Why I chose the Bible Over Self-Help Books

Searching for answers to life I read every self-help book I could find. Each time I would say, "That’s it!" I’d work hard at the suggested formula for success–and fail. As good as the authors and their ideas were, they lacked the power to help me achieve the desired life change. The emphasis was on me–in other words, just believe in yourself strongly enough and you will become that beautiful enlightened person you want to become. It sounded good, except it didn’t work.

When I turned to the Bible for answers, I learned a totally new approach. You are spiritually dead, it said. Helpless, hopeless, and lost. How true! I thought. But take heart, that’s why Jesus came to this earth--to die for sinners and give them a brand new start. "Christ in you is the hope of glory"--the hope of a brand-new me.

I had to agree with the Bible that I couldn’t do it on my own, and turned to Christ for his salvation. From then on, I used the Bible as my guide book. Often I was astounded at how accurately the Bible describes life, even to the disappointments and failures of it’s heroes. I read about Moses, David, Daniel and others and saw how they suffered hardships and injustices. Still, God was with them working out his good plan for their lives and for all of history. This gave me hope for my own life when trials and injustices came my way.

But soon I ran into a pitfall. I began to use the Bible as a self-help book. I’d read the instructions given and then work as hard as I could to obey them. And you know what? I’d fail. Miserably. Now I was upset with God. "Why aren’t you blessing me?" I’d say, "can’t you see I’m trying as hard as I can?"

One day it dawned on me: it doesn’t depend on my frantic self-efforts, but on Christ who is the living Word. A tree with its roots deep in the water doesn’t worry about the heat and the drought. As it continues to take in the water, it flourishes and bears fruit. Likewise, I need to drink the water of God’s Word daily. And as I do so, I receive nourishment and new energy to live the Christian life for his glory. (Jeremiah 17:7,8)

How quickly the emphasis had shifted off Christ onto myself again. Now, when I read the Bible I listen for his voice. Often a verse seems to jump out at me. Then I highlight it and write it out on a card so I can read it often throughout the day. In this way I’m feeding on it. If there’s a specific instruction, I ask Jesus to give me strength to obey it.

Best of all, Jesus is becoming more real to me as I read his Word. He is the way, the truth, and the life. This is what makes the Bible different from all other books. It’s the living word of Someone who can transform us. When we have Christ, we have the truth and we have the power to live it. He is the life as well as the truth.

Beyond Ourselves

A friend had been coming to Bible study and one day I encouraged her to receive Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.

"Oh, I could never live the Christian life," she said. "You don't know how miserably weak I am."

Celebrate The Light

It was Christmas Eve in 1944. The fighting was once more dangerously close. Fifteen months ago, my mother, with us four children, had fled our native Ukraine with the retreating German army. Father had been reported missing in action at the Russian front.

Now we were refugees living in a two-room shack in Dieterwald, Poland. Frequent air raids sent us scurrying for cover. Explosions rattled the windows. Army trucks brought in the wounded and the dead. Hay wagons filled with refugees rumbled west; bombers droned overhead and army tanks rolled east. Partisans (underground resistance) attacked innocent women and children at night.

On Children And Daffodils

Through a technicality, my youngest son lost his academic scholarship. Reeling in confusion, he worried how he would complete university. Meanwhile, his older brother, working feverishly on his doctorate in molecular biology, became severely ill and was laid up for awhile.

As a parent, I grieve when I see my children suffer like this. I feel they are too fragile to endure it. I want to protect them, to bail them out, to fix it for them. But even my best efforts cannot save them from life’s hardships. Sometimes I wonder, What is God doing in their lives?

Hope for the Future

Scripture: Jesus said, "I have come as a Light to shine into this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the darkness. John 12:46

Our world is becoming very dark. Increased violence everywhere, even in my "quiet" home town. Corrupt world leaders care more about their egos than their countries. Justice is turned upside down, when right is wrong and wrong is right. Despite these frightening signs, we can enter the new year with hope. Why? Because Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

God is Faithful

"God is faithful, reliable, trustworthy, ever true to his promises and he can be depended on" (1.Corinthians 1:9 Amplified).

"God is faithful." We often say the words to each other. But what do they mean? Does it mean that God will shield us from trouble? That He will answer all our prayers?

Take The Panic Out Of Christmas

"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever" (Isaiah 32:17).

The Christmas season has been described as the season of shoulds. We feel we owe it to our family to give them the best Christmas ever. So, we spend too much money. We fuss too much about trivial things. And we work ourselves into a frenzy. No wonder we begin to dread the whole business of Christmas.

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Broken Lives

One day I dropped a treasured vase and it broke in a hundred pieces. Since a dear friend had given it to me, I felt especially bad. Why hadn’t I been more careful?

As I threw the splinters into the trash can, I heard a still, small voice speaking to me: “that’s not what I do with broken pieces.”

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