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Recently, I purchased a book from an author who came to town for a book-signing at a local business.  His book tells the story of overcoming grief after losing a child.

Our paths had crossed many years ago and he remembered meeting our family.  I asked him if he would autograph his book.  Later, I read the personal message he had written to our family thanking us for our friendship and for taking this journey with them through their “Garden of Gethsemane.”

Knowing the author of the book made the story even more meaningful.  It’s a rare opportunity for a reader to meet an author – let alone know that author personally.  Then it occurred to me that I have a personal relationship with the author of my favorite book, the best-selling book of all time.

The Word of God speaks to me like no other book.  “God’s Book is God’s voice,” according to Chuck Swindoll.  During difficult times in my life, I have found comfort from passages like Psalm 23 and John 14.

Swindoll goes on to say, “There can be no more reliable authority on earth than God’s Word, the Bible.”  Jesus, while praying for His followers, said, “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).   It holds the answers to our questions about life, if we will but search the Scriptures.  No matter what the situation, turn to the Bible as a trust-worthy resource.

The Apostle Paul described God’s Word when he wrote that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” that the Christians may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).   It was not written by human thought.  The people who wrote the Bible were “moved by the Holy Spirit” and spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20).

God’s word is eternal.  Isaiah 40:8 states, “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”  Our Creator God spoke the world and everything in it into existence.  Hebrews 11:3 reminds us, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  Many times through the years, words of wisdom and guidance have jumped off the pages of my Bible, just when I needed to make the correct decision.

Dwight L Moody once wrote, “We ought to open the Holy Book as we would go into a sanctuary where we were sure of meeting our heavenly Father face to face, of hearing His voice.”  Billy Graham has said, “God gave the Bible to us because He wants us to know Him and love Him and serve Him.  Most of all, He gave it to us so we can become more like Christ.”

Jan White is a national award-winning religion columnist. She can be reached at jan@janwhitewriter.com