I remember opening an old box that my mom had given me after coming down to visit for a few days. I was in my early twenties and living on my own, so it was the last batch of random things that I left at home after moving out, and my mom thought it was time to pass it along to me. I opened the box, and most of it was junk that I did not need anymore. But one item in that box caught my attention – the bible my parents gave me when I was a child. It was a pale pink Precious Moments bible with my name inscribed in metallic letters. I’ll be honest, I had forgotten about this special gift, and seeing it for the first time in so long made me remember the few times I had opened it up and tried to read it as a young girl – not really understanding what I was reading, it usually got flipped closed pretty quickly. Now, as a young woman in my twenties, I was feeling very lost and stagnant in my faith. I looked at the cover of this bible and thought, I wonder if it will make sense to me now. I flipped it open, skimmed through the first few chapters… and I was hooked. I had finally found something to give me guidance and direction and fill my spirit.
Reading the bible has helped me grow in so many areas of my life but something else that I have gained through this practice is the blessing of getting to know My Savior – who He is, what He has done for me, and what I mean to Him. Creating a relationship with God that was once surface level and distant but is now very close, deep and special. Learning about God through the scriptures has provided me with a sturdy anchor to cling to when life inevitably gets turbulent. What a blessing it is to have God’s word right at our fingertips so we can learn about Him, grow our relationship with Him, and gain divine instruction for our lives. I’m reminded of a song called Know You as You Are. Here are a few lines –
I don’t want to walk through the motions
If I miss the great invitation
To know You God
I don’t want to check all the boxes
Living unaware of Your presence
I want to know You God
I want to know You
More than just know about you
I want to know You as You are
I want to see You
Open the doorway of my heart
I want to know You as You are (Shane and Shane)
Whether or not you have kept up with reading the Bible or have fallen off the path (as we all do sometimes), I pray that you will feel energized to continue your reading through the scriptures. I pray that as you read, God will plant a genuine thirst in your heart to know Him more clearly, in turn strengthening the bond between you and Your Savior.
Jessie Parker, Director of Childcare Administration
