THE BIBLE

Growth is a journey. There are ups, downs, twists, and turns. That is just the nature of growth. It’s seldom linear. What’s more, almost every journey worth taking includes an obstacle or two. That’s especially true of growing in faith.

What is the obstacle? It’s right there between your ears. Every single day you are bombarded with thoughts, ideas, and dreams. Some of them are enjoyable, while others are stressful. Your thoughts control your life. That is especially true when your thoughts transform into actions, and your actions turn into habits. That’s why we want to suggest a crucial habit for your daily life—personal Bible study.

Since our biggest obstacle is likely ourselves, we must incorporate Bible study into our daily lives. What does that have to do with our thoughts, though? Great question. Every day, you get to decide what to concentrate on. You can concentrate on the endless voices saying you are not worthy, you can focus on what someone said about you, you can tune in to all the negative and noisy voices around you, or you can tune in to the voice of God. That’s why Bible study is so crucial.

In His word, He says you’re loved.
In His word, He calls you His child. 
In His word, He says He’s fighting for you. 
In His word, He’d give everything for you.

When you choose to read your Bible every morning, you are slowly changing the little voice in your head. It’ll go from negative to positive. It’ll move from judgmental to merciful. It’ll change from angry to forgiving. Fill your mind with God’s truth every morning, and your day will instantly improve. This practice will empower you to focus on the right things—and that focus will form your future.

Unsurprisingly, the Bible says a lot of things about…itself. There are hundreds of verses that celebrate the good life that overflows from following God’s guidance and aligning your heart with His. When we do this, God doesn’t just speak to us. He walks with us. Let’s take a look at Psalm 119.

READ: PSALM 119:105

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

In this psalm, our spiritual lives are compared to a journey down a dark and winding path. Sadly, life gets dark, so our journey does, too. Oftentimes, it feels like we are hiking on a dark trail at midnight. What do we need on a trail at night? A good light (and closed-toe shoes). Likewise, the Bible serves as our spiritual flashlight. When your thoughts get dark, allow the Bible to turn on the light. When your next step gets foggy, let God’s Word guide you. When your emotions consume you, let Scripture soothe you. God’s Word is a light for our lives.

Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 119’s powerful comparisons between our spiritual path and the light God gives us to guide the way. This passage provides two principles.

1. The Bible Is a Light That Helps Us See Clearly

God’s Word is a light. Simply put, it’s designed to help you see life more clearly. Just like your phone’s flashlight helps you navigate through the dark at night, God’s Word illuminates unfamiliar paths. However obvious, life is far less scary when the lights are on.

This got me thinking of a tourist trap in the middle of a swamp called Disney World. I have loved visiting since I was a child, but there was always one ride that scared me senseless. It’s called “Space Mountain.” This thing is a roller coaster completely enclosed in a pitch-black abyss constructed to make you feel like you are flying through space at hyperspeed. Any trip on Space Mountain always sent me flying to the nearest trashcan directly after exiting.

As far as thrill rides go, though, Space Mountain is not that fast or thrilling at all. Recently, my family got to ride it with the lights on due to a special request from a guest. They asked if we’d be okay riding with the lights on, and we shrugged and said, “Why not?” We buckled up, waved at the ride operator, and were ready to launch into pretend space. After the little countdown sequence hit zero, we launched into…a well-lit warehouse. Truly, this roller coaster was lame with the lights on. You never drop farther than a few feet. You never twist upside down. Also, you are only going like 15 miles an hour with a top speed of 23. It’s like a kiddie roller coaster at the local fair.

Why was it so different with the lights on? It’s because the track became predictable. We were not surprised by a small drop, a sudden turn, or a quick speed bump. The light helped us prepare our emotions for the next step, and it transformed a typically scary ride into a predictable bore.

Since God’s Word is a light, it makes life less scary. Notice that the Bible is an everyday lamp unto your feet, not those obnoxious LED headlights that blind you on the highway. This distinction is significant. Ancient lamps were not made with LEDs or lightbulbs. They were tiny, flickering fires.

Simply put, they didn’t put out that much light. They only lit the little area right around your feet. Why is this important? God’s Word is designed to help you in your daily moments and movements. Allow it to guide your very next step. You may not be able to see far into the future, but you can certainly see your next best step with God’s help. Read the Bible daily and put those steps into practice. When you do, you are moving forward into the future God has for you. Focus on your next step, and God will focus on your future.

2. The Bible Is a Compass That Gives Us Direction

God’s Word helps you see clearly, and it also gives you direction. Every page is designed to give you practical guidance for your day. Like Apple Maps for your soul, it gives you step-by-step directions in bite-sized snippets designed to get you to your final destination. When you make a mistake, it reroutes you. When you get stuck, it helps you find a way out. That is why the practice of Bible study is one of the most significant investments you can make in a day. It gives you direction for the next step and peace for what’s farther ahead.

How does a devotional practice make our daily lives better? In Proverbs, Solomon explains, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). There is one crucial distinction between following God and a handy phone app like Google Maps or Waze. Unlike a GPS that can only tell you where to go, God can change the route in real-time. He doesn’t just light the path. He has the supernatural ability to make it straight for you.

When you don’t know where you’re heading, just keep moving forward in faith. Thanks to your routine of Bible study, God will reveal your next steps and rebuild your route. Just like exercise or meditation, reading Scripture can become a daily routine that makes all the difference.

If you don’t know where to begin, just start with a small goal. Commit to reading Scripture every day for the rest of Growth Track. Please make this a huge priority, as God’s Word will be your guide. As we work through Growth Track, we will do this work together—celebrating our progress and learning from any inevitable slip-ups.

The Bible isn’t just a book—it’s a lamp that lights up your path and a compass that keeps you on track on your journey with Jesus. Since God’s Word is your guide, your Bible study practice will be the energy that keeps you steady and the clarity that helps you see what’s ahead. So, what is holding you back? Start today. Switch on those spiritual headlights and allow God’s Word to dictate the direction in your life.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week, and what was the lowest part of your week?

Q1: How does reading the Bible every day help people grow? 

Q2: Has God ever spoken to you through a Bible passage? How did that impact you?

Q3: If reading the Bible every day is so beneficial, why do you think so many Christians struggle to consistently read God’s Word?

Q4: What advice can we share with each other that could help us add Bible study into our daily routines?

Q5: There are many ways to do Bible study. You can simply read through the Bible, journal while reading the Bible, work through plans in the YouVersion Bible app, listen to messages in the LFC circles app, or find Bible study workbooks. What method of individual, daily Bible study would you most enjoy?

Application: How and when can you commit to reading the Bible daily?