For Christians, the Bible has always been our primary source of God’s word, but in recent years we have also begun to find much wisdom and encouragement from other sources. Christian books can be just as life-changing as the Bible, but reading them responsibly is essential. Here’s how you can hear God’s Word in Christian books and not fall victim to the false teaching that leads you down the wrong path.
Pray for Guidance From the Holy Spirit
Before you read the book, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Read the introduction and ensure it is a book that will benefit your spiritual journey. If it seems like a bad fit, put it back on the shelf and try another. As you read the book, stop periodically to ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. When you are done reading, thank God for guiding you through this process and share your thoughts with someone who can hold space for this conversation with you!
Meditate on Scripture
Christian books can be great tools for meditation. When you are reading a book that is based on Scripture, it can help you hear the voice of Jesus and meditate on His words. Listening to a person talk about the Bible may not work because they may not know how to explain things like Jesus would do. Listening to an audiobook or podcast may work because you can also listen to someone talk about the Scripture, but more is needed to guarantee your understanding will go deeper. However, as you read through Christian books, some profound truths may make sense to you more than ever! Reading about them can make the truth come alive in ways that just hearing about them cannot. For example, when reading a passage from Genesis or Isaiah, imagine yourself back in those times with Moses or Isaiah and see what life was like back then.
Read With Questions
You can also ask yourself several questions throughout the text while reading Christian books. What does God want from you? How can you please God? What message is God trying to ass to you via Christian authors? If something needs to sound better, ask why? Or, if something is confusing, don’t be afraid to find clarification elsewhere. You can even talk to the author and try to understand God’s message in their works.
Read the Book With an Open Bible
Reading the Christian book with the Bible on the page is essential because it will help you hear God’s words while reading this book. Another thing that might be helpful when reading a Christian book is to write down your thoughts and questions. This helps you keep track of your thoughts as you are reading and makes it easier for you to ask someone who knows more about Christianity when you have questions about what is being said. Also, remember to put in the journal any new ways or words you learn from reading this book. These words can come from bible verses or the Christian book itself.
Join a Bible Study Group to Help You Understand Christian Books
Joining a Bible Study Group is one of the best ways to make reading more meaningful. Participating in discussions and hearing other people’s interpretations will help you understand what you read better. Plus, getting to know others who share your interests will be fun. There are many people you can talk to and learn from, and they can guide you to the right books so you can understand God’s word. It would be easy to stay focused on God’s word if you were part of a Bible study. That’s because other people are just like you and want to know more about what it means. If there are no groups near you, start one! Find a few friends willing to read through the same book with you and discuss its contents. It would be nice not having to do everything alone.
Read Christian Books That Are Based on the Scripture
If you want to grow spiritually, read Christian books based on Scripture. Only read some Christian books you come across. Get more out of your reading experience by picking and choosing books that will help you grow closer to the Lord and deepen your understanding of His Word. For example, I can tell you from personal experience how refreshing it is to dive into a well-written work about the lives of biblical figures or explore a theological topic such as faith. It’s best to avoid being influenced too heavily by what people say about this author or that author when choosing which Christian books to read.
Why We Should Read Christian Books
When you read the Bible, you can hear God speak to you. When you read other books about Christianity, it is essential to remember that they are just stories. They do not carry the authority of Scripture. But sometimes, those stories remind us of truths we might have forgotten about the faith and how He wants us to live our lives. Reading these books also gives us a chance to learn from people who are different from us. The Bible tells us that Jesus came for everyone, so we should be open to hearing what Christians who don’t look like or think like we do have to say about their beliefs.
The Bottom Line
Jesus once said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It’s a beautiful blessing to have His Word available to us through so many different books. The Bible is one of the most common Christian books, but it is also essential to read other spiritual works. Be sure you are reading from a reputable source, and know that even if you don’t fully understand what you’re reading, it will speak to your soul!
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