In this series we’re looking at five ways in which a person changes his ways. In the first post I said that God is the true Agent of change. If you do change, then God is the One who ultimately changes you. Most assuredly all glory goes to Him. In the most technical sense He is the only One needed to change anyone.

However, to say that God is all you need is not completely accurate because, in the divine wisdom of God, He has chosen certain “means” (or instrumentations) of grace that are necessary for a person to change.

The Word of God Changes You

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. – 1 Peter 1:23 (ESV)

One of those instrumentations of God’s grace to us is His incorruptible and empowering Word. Therefore, it would be accurate and appropriate to say, as Peter says here, the Word of God changes us.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. – Romans 10:17 (ESV)

Our walk with God is a faith walk and the way we learn how to walk by faith is through the hearing of the Word of God. Our faith is informed by God’s Word and as we walk by faith, we experience more change.

The Word Concerning the Soul

The word psychology is a compound word: psyche & logos. The word psyche means soul and the word logos means word or the study of. It could be said that the word psychology is the study of the soul or the word concerning the soul.

In Genesis 2:7 we learn that God breathed into man and man was animated: he became a living soul. Therefore, God is the Creator of the soul. The soul (our psyche) did not come from evolutionary randomness. The soul came by the predetermined wisdom and action of God. He thought of the soul. He created the soul. He is the architect of the soul.

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we learn that God breathed again. This time he breathed into certain selected men, who he chose to write the Bible. These men were inspired by God to write the Words of God. In time the Words of God were put together in one edition. This is what we call the Bible.

1. The greatest psychologist who ever lived was Jesus Christ. No one knew (or knows) more about the soul than the One who created the soul.
2. The greatest psychology book ever written was the Bible. The Christian perspective and understanding on how change takes place us unique.
3. Therefore, a true psychologist is a person who seeks to bring God’s Word to bear on the soul.

The Word has Power to Change You

All Christians should be growing in their understanding and practice of soul care. We do this by growing in our understanding and practice of the Bible. The more we learn and apply the Bible to our lives, the more we will experience its life-changing power. And the more we experience its life-changing power, the more we will be positioned to bring the bible to bear on people’s lives so they can change too.

1. God will change you.
2. The Word of God will change you.

In This Series

• Five Ways to Change Your Ways: God – 1.0
• Five Ways to Change Your Ways: Bible – 2.0
• Five Ways to Change Your Ways: Self – 3.0

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Is the Bible true or false? It is not overly-simplistic to bring a counselee to this place in the conversation. Ultimately, as far as following God, this is the watershed question that we all have to interact with: “Is the Bible true or false?” What do you say?

The Bible is False

If you believe the Bible is false, then go ahead and live any way you want to live. Eat, drink, and try to be merry, because eventually you will die and nothing really matters. You only go around once in life and you might as well attempt to get the most out of the life you crave. Religion is not important; God is not real and you are the center of the universe.

Life is a party. Live it up.

The Bible is True

If you believe the Bible is true, then you must interact with the truth claims of the Bible. There is a God and you must come to him and ask him to shape your life according to his will, rather than your own will. You cannot ignore God the Father or God the Son. You are not your own. You belong to him.

It seems to be intellectually dishonest to say you believe the Bible, but merely give it a courtesy nod as far as allowing it to shape your life.

The Final Verdict

In 1984, as I was wrestling with the God question, I realized THE question that I needed to work through was this one: “Is the Bible true of false?” I’ll not go into the particulars of my thought process at that time, but only say that God was merciful to me by granting me the faith to believe his Word. I thus concluded that the Bible was true and with that simple acknowledgment, I knew my life was not “in line with the Gospel.”

I believe God regenerated me that day and ever since that time I have asked God to transform my life in accordance to his Word. To reflect the Word is to reflect Christ.

I trust on this April Fool’s Day you do not say what the fool was quoted as saying in Psalm 14:1

The fool says in his heart, There is no God.

Because the Bible is a collection of God’s words, to reject the Bible is to reject God. To reject God is to reject God’s word. What God says represents who he is. This is why this question, though simplistic on the surface, is life changing. “Is the Bible true or false?”

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YouVersion is the software that I use in my office. It is quick to access and easy to navigate. I have a large, swivel monitor that I can rotate so my counselees can read whatever Scripture we are discussing.

Below is an email from the YouVersion Team that will take you to their site to checkout over 20 Bