Twenty five years ago I met a handsome, funny, committed Christian guy and decided three days later that I’d marry him. I only had one problem. He got on a plane and went back to El Salvador, his home country.
How were my guy and I going get to know each other? Back in the days before cell phones, WhatsApp, and internet access at home, talking on the telephone was expensive.
One day the mailman brought me a treasure: a letter from Jose! Excited, I ripped open the envelope only to find that I couldn’t read his handwriting. Like a spy working feverishly to crack a code, I spent an hour deciphering the letter.
In the following months, more letters arrived in the mail. It took intense effort to decipher Jose’s handwriting, but that didn’t matter. Those letters were my treasure, a tangible representation of Jose. He was far away, but I could hold his letters close. I saved them and got them out to read again and again. As I read them, I got to know him better.
Like precious letters, God’s Word is our treasure.
The Bible is His love letter to us, containing everything He wants us to know. We can’t see God. We believe in Him by faith, and we see His work in our lives, but we can’t see Him. We can, however, get to know Him through His Word. As we get it out and read it again and again, His love for us comes alive.
God’s Word bestows blessings that money can’t buy upon its readers. That’s why Psalm 119 says:
God’s Word has the power to fuel our faith.
It provides a never-ending source of strength to sustain us when faith falters.
God’s words speak hope into our desperate moments and renew joy on our hard days.
Scripture is a powerful weapon that triumphs over doubt, depression, and defeat.
It’s an antidote to anxiety, and it wipes out worry when we trust what it says.
The Bible gives us God’s eternal perspective on our passing circumstances.
It’s a compass that gives us guidance and direction.
The Bible is an amazing treasure, available at our fingertips, but when life speeds up, we find it hard to make time to read it. When I received those letters from Jose, I would never have dreamed of setting them aside, unopened and unread. Yet how often do we let several days go by without even cracking the cover of God’s love letter to us?
December can be a month of both fun and frenzy for women. We’ll need daily shots of God’s word to make it through with peace and joy. Will you join me this Advent season in making a commitment to spend 10 minutes a day reading scripture? What better way to celebrate our Savior than making room in our lives for His Word?
Anyone with me on this? What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to reading God’s Word regularly?
Linking up with Holly Barrett for #TestimonyTuesday, Meredith Bernard’s Woman2Woman, and Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory
Oh, what a wonderful (and romantic!) story! Time is always the challenge, but really it’s about priorities isn’t it? And making the main thing the main thing. It’s helpful to me to start the day with scripture, even if I can’t go as deeply or quietly as I would like, and then try to go deeper later (but this is the part that sometimes gets squeezed out) and again it’s about commitment – to go to bed early enough to still have concentration and energy left!!
I know what you mean, Victoria. For me concentration and energy in those morning times are key. I’ve also said I’d like to have a “refresher” quiet time or study time later in the day, but it never happens… I can do mornings, and try to focus as best I can.
Love this! I’ve been starting my days lately by reading from the weekly lectionary passages. It’s been a great way to start the day – and go deeper on the passages read in church on Sunday morning.
That’s a great idea. We’re using advent readings now. (Probably similar to lectionary passages in that it’s from a different book or chapter each day.) It’s a nice change.
Hi Betty,
What a beautiful example of what God’s word is to us, a love letter. And it is true – I am guilty sometimes of lumping it in the pile of books to read rather than a cherished love letter from my heavenly Father. Just this morning I found myself grumpy at the alarm clock and irritated at the days duties already pulling at me before my cup was warmed with coffee – so I grabbed my Bible app and reached for some encouragement. It is amazing how one verse can seep deep into my soul and bring breath to my lungs. My challenge is one verse only wets my appetite and I long for more time delving in but motherhood and daily chores pull me away- I need to learn to meditate on His word WHILE I work. His grace is sufficient for me. 🙂
Yes, Brandi, sometimes ONE verse is all it takes. I try to choose one each day. I want to learn more about practicing God’s presence and meditating on His words during work too.
What a wonderful story! I love how you relate it to God’s love letter to us! So true that we would never let a letter sit for days on end! May it be so with His word during this most busy season. Thank you Betsy!
Yes, Ellen! Let’s keep His Word close during this busy season. 🙂 Blessings on your week, friend.
I love this, Betsy. I don’t know why I find it so funny that you couldn’t read your husband’s handwriting. 😉 Thanks for sharing that. My biggest challenge is time. I do manage to read every day, which I didn’t always do, but sometimes it’s broken fragments here and there. I am not a morning person and by evening I’m sometimes so tired I wouldn’t get much out of it, so I my best time to read is during my youngest’s nap time. You are right; it is his love letter to us. So grateful for it.
Abby, do you know I STILL can’t read his handwriting. What to hear something really funny? When I ask him what something he wrote says, he can’t figure it out either! Yes, for “non-morning” people 🙂 scripture reading is harder. I’m lucky to be a morning person because there’s no way I could do it otherwise.
