Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Think

"The Bible is written for our transformation, not just information." Have you ever received a message from someone special? Maybe it was a love letter, a private message or an unexpected text. Think about the way you read that message compared to the way you read other, ordinary emails or texts. When we receive a message from someone special we read with an added focus and intensity, trying to get the maximum meaning out of every word. We ask ourselves questions about what we are reading like, "What did they mean when they said..." and the result is we get more out of what we read. The Bible is an incredibly special message to us. It is not a dead document or an archaic book. The Bible is alive with words God wants to use to impact our lives today! But, God doesn't want to just fill our heads with information, he wants to deliver a specific message directly to us that will transform us from the inside out.

Act

When you read the Bible, take the time to ask questions about what you read:

• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a principle to apply?
• Does my life line up with what I read?

When you ask questions about what you read and apply what you learn, you experience the best God has planned for you.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your words in the Bible. Please open my heart to the changes you want to bring about through reading the Bible. In Jesus' name, Amen.