The Bible : Users’ manual for your life
How is everything going? Are you thriving? Feeling blessed? Confident in your future? Free from your past?
If yes – Great !!!
If no – Remember, He gave us a users’ manual for this life; The Word of God
The more we focus on it; understand it, internalize it, and apply it, the more He can help us transform ourselves and achieve the purpose He set for us.
You have a choice to find it now and realize your full potential or you can wait until life beats you into desperation and it becomes your last resort.
It has certainly changed my life. Happy to discuss if you wish.
What is it:
The bible is the word of God
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
The word is permanent and unchanging
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”(Matthew 24:35)
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”(Isaiah 40:8)
Why:
God sent his word to help us and guide us
“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4-6)
He has high expectations for his word to create value in us
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)
How:
The word of God is alive and powerful
“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.” (Hebrews 4:12)
We must focus on the word; read it, listen to people discuss it, study it until we understand it and believe it in our heart.
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:22)
We must pay attention, be receptive, and be willing to dig to find understanding
“The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)
“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
You must dig a bit for meaning – it is an important investment
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15)
“All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable.” Matthew 13:34
“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (Matthew 13:10-13)
There are consequences if you do not understand and follow the word of God
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”(Hosea 4:6)
We must do what it says to receive the promised blessings
“…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
If we struggle to understand the meaning, we have a living model of it: Jesus is the word made flesh
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Jesus took sin to the grave – By his stripes you are healed
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5)
“(He)…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
God sent his word to heal you – Focus on his word (Written or in Flesh) and it will Heal you
“He sent His word and healed them” (Psalm 107:20)
Take the initiative – Speak to your mountain
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11:23)
If you have faith and believe, you will receive
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24)
As it is written, So let it be done
Hope this helps