In church this week, I sat in front of an older gentleman who had quite a few verbal responses to the sermon. I didn’t mind at all. I enjoyed listening to him interact with the message and Scripture.
In the sermon, my pastor briefly referenced Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane and noted that all of Jesus’s friends left Him in His time of greatest need, and He experienced great loneliness. The man behind me said, “Oh, I didn’t know that. I’ve never heard that before. Wow, that’s something.” I was encouraged by the excitement—maybe relief?—in his voice at this revelation. That Jesus, the Son of God, had been left alone.
The gentleman in church was encouraged because he had learned something about Jesus through Scripture that he didn’t know before.
I know time is precious for us moms. Believe me, I know. It seems like no matter how early I get up to sit quietly in the living room with a hot cup of coffee and my Bible, my preschooler will manage to get up even earlier. But we need it. Scripture is more than personal encouragement for the day. It is that, but it also shows us what God is like and how we can live in light of who He is.
When We Know God’s Word, We Know His Character
We know God cares for the lonely because Jesus experienced loneliness. When we read about Jesus’s life on earth, we see how He cared for people, listened to people, spent time with people, and had compassion for people. We see a model for our own relationships.
The more we spend time in God’s Word, the more we will know Him and know how to live like Him.
We understand this principle. If your teenager has a big test coming up, what do they do to learn the material? Study, study, study. The more time they spend with the material, the better they know it, and the better they will do on the test.
But reading God’s Word is more than an academic endeavor. Spending time in Scripture gives us more than knowledge. We become familiar with the Lord. Who He is, how He cares for His children, and what He desires for our lives.
If you’ve ever tried to learn a second language, you know that the more time you practice, the more familiar the words become. The words get into your mind and heart until they feel natural when you speak them.
The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more it sinks into our hearts and feels natural to apply it to our lives.
God’s Word Is Practical for Everyday Living
God’s Word informs our lives today. It’s an ancient text, yes. But it’s an ancient text with real, relevant application for us right now.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) says, “For the word of God is living and active.”
Not only can we know God’s character through reading His Word and looking at the life of Jesus, but we can gain practical wisdom for parenting, marriage, friendships, work, and everything in between.
Does the Bible address every specific situation we may face? Well, no, not specifically. Wouldn’t that be great? Did you ever play with one of those Magic 8 balls? What if it worked like that?
“Bible, should my daughter play another season of soccer?”
“Should my son drop AP Calculus this semester?”
“Is my daughter ready for an Instagram account?”
And then the response: “It is decidedly so.” “Without a doubt.” Or “Don’t count on it.”
Engaging with Scripture isn’t quite like that. We don’t get a specific answer to every question.
But Scripture does give us guidelines for daily living. It illuminates God’s will. It instructs our parenting. The more we know His Word, the more equipped we are in the daily work of parenting—conflict, correction, grace, shepherding, patience, love.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV)
And with so many voices speaking into our lives, we need God’s Word more than ever to speak loudly and clear out the confusion.
God’s Word Grounds Us in a Confusing Culture
With the rapid normalization of AI, we’ve come to a place in culture where it feels impossible to know what’s real. What is true? What is authentic?
As believers, we have a script for life that has stood the test of time, written with human hands, inspired by the Spirit of God. His character doesn’t change, and His Word doesn’t change.
Psalm 119:160 (ESV) says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”
Forever. Nothing in our culture feels like it lasts. Something new and better is always around the corner. But God’s Word endures forever.
Scripture grounds us in truth. When our kids come home with information that doesn’t sound right or feel right, we can go to Scripture to remember truth. When we’re doom scrolling and see images that make us feel fearful or anxious, we can find encouragement in God’s Word. It’s not a band-aid. It’s the real remedy for a broken and confusing world.
Get in God’s Word Today
Moms, time is precious and short, and there are a hundred demands that have been placed on you already today. Spending time in God’s Word is invaluable.
Find time today, even a few minutes, to read God’s Word today. If you don’t know where to start, try Psalm 1. Let God’s truth take root in your heart and lead you in His righteousness.
