Beyond the Words: Encountering the God of the Bibleಮಾದರಿ

Reading With God, Not Just About Him

Imagine this: I'm interviewing a guest on the Good God Talks podcast. The author joins the call, camera on and mic ready. But instead of engaging with them, I silently pull up their book on my screen and start reading it silently to myself while they just...wait.

Absurd, right? Yet I think we often do this with God when we read the Bible.

We read about Him as if He isn't right there with us as we read.

Building a thriving relationship with God might sound overwhelming, but it's actually simple—because God helps us know Him. He partners with us, bringing His presence and provision into our lives.

Think about how human relationships grow through:

• Healthy communication
• Shared experiences

God knows this about us because He designed us this way.
And He engages with us this way too.

Reading the Bible is meant to be a relational activity—something you get to do with God, not just for Him or to read about Him.

I wish someone had told me this!

For years, I approached Scripture like a religious task to complete or information to absorb.

I'd read about God's interactions with others, never realizing I was missing the most beautiful aspect: God wanted to interact with me through those very words.

Here's the game-changing truth: When you open your Bible, God is present with you. He's not a distant author who wrote something long ago and left you to figure it out. He's actively communicating with you at that moment.

Right now our living God is speaking through His living word, directly to you.

So how do you transform Bible reading from a solo study into a divine conversation?

It's beautifully simple: Acknowledge God's presence and invite His participation as you read.

Before you begin reading, try saying something like:

• "God, I know You're here with me right now."
• "Jesus, help me hear Your voice as I read these words."
• "Holy Spirit, reveal what You want me to see today."

Then, as you read, pause frequently to engage with God about what you're reading:

• "What are You showing me here, Lord?"
• "How does this reveal Your character to me?"
• "What does this mean for our relationship?"

This isn't just a reading technique—it's a relational practice.

You're not studying a historical document; you're having a conversation with its Author who is sitting right beside you.

There are things on God's heart He longs to share with you—connections He wants to make, truths about who He is, and how He sees you. You're not meant to figure it all out on your own. As you engage in conversation with Him, He builds on what He reveals, deepening your understanding.

And not only does God bring greater revelation. He brings greater transformation. It’s God at work in you that accomplishes the transformation in your life. You don’t have to figure that out on your own either.

Next time you open Scripture, try this simple shift: Instead of reading about God, read with God. Acknowledge His presence, ask questions, listen for His gentle nudges, and respond from your heart. Watch how the same passages you've read before suddenly come alive with new meaning.

Tomorrow, we'll bring everything together and discover how these shifts transform not just your Bible reading, but your entire life with God.