or belittle, our words can be used to build up and encourage others.
So, is it important to read your Bible every day? Yes, because by simply doing so, it can change your life.
Tara Dew
Tara Dew is a national speaker, author, Bible teacher, and President’s Wife at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). She has loved Jesus for as long as she can remember, trusting Him to be her Savior at the age of five years old at a Billy Graham Crusade. She felt called to ministry in the high school youth group, where she also met her husband, Jamie. They have been married for 25 years and have been blessed with two sets of twins: Natalie & Nathan and Samuel & Samantha. Her primary ministry is to her family, as many hours of each day are spent homeschooling their four children.
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