EDITORIAL | KAIROS GLOBAL | MAY 2019

Author: Dr Chackochan Njavallil

Word of God in my Life

About three-and-a-half decades back, while still in college, I attended my first Charismatic retreat. Interestingly, the first session was on the Bible. The preacher highlighted the significance and importance of the Word of God in a powerful manner and encouraged us to read, reflect and revere it. Verses from the Bible especially 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” and Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart,” etc. were powerfully preached.

After the retreat, many of the students who participated in it (including me) decided to carry the Bible with them, along with the text books, throughout.  It turned out to be a conversation starter which gave us the opportunity to share our testimony and invite many of them also to the weekly prayer meeting. During those days, even for small Charismatic youth (Jesus Youth) gatherings too, we were instructed and encouraged to be present with the physical Bible. 

There is no doubt that, reading, reflecting about and studying the Bible is the best means to build a Christian personality.

Later, while driving alone, listening to the audio Bible has become my style. I can state with reasonable confidence that I have made an attempt to make Bible as part of my life with the intention of it forming me. 

Meanwhile, after reading Mathew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism, one of the decisions I made was to reflect on the liturgical readings throughout the day. But that has not become a practice for me. 

Now, the excuse to not carry the physical Bible with me always is that, it is available in my mobile phone. But to be honest, at least for me, the frequency of using it has come down.

In the last few months, I was not driving, and thus was not listening to the Word of God much. But at this moment, when I am writing this piece, the Holy Spirit is convicting me regarding my lack of interest in carrying the physical Bible with me.

Henceforth, I am committing to carry the Bible with me, always.

What are your experiences with the Word of God? How do you actually use it in your life? What are some of your best approaches in growing deeper using the Bible? How did you overcome some of the difficulties in being faithful to the Word of God? What is your way of studying the Word of God? In short, what is your Bible story? I encourage all the readers of Kairos Global to share those stories with us which may inspire many.

I wish and pray that we will be able to grow deeper in our spiritual life by actively making use of the Bible.