This Is My Bible

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

When I was 11 years old I got my first Bible. It was (and still is) a bright red, Ultrathin Holman KJV with giant print…as seen in the photo above.

Many years have passed since I received it. The cover has cracked and faded, the page marker ribbon is frayed, some pages have little tears in them, it’s kind of dirty, and it’s filled with highlights and underlines…but next to my wedding ring, it is my most cherished possession.

In its pages I have discovered who God is, what God thinks, and how God acts.
I have learned about Jesus Christ and His love for mankind as I read the Gospels and followed Him from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross of Calvary. My Bible says it was there that He died for me, and I believe that.

This Bible is my living mirror.
I have read its pages while in the valley of addiction, and God has shown me where I was weak and how to walk His road back to the mountaintop.
He led this prodigal son home and showed me much grace and forgiveness.

My Bible is powerful. Its Words have uplifted me, strengthened me, encouraged me, counseled me, and changed me…they still do and always will.

I have pillowed my head on its leather cover in desperate times when I couldn’t get close enough to the LORD. I have dripped both joyful and grieving tears on its pages.

I’m not the same person I used to be, thanks to the life changing principles in this Bible.

I nervously preached my first message from its familiar pages, which is something I never would have imagined I could do.
But with God, all things are possible…my Bible taught me that. (Matthew 19:26)

I have wielded sharpened truths which have defeated lies…not with a steel sword, but with this Bible. (Hebrews 4:12)

It’s an old book… but it’s forever relevant.
This is my Bible.
There are many like it,
but this one is mine.
I hope that yours has a story, too.

Love your Bible. Keep your armor on.