Not
everyone enjoys reading. I have a passion for it. If you’ve ever visited my
boards on Pinterest or befriended my on Goodreads, you are already aware of
this. I know many people who enjoy reading, as well as those who do not. Perhaps
you fall into the category of enjoying reading but fail to make it a priority. Perhaps
you fail to make it priority because it is something you don’t enjoy.
Regardless of your preference, it should be a priority for you. Why? Well,
because….
Reading
is good for you! Reading has been known to reduce stress and build self-esteem.
Reading strengthens the brain tissue reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s or
dementia, as well as, increasing memory. Reading provides great imaginations
and vocabularies for children. Reading opens doors that allow us to succeed and
excel in life.
Still
aren’t convinced that reading is important? If reading isn’t important explain
to me why the Nazis began burning books in Germany. Explain why the Communist
regime in Russia tried to ban books from their citizens. Knowledge is power. It
is this gal’s opinion that books are taken for granted far too much in the US.
Books of all kinds are so easily accessible to us; we forget what a blessing
that is.
Now
that we’ve established the importance of reading, you might be wondering what
type of books to read. Let me suggest an amazing book known as the Bible. It is
really 66 separate books in one. Still not convinced it’s a book worth your
time? Let me ask you this…how many books have been written about the Bible? The
countless number of books written about the Bible speaks volumes about the book
itself.
As
Christians, we have an obligation to read (1 Timothy 4:13). Failing to read
leads to losing sight of what God wants for us. We must give the Bible its due
amount of attention for several reasons; the first being that it is the word of
God. (That fact alone should be reason enough.) If you choose not to read, in
effect, you are saying that you don’t have time to listen to God, or he bores
you, or you just don’t care.
Reason
number two to read the Bible is that it will build up and encourage us if we
are in a correct relationship with God. We will be instilled with joy! Who
doesn’t need joy in their life?!
The
final reason I will mention for reading the Bible is that it keeps us from sin and
it holds the solution to all our problems. We have no problem that God cannot
solve, but we must take the time to listen to him.
“For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Romans 15:4