Broken fragments here and there has so much more value than nothing! 🙂 Blessings on your times during your son’s nap time…
Betsy, your post is beautiful. You are growing so much as a writer. I too struggle to find time to dig deep. I am trying my best to read parts of the Christmas story every day. I want to keep close to my heart what this is really all about for Christians. Thanks friend.
Oh Carmen, I’m praying right now that you will treasure in your heart what God shows to you, just like Mary did in the Christmas story! (thanks for the encouragement too.)
I’m in, Betsy! I don’t know where I would be without reading God’s Word each morning–the new start to a new day. I love your story and how it fits so well with God’s love letter to us! Beautiful.
David and I were talking the other day about how blessed we are to have the Bible to read any time we want to. There are so many places in this world where that isn’t the case. It made me wonder what would happen if we suddenly didn’t have that freedom anymore. Makes memorizing Scripture and holding it in my heart so very important!
Thanks, Betsy, for this beautiful message. Love to you!
I couldn’t make it through the day either without God’s love letter to me. Literally. And yes, many people don’t have access to the Bible. Here in Turkey, they’ve only had a modern translation for the past 25 years. Before that there was something like the original King James, unrevised, no updating. Even so, most people do not have access to that new Bible.
Wow. I have always known it is a privilege to have a Bible in a language we can understand, but I never really took time to think about how difficult it would be. I am so thankful.
Yes this, ” I would never have dreamed of setting them aside, unopened and unread. Yet how often do we let several days go by without even cracking the cover of God’s love letter to us?” Thank you friend. I want to get back in the Word and feast there, not snack there. I love letters and this comparison is so good.
Yes- I’m with you! Why do we think we can survive without regular nourishment? Loved your story and your encouraging message. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you’re with me!
Love so many things about this post, Betsy! Letter writing…oh, it’s a lost art. Love sending and getting real life letters. I hope you still have those treasures!! Gods word…love that He blesses us with what is so complete and relevant and perfect. My biggest challenge has to be time and quiet space. The past three weeks I’ve been home taking care of my husband and I’ve enjoyed long, quiet mornings at His feet. But when I teach, I’m up and out of the house at the crack of dawn and I often find myself trying to squeeze God in to any quiet moment…or even the crazy chaotic ones. I’m grateful that wherever I am, He meets me and is faithful to speak truth into my life!
I’m with you, friend! My biggest challenge to reading scripture is the holidays. When I’m at home and have my ‘cozy time with God’ every morning, life is great. But when I’m visiting and staying in someone else’s home and don’t have my space–yikes! It gets really hard (and that’s when I need time alone with God the most). So, I know I’ll be away from home for ten days at Christmas time–I’m going to start planning now and make sure it (and my exercise routine) go with me on vacation!
Not having my own quiet time spot is challenging for me too, Anita! And 10 days is a long time. Hope your advance planning and thinking work well for you. May God give you a special grace during those ten days.
Betsy, your 10-minutes-a-day commitment is a wonderful way to celebrate Advent, the preparation for Christ. Making ourselves slow down and spend time with God’s word is exactly what we need for a more peaceful Christmas season!
Hope you’ll have a great December, Deborah, and find time to slow down and savor time with God.
I’m in, Betsy!! With you! This is EXACTLY what I needed to read today, because this is exactly what I need. And although my head and even my heart has known that, recently it hasn’t been happening. And I feel the weight of His absence greatly. This metaphor is beautiful and perfect. Thank you, Betsy. I’m so glad to know you, because to know you is to love you. Love, m
Praying for you right now Meredith. You have a lot on your plate, I know. I appreciate you so much by the way. Your words and your friendship.
I’m with you, Betsy. As always making sure to read His word each day, pray without ceasing, sing praises in our hearts and out loud and donning our spiritual armor so the little foxes dont trip us up. Merry Christmas everyone!
Yes, Sheila! Those little foxes can work overtime during a busy season like December. Spiritual armor is so important. 🙂
I love this beautiful story, Betsy! Thank you for sharing it. I think what holds me back the most is my own lack of discipline. Sometimes I hit snooze a few too many times in the morning and miss my quiet time. Other days, I sit down and turn on the computer before opening my Bible, thinking I’ll just check a few emails or scroll through Facebook quickly before I start and before you know it, my kids are up and we’re off and running for the day. I will absolutely join you in your commitment to spend 10 minutes in Scripture during each day of Advent … and beyond. 🙂
A beautiful analogy of opening God’s word. We’d never want to leave those letters unopened! And the more we sit with the words, the more we begin to decipher the meaning. So grateful for this beautiful post. Thank you for being a part of #TellHisStory!
Thank you, Jennifer, for your kind words. Yes, the more we meditate on His words, the more they become part of us.