Sweet Addiction
When I was living during the very darkest days of my life, I developed an addiction.
I was in the throes of depression due to years of infertility and repeated miscarriages. I sent 5 babies to heaven when they had grown to between 12 and 20 weeks in utero. It was a time of non-stop grief, dashed hopes and raging emotions.
The addiction that I developed was not to over the counter drugs … it was not to alcohol … it was not to shopping or chocolate or binge-eating.
The addiction that I developed was to the Word of God. During those days, when the black hole of depression was calling my name, the Bible also was in hot pursuit of my soul. Before my circumstances ever changed, the healing power found only in the Word of God healed my profound and relentless depression.
What the Bible did for me … it can do for you.
How the Bible healed me … it can heal you.
The power in the Bible isn’t only for me … it is also for you.
And so, today, 26 years removed from those days of ragged hormones and infertility, I want to share with you five ways that the Bible can change your life.
I know … because it changed mine.
First of all, the Bible will help you stay focused on what is good. It reminds you that our God is well able to take every situation and circumstance in our lives and use it for our highest good and for His greatest glory.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
2. Secondly, the Bible will help you deal with temptations and your sin issues. I can tell you this … all of us are tempted to give in to sin. There is not a man or a woman alive who does not face temptation on a daily basis. When the Bible is your guidebook through life, you are able to develop a strength that will enable you to overcome.
“How does a young man (woman) keep his (or her) way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word.” – Psalm 119:9
3. The third way that the Bible can change you is to help you love the difficult people in your life!! If you are in constant frustration due to the irregular people in your life, know that God is not surprised by their presence. He may have strategically placed them in your life because He wants them to see Jesus in you!
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, love does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.” – I Corinthians 13: 4 & 5
If you are wondering why you were born and what your purpose in life is, let me assure you that the Bible will definitely help you find your purpose in life! If you have found yourself wallowing in various choices, in lack of direction and in a purposelessness existence, ask God to give you His direction from the Word!
“For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
5. And finally, the fifth reason why you should be addicted to the Word of God is because it will help you focus on the important issues of life. As human beings, we often magnify the wrong things and minimize the important stuff. And so, when we are committed to the wisdom in the Word of God, our priorities are changed and we are able to focus on the eternal things of life this side of heaven.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him and the son of man that you care for him?” – Psalm 8:3 & 4
And so today … for these 5 reasons and for thousands of other reasons … read your Bible. Develop and addiction to the Word of God. I can guarantee you that you will become the person you were made to be when you delight in His Word!
