Daily writing prompt

What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

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I have a personal belonging that powerfully enriches and empowers my life every single day. I keep in out in the open on a table by a comfortable chair. It is physically small, but its daily impact on me has been huge ever since I was 19 years old.

I’m talking about my Bible. I’ve worn out several copies through the years, but which ever one I’m using at the time is definitely my prized possession. Fortunately, I live in a country where I am allowed to own one and to read it as often as I want. In many countries it is illegal to own one or read one and people who break that law are severely punished and even executed.

I read my Bible every day for at least 5 minutes, often longer, and sometimes much longer. As I read it the words usually (but not always) burn in my heart and make me aware of the presence and reality of the living God. The Bible gives me amazing inner peace, but it also instructs me, shows me where I’m wrong, and challenges me to turn away from my wrongful thoughts and actions.

Over the years the Bible has helped me to follow and obey the risen Jesus closer and closer. I’ve never found another book (and I have read thousands of books) that has had anywhere close to the impact that the Bible has on me.

Here’s an example. The shortest letter in the New Testament only has 7 verses, yet it helped set me free from religious traditions and formalism so that I could more closely and freely follow the risen Jesus.

The apostles (sent ones) and elders (spiritually mature older Christ-followers) in Jerusalem (the center of Jewish Christianity) wrote a letter that freed Christianity from the treasured religious traditions and demands of Jewish ritual and regulations. Instead of just following their own desires and opinions, the sent ones and the spiritually mature older Christ-followers in Jerusalem agreed with and embraced what “seemed good to the Holy Spirit.” (See Acts 15:22-29.)

Their letter opened up faith in Christ to everyone regardless of their religious background. It set non-Jewish people free to directly and continually follow and obey the risen Jesus without the burden of being compelled to adhere to religious rites or a human hierarchy. Because of that liberating letter Paul, a sent one, could later write to the diverse group of Christ-followers in Rome: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” The Bible has taught (and continues to teach) me to be Spirit-led day and night. I highly recommend it!