God’s Word, the Bible, is a love letter to you. 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “¹² For the word of God is alive and active.” (NIV)

Isn’t that how a letter from a love would make you feel.  Alive and active.  There is an energy, a deep hope that comes from love letters.  I know when I have been blessed to receive a love letter my world stops and I intently focus, lingering on the words.  I draw that hope into my heart.

That is how God wants us to read the Bible.  He wants to give us life through His Word.  He longs for us to be filled with hope in Him.  Is that how we read it?

From my experience, it has only been over the past nine years of my life that I have begun to see the Bible as a love letter.  It was not an overnight change of heart.  When I was growing up the Bible was considered a sacred book, but it was filled with words I did not understand, stories of lives I could not relate to and names I could not even come close to pronouncing.  My few attempts to read it were met with quick abandonment.  Each time I tried to read it, I started from the beginning as I thought that was how I was supposed to read all books.

Then I was blessed with a multitude of experiences and influences that helped me to see the Bible in a new light.  God was opening my eyes and revealing Himself to me in a way that truly lifted my heart and helped me to fall in love with Him.  I made the choice to see the Bible as a love letter.

I want to show you what I mean.  Today, I want to take you into my heart and my mind to illustrate how God loves me through His Word.  You see each time that I study the Bible it really is like receiving a love letter from God.  I try to journal God’s love for me when I study.  Here is an entry from May 28th, 2011.

My Darling,

Trust me.  I know this morning that your mind rushes all over.  I know that you are groggy and unsure of which way to step.  “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

I will speak.  What you must do, what I long for you to do, is faithfully respond with a yes.  You will not be perfect because that is My job.  I Am Perfect.  In your weaknesses is where I will best reveal my perfection (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Be weak for me.  I will be strong for you.

I will always love you through it,

Yahweh

It is reading the Bible in this way, that lifts my heart so greatly.  It is seeing His light in this manner that gives me great hope.

Dear Lord, please bless all who read Your Word with Your great love and compassion.  May it give them hope for the future.  May they experience Your strength.  May they witness the goodness of who You are.  Draw each reader deeply into Your love for them with messages that give them an abundance of life.  Thank You for the precious and unique ways that You show each of us Your love. Amen.