Several years ago I tried something that changed my life. While Bobbie and I were on a year-long mission trip, I decided to read only the Bible. No magazines or books for the whole year! The Bible became my source of relaxation on cold nights, my light reading, my study resource, even my only counseling textbook.
My purpose was to know God on a deeper level. I thought, “At the end of this year I’m really going to know God.” How naive I was! By the year’s end my quest to know the Lord had just begun, but my life had been revolutionized.
Reading through the whole Bible, I made notes on my discoveries about God—who He is and what He’s like. Each time I found a new truth, I thanked Him for it and meditated on it until it became a part of me. Then I read through the Bible again, looking at what God has done, is doing, and will do for His people.
This experience drew me into a deep, intimate relationship with God and brought great joy to my life. I challenge you to try it. It might change your life too!
I relate this experience to illustrate the first key to unlocking joy in our lives—a growing “heart knowledge” of God. The more intimately we know God, the greater our joy. This is so essential that all other keys to joy depend on it.
Excerpted from Keys to Joy: How to Unlock God’s Gift of Lasting Happiness.