How God’s Word changes us (Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it discerns the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (James 1:22-25) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

Why Read the Bible Daily? 1. To calm down. The promises of Scripture are like an asthmatic’s inhaler… 2. To tank up. Bible reading is stored energy, stockpiled… We stay afloat throughout the day by making moment-by- moment withdrawals. 3. To get wisdom. By nature, we are fools… We need a word from heaven… 4. To go deep. To the degree our view of God is defective… [it] lowers on our potential for joy, comfort and above all enjoying the gospel of grace. 5. To get busy. We also read the Bible to be told what to do… a text will mess with us, change us a little bit, alter our outlook… Dane Ortlund