Betsy de Cruz

Do you ever feel like you have to pray just right, or it won’t work?

Let’s ask God to remake us and renew our minds today.

This story teaches us several life principles to help us navigate hard situations with courage.

Growing up, I thought the Bible was a real snoozer. I had no idea it contained the living, breathing Word of God. The only Good Book I had ever seen was my great-grandmother’s original King James Bible, the 1611 version, and it put me to sleep. I didn’t know why Jesus was so important, but I had an inward longing to know God, so I’d pick up that cracked blue leather Bible with crinkled pages and read page one of Genesis...

...until drowsiness overtook me. Then I’d put that antique Bible back on the shelf until next time. I read the first chapter of Genesis about fifteen times as a teen, but that was as far as I got.

When I came to faith as a college student, I discovered the power of God’s Word. Reading a modern translation, I began understanding God’s love for me. As a desperate young mom, years later, I discovered that God’s Word gave me peace and encouragement. When I began to parent teens, I learned God’s Word imparted wisdom and strength. In today’s world, I find hope on its pages against the backdrop of grim headlines in the news. I find joy that sustains me in my weak moments.

Some days, I roll my eyes as I open my Bible with thoughts like these: “I’ve read this passage so many times; there’s no way I can learn anything new from it.” But the Bible surprises me. It speaks to me every time I open it. God’s Word is alive and active because the Holy Spirit brings it to life. Even when I’m reading a passage for the tenth time.

The Bible is a living book with a timeless message. The more we read it, God’s words get into us. We get to know God better. We find wisdom and guidance for how to deal with our crazy lives. We find peace in our troubled times and hope for our hard moments.

10 Bible Books to Read Regularly

There are certain books of the Bible that we need to read over and over. Here are my top 10 Bible books we all should read:

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I had my first real experience with depression the year I prayed for more joy. In January, I was fired up to pray that 2009 would be the year of joy. I expected a great year, but by March, depression set in.

“Really? Are you kidding me?” I asked God.

I’m usually an upbeat, optimistic person, so I didn’t know how to react. As weeks passed, the cloud of depression only settled more firmly over me. I read every Scripture I could think of, but many days I was near tears. James 1:2 said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” and I told myself to count it all joy. But who could feel happy about being depressed? I struggled for months with feelings of hopelessness.

Although I probably needed a counselor, I never saw one. However, I had a supportive husband and a few close friends who listened to me. Ironically, my depression lasted five months during what was supposed to be my “year of joy.” Today I realize I learned more about joy that year than ever before or since.

Depression affects millions of Americans each year, and Christians are not exempt. If you’re experiencing it now, remember you’re not alone. We have a Heavenly Father who’s always there, ready to help us navigate the sadness, anxiety, or lack of motivation caused by depression.

Here are 10 ways Christians can fight depression.

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If you’re like me, some days reading the Bible feels like running five miles on a treadmill after two hours’ sleep with 10 urgent things on your mind. It feels like a drag you don’t really have time for. It’s one more box to check off your list of “Things Good Christians Do.” Maybe you speed read while checking your phone. Five minutes after you snap that Bible shut, you don’t remember a thing anyway. So what’s the point?

Or perhaps you feel guilty because you never get around to it, and who needs that?

Bible reading can be an empowering, life-transforming habit, but maybe we make it too difficult. We think we have to carve out a half hour each day for serious Bible study. We think we have to plow through the entire Bible in one year for it to really count. Then we get discouraged when we can’t follow through. All or nothing thinking can leave us feeling defeated before we even start.

In reality, reading the Bible doesn’t have to be hard. God loves any small effort we make to draw near to Him through reading His Word.

Here are nine simple ways to make Bible reading easier.