Does the Bible seem dry like a textbook? Do you know what people mean when they call God’s Word His “love letter”? I am bursting at the seams to share with you a story of how the Bible transformed the life of my friend, Deb.

Sharing stories of how God has impacted our lives encourages us and builds our faith. It’s one of my favorite things to do! The Women Wielding The Word series is meant to be an encouragement to you. I’ve asked other bloggers to share what their time with God looks like and how the Bible has impacted their lives.  

Without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff! Here’s today’s guest, Deb Wolf.

Deb Wolf

When I was growing up, if the doors of our church were open … you most likely found my family inside. I even attended an elementary school that was part of our church.

After high school, I went to a Christian College and studied to be a teacher so I could teach at, you’ve got it … a Christian grade school.

After college, I married a man studying to be a preacher!

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t teaching or being taught something from the Word of God.

The Bible has always been a part of my life.

But in 2005, the Bible went from textbook to love letter.

That’s the year God allowed one of my worst fears to become a reality.

I fell apart … helpless, overwhelmed, and heartbroken. For the first time, I needed my Bible not as information for my faith but as the lifeline I needed to get out of bed each day.

And as I read from Genesis through Revelation God met me and began to heal my heart with His mercy, grace, and love.

I’ve been passionate about reading and studying God’s Word ever since.

My Bible Study Routine

Our children are grown, so I have time to begin my day with my Bible.

Over the past ten years, I’ve read the Chronological Bible, God’s Word Translation, the New International Version, and several others.

Last year, I read the Life Application Bible – New Living Translation. I even read all the notes, which I highly recommend if you’ve never read them before. The application notes gave me a lot to think about and helped me personalize verses to things that were going on in my life.

This year, I’m reading the Bible Study Plan at the back of the LAB – NLT. The publishers describe the plan as…

A 365-day reading plan that leads you from Genesis to Revelation in just a year. Though it doesn’t include every chapter and verse, it offers a complete view of Scripture and does so without being overwhelming. By skipping past material that appears more than once, it gives you a streamlined look at the entire Bible.

I chose this plan because I want to do deeper study on my own.

So, I’m reading with a pen and journal … writing verses that stand out to me, notes that help me remember important points, and prayers that make it all very personal.

The Way the Bible Touches My Life

I’m a mess.

I am extremely emotional. I struggle with anxiety. I procrastinate. I relive past failures and obsess about my current faults.

The truth … I can very easily spend too much time thinking about me! I can wander off into worry about my loved ones and get totally amped up by world problems.

Okay, that’s enough. I imagine you get the idea!

I NEED my time in God’s Word.

I need Him to remind me I am loved and forgiven.

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.

Psalm 86:5

I need Him to help me know that I have nothing to worry about.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Philippians 4:6

I need Him to help me remember that He is sovereign and always in control.

Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before Him.
Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

Psalm 96:9-10

My Life Verse

During that first lifeline reading, one passage jumped off the page and became my life verse…

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Psalm 73:26

My heart was broken … and He became my strength.
My spirit was drained … and He gave me hope.

One day at a time, God healed and restored me.

The sentence before says…

I desire You more than anything on earth.

Psalm 73:25b

And that’s why I’m passionate about God’s Word!

I was broken and God showed up and fulfilled His promises in my life.

He is greater than my circumstances … Jeremiah 32:17
His love never fails … Psalm 31:7
His grace is sufficient … 2 Corinthians 12:9
He gives me strength … Isaiah 40:31
He will help me, I don’t need to be afraid … Isaiah 41:13
He will meet my needs … Philippians 4:19 and Matthew 6:33

And so many more.

My daily prayer is that the Lord will help me desire Him more than anything on earth! 

With His Spirit’s help, I believe, He will make that prayer a reality in my life! And I believe He will do the same for you!

About the Author

Deb is a passionate blessing counter who loves learning about the ways faith and life intersect … the ways a relationship with God through faith in Jesus can make an impact on every moment of the day. Her word for 2019 is SEEK and the verse … Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need (Luke 12:31). Deb lives in Missouri with her husband and furry child, Sadie now that all of their human children are grown and have little ones of their own. And yes, being a grandparent is the best!

She’s hoping you will join her on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Read the other posts in this series here.

Our next email newsletter will include a 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge based on Psalm 119! A simple plan with a short passage to read each day, and options to take more time and go deeper. Don’t miss it! Subscribe today!

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