God made us in His image to have an eternal relationship with Him. The names that He gives Himself to be used by those who believe and follow Him are numerous. Words like: Lord, Friend, Shepherd, Teacher, and Father all reflect a God who wants to be with us and wants us to know, love, and obey Him. By spending quality time with God, He will draw near to us and teach us what we need to know to be a light in this world. Because we were created in the image of God, we have the capacity to grow in the knowledge of God that will guide us to fulfilling our purpose in this life with God at our side.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” (Colossians 2:6). “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) Do it for God, but more importantly, do it with God. Why is it so hard for us to choose to spend time with God through His Word? It is because Satan battles for control of our hearts, minds, and souls. Satan wants to destroy our faith and desire to know and love Jesus. The Liar tells us that this life is all about us, and we do not need a relationship with God, except for those things that we can’t control. God makes it clear that there is one way to Him, and it is through His Son who died for us.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I have come that you have life” (John 10:10).

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Life does not work without God. His way of teaching us who He is and how to live is for us to read His Word. I can say with assurance that the Bible is the Word of God and can be proven so. The way it was written by the Scribes, the comparisons to other works of antiquity, the prophecies, the artifacts that verify people and places in the Bible, and the writers of the time of Jesus, who confirmed what the Bible says about Jesus. Historian and writer Floyd McElveen wrote: “The New Testament documents are far more numerous, older, demonstrably more accurate historically, and have been examined by a far greater battery of scholars, both friend, and foe, than all the other ancient manuscripts put together. They have met the test impeccably!”

Throughout the Bible, God tells us why we should read and obey what it says. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The Bible is called “God’s Word” for a reason. The Jews call the Bible God’s love letter to us. He inspired writers to write it so that we would read it! Imagine. The God of the Universe wants to talk to you. He wants you to know Him well, as a friend, and for you to know how much he loves you. He has a plan for you to experience His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through reading the Word and talking with Him through prayer, the fruit of your relationship with God will become a reality. If you want to begin to be led by God, I suggest that you ask a Christian friend how to find the right devotional and a good study Bible. If you are a new believer or someone searching for God, get a Bible and begin reading the book of John. Make a habit of reading the Word daily, then will get your mind and Spirit in sync for the day. Ask God to teach you as you read. God will show us the right path to take when we seek Him. The more we listen to God through His Word and prayer, the better we will distinguish His voice from the other noises in our heads. Jesus is our Shepherd who promises that He will lead us in the way we should go. “He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:4)