Question: As a Believer, I want to spend more time reading and applying God’s Word in my life. But when I try, something usually happens to get me distracted or discouraged from my goals. Why?

Answer: Simple. Satan doesn’t want you to study and grow in God’s Word. He knows that as Psalm 119:100 says of God’s word, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (NKJV)  Satan wants you to live to please him, so he does not want you on a path that pleases God instead.  You must pray to God for the strength to be faithful in reading and living out His Word.

Reading and studying the Bible helps us understand how God wants us to live our lives to please Him.  As Believers, we already know that God first wants us to accept His only Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior (John 3:16).  As we grow in the Lord, we learn that if we don’t live our lives in accordance with His will, we are building our lives on very shaky ground.  For example, we won’t be able to stand as strongly when the troubles of life come our way.  And, troubles will come!

Remember the parable Jesus told of the two builders found in Matthew 7:24-27.  In this parable, Jesus said:  “…whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken Him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came , and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

Jesus went on to say, “Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

So, make sure you don’t let Satan use his tricks to distract and discourage you away from God’s Word. Don’t let him lead you into building your life on shaky ground.  Pray for God to give you the strength and wisdom you need to please Him.

Make sure you’re building your life on the strong foundation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!