This mailer caught my attention the other day. It appears to be important. Afterall it’s my “second notice.” As I opened it, I noticed the official looking type of font, similar to the IRS. But, down at the bottom, in fine print it says, “Not affiliated with or endorsed by any governmental agency.” I wondered how many people would respond. It might be a good offer…but who knows.

We are bombarded by information every day. Google tells us, “On average, a person consumes about 34 gigabytes of information per day, which is roughly equivalent to 100,000 words.” Never in history have people been so overwhelmed with so much information. No wonder we are tired, confused & exhausted.

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a lady about religion. When I said, “What does the Bible say about that?” She replied, “Oh, I rely on Brother Bob for that. He’s been to seminary and all of that.” In short what she knows about God is through the perceptions of someone else.

Jesus spoke about personally knowing God’s Word many times. In Matthew 22:29 “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” God’s written Word is the only perfect standard. What people say or write is opinion and does not have the authority of the Bible.

But God’s Word has so much more. I have learned so much about Him, His heart, His Way, through studying His Word. I now refer to the Bible as His Love Letter. When I began to spend time with Him, prayerfully reading & thinking about His Word, the Bible came alive.

It was a morning in October of 1999 when I read Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” For some reason it seemed to jump out at me. I even dated the verse in my Bible. A month later, while having lunch with our new VP, she said, “Maybe you would be better suited doing something else.” BAM! Suddenly that verse came rushing into my heart, “For I have a plan for you…” What followed was incredible. I left the company at the end of January with no job. With vacation, bonus & severance I had enough money until the end of March. By mid-March nothing was working out, but I kept praying Jerimiah 29:11. Then on the last Friday in March I got a call from my old office about a man I had worked with 25 years before who was trying to find me. With no idea what he wanted we met the following Monday. Little did I know this was a divine appointment. As we sat and reminisced, he suddenly said, “The reason I wanted to talk to you is I’m going to retire, and I thought you might like to have my job.” BAM! BAM!! I looked up at the ceiling and said, “God you are COOL!” His Word, “For I have a plan for you…” flooded my heart. My confidence & hope during that time came from Jerimiah 29:11. He gave me what I need for those 6 months. It was all I had.

When God was preparing Josuha to lead His people into the Promise Land He told Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

I challenge you to intentionally set aside 30 minutes each day prayerfully studying His Word. You need to know “The Authority” of what is right & wrong, but there is so much more. When you begin to recognize Him pointing out scripture, guiding your life and whispering to your heart, He will fill your heart with Joy.