This is my Bible

“This is my Bible!” Every Sunday Joel Osteen, the Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, TX  begins his message with the familiar introduction as he holds up his bible:  “Repeat after me; This is my bible. I believe I am what it says I am, I believe  I have what it says I have. I believe I can do what it says I can do...” History tell us that the Bible is the single most loved and hated book ever  published. Written by 40 different authors from the most diverse of  backgrounds; from kings and peasants, to commoners and the most highly  educated, from those who lived in palaces and those held in prison cells,  to the very poorest and the richest man to ever walk the planet. Much effort was made in the first few centuries when the Bible was first  published to exterminate it. Satan tried the best he could, but failed. Today  the Bible is the number one bestseller with an estimated 6 billion copies  printed since its first release. Published in nearly 2000 languages, with an  additional 2000 that have portions of the Bible printed in their own language.  Of one thing you can be sure; God wanted you to have a bible in your  language. Never underestimate the price that was paid by many people,  just so you could have your own copy of the Word of God. Although the Bible has become readily available few believers actually  read it regularly. An estimated 90 percent of born-again believers have  never even read through the entire Bible. One time, while ministering to  a group of young people, I asked them to turn to the Book of Hezekiah.  The majority started to page through their Bible trying to find it... Not knowing what’s in the Word of God limits you from experiencing the  very things God has made available to you. The enemy will be able to  deceive you more easily and you are likely to give up when times get tough.  The way you get the best out of your bible starts with realizing it is not to be  read like any other book. Read it as if God Himself is there talking to you.  He sees to it that every one of His promises when believed, will become  your experience. Here are some keys that will help you get the most out of reading God’s Word.  Reading the Bible is visiting with the Father. It is a private meeting where you  and God come together for a one-on-one meeting.  Let’s look at the acronym F-A-T-H-E-R It is a great way to keep in memory how reading the Bible can be a transforming  occasion. Find — Find a place that is quiet, where you won’t get distracted Ask — Ask God to open His Word to you; “ Give me eyes to see & ears to hear.” Thank — Whenever you find a promise, thank Him for that promise  Help — Whenever you read a command ask for God’s help to keep it Expect — Whatever you don’t understand, expect the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you Revisit — Return to that passage sometime later to see how the Word has  changed you As so many before you, start to make your bible-reading a daily appointment with  your heavenly Father. I promise you, it will change your life for good!