Let me encourage you to make God’s Word an integral part of your life, for you wil find out that it will be a great source of strength and guidance to you in this world of many tempting paths. Here are some wonderful benefits to reading the Bible:

1. It will show you God’s plan for your life.
2. It will give you wisdom to avoid the many traps that the world holds for you.
3. It will allow you to help others and to lead them to Christ.
4. It will give you something positive to think about throughout the day.
5. It will bless your heart and soul.
6. It will guide you to great success.

Here are some things that you should do before you begin to read your Bible:

1. Be humble enough to confess your sins to God. I John 1:9 says it best: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If you confess your sins, God will forgive you and give you a new heart and then He will be able to speak to you through His Word.

2. Be ready to do what It (the Bible) tells you. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” God will lead you through His Word to do what is right and to do His will and plan for your life. It will never lead you astray.

3. Be willing to take His Word with you. Psalms 119:11 says: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” The Word of God will not lead you astray. If you read it and hide it away in your heart, it will save you a heap of trouble because you will know that the Bible said to do and not to do, no matter what other people are saying or doing.

Before I go any further, let me add this, you will not be able to hear God’s voice if there is a lot of noise and confusion around you. God is not always in the loud or the boisterous or the always talking.

I really like what God did with Elijah in I Kings 19:11-20. Here is what it says: “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

If Elijah had paid more attention to the boisterous wind, or the great earthquake, or the mighty fire, he would have missed the still, small, delicate whisper of God. So when you pickup your Bible, know that you are getting ready to hear the “whisper” of God. Don’t pay attention to the noise. Get alone and listen to God speak.

Also, if you do not understand something ask your parents or one of your church leaders to explain it to you. They will happy to know that you are trying to understand the Word of God for yourself.

Never start a day without picking up the Bible. Never go through a day without thinking about its words. Never end a day without reading it again.

God loves you very much and he wants to have a very special relationship with you. In relationships, you must communicate. God is the best communicator. Love His Word and listen to it carefully, and it will never lead you astray.