The Power of Encountering God Through His Word

There's something transformative about opening the pages of Scripture. It's not just ink on paper or words on a screen—it's an encounter with the living God himself. As we step into a new year with fresh goals and resolutions, many of us focus on physical health through diet and exercise. But what about our spiritual health? What if the most impactful practice we could begin is simpler than we think?

The Discipline That Changes Everything

Research consistently shows that reading one chapter of the Bible daily, at least five days a week, will exponentially change your life. Think about that for a moment: you're just 15 to 20 minutes away each day from experiencing spiritual growth beyond what you could imagine. The question isn't whether it works—the question is whether we'll commit to it.

The book of Hebrews addresses believers who were tempted to walk away from their faith when times got difficult. The writer reminds them of Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land—how God offered them rest, but they forfeited it through disobedience and unbelief. The parallel is striking: we have access to something even better than a promised land. We have the Promised One, Jesus Christ, who offers rest for our souls.

But experiencing the fullness of this rest requires something from us. Hebrews 4:11 urges us to "strive to enter that rest." There's work to rest—and that work involves walking in obedience to God's Word. It's the evidence of genuine belief.

When You Encounter His Word, You Encounter Him

Hebrews 4:12 declares: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

The Bible isn't just another book on your shelf. It's God-breathed, God-exhaled—the very voice of God speaking directly to you. When you read Scripture, you're hearing from the Creator of the universe. Your opinion about life, truth, and morality doesn't ultimately matter. What matters is God's perspective, His truth, His authority.

Think back to Genesis 1. When God created the universe, He spoke it into existence. "Let there be light," and there was light. His word carries power. It's not just living—it's active, full of energy. The Greek word used here is where we get our word "energy." God doesn't just say things; He does things. When He speaks, transformation happens.

Jesus embodied this perfectly. He spoke to storms, and they obeyed. He commanded demons, and they fled. He called Lazarus from the tomb, and death surrendered to life. This is the power available when we engage with God's Word.

More Than Information—It's Communion

Too often, we approach the Bible like students cramming for an exam, trying to extract facts about a distant subject. But that's not what Scripture is for. Imagine going on a date with someone you're falling in love with, sitting across from them with a notepad, asking questions just to gather information. That would be absurd. You'd want to look into their eyes, listen to their heart, understand what makes them tick.

That's how we should approach God's Word—not as information to collect, but as communion with a Person. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. The same Spirit who inspired Scripture sits with us as we read. We get to meet with the Author himself.

What does this look like practically? Instead of just reading about the disciples abandoning Jesus during His arrest, pause and talk to Him about it. "Jesus, that must have been so painful. Show me the ways I abandon or deny You in my daily life. Help me not to hurt You that way." Suddenly, you're not just reading—you're conversing. He's speaking, and you're responding. That's where transformation happens.

The Primary Way God Speaks

People often ask, "How do I hear God's voice?" The answer is simpler than we think: The primary way God speaks to His people is through His Word. If you want to hear from God, open your Bible.

Now, does God also prompt us with specific nudges, impressions, or directions? Absolutely. But here's the key: God will never prompt you to do something that contradicts what He's already revealed in Scripture. The more you immerse yourself in the Word and know what God has clearly said, the better you'll be able to discern His voice when He gives you those subtle promptings.

It's like learning to recognize a friend's voice. The more time you spend with them, the more easily you identify them in a crowd. Spend time in Scripture, and you'll recognize God's voice more clearly in every area of your life.

When His Word Exposes Us

Here's where it gets uncomfortable—and beautiful. The Word of God doesn't just reveal God to us; it reveals us to ourselves. It's sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating past our defenses and facades to expose the true condition of our hearts.

God sees everything. He knows the secret sins no one else knows. He sees through the good deeds we do for the wrong reasons. He examines not just our behavior but our motives. That can feel overwhelming, even scary.

But here's the truth: reading the Bible doesn't expose you before God. You're already exposed before Him. Reading the Bible exposes you to yourself. It helps you see what you don't see.

James 1:22-25 compares Scripture to a mirror. When we look into God's Word, we see Christ clearly, and in that reflection, we see where we fall short. The blessing comes not just from looking but from acting on what we see—making the changes God reveals.

Grace and Mercy Await

After Hebrews 4:12-13 exposes how thoroughly God's Word reveals us, verses 14-16 offer incredible hope. We have a High Priest, Jesus, who sympathizes with our weaknesses. He lived in human flesh, experienced temptation, and understands our struggles.

And here's the invitation: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

When God's Word exposes our sin, weakness, and failure, we don't run away in shame. We run toward Him with confidence, knowing we'll find grace and mercy. Jesus welcomes us with nail-scarred hands, reminding us that He already paid for every sin, every failure, every shortcoming.

The reason many of us don't spend more time in God's throne room receiving grace and mercy is because we're not in the Word enough to realize how desperately we need it.

Your Invitation

So here's the challenge: commit to reading one chapter of the Bible daily, at least five days a week. Not to check a box or earn God's approval, but to encounter the living God who loves you, who wants to transform you, and who has grace and mercy waiting for you.

Open the door to the throne room. He's waiting.