The Only Truth That Sets You Free
By Rick Warren
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 (NLT)
A lot of things that are true won't set you free. You can learn how to program a computer, but that won't set you free. You could read all the latest self-help books, but that won’t set you free either.
The only truth that sets you free is the truth of God's Word: "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32 NLT). A lot of people can quote this verse, but not everyone acknowledges that it’s talking about the Bible or is even from the Bible.
If knowing God’s Word is the only way to be free, then you’ve got to make reading and studying the Bible a priority in your life. You’ve got to feed your mind on the truth of God’s Word.
The ancient Israelite King David understood how important God’s Word is. There was a time when he had so many enemies that he was actually a fugitive. He was running for his life and hiding in caves. But no matter what happened, he fed himself with God’s truth.
Psalm 119:95 is one of the psalms he wrote during this time, and it says, “Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws” (NLT).
When you look at things happening around the world, it's easy to get discouraged. When you scroll through your news feed, listen to talk radio, or watch the news, you may start to feel down. You may start to feel hopeless. But when you fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word, then you will have more hope and a better perspective on your life—even when you’re in a crisis and running from your enemies.
The Bible says, “How I love your law! I think about it all day long” (Psalm 119:97 GNT). It might be intimidating to try to think about God's Word all day long. That’s because it doesn’t come naturally to anyone! You might struggle to think about God’s Word even one time in your day, but you can start somewhere.
Try starting your day with the Word of God. Spend 10 minutes reading the Bible in the morning, and then you can think about what you read throughout your day. And the Holy Spirit will help you recall what you’ve read when you when you need it in difficult times.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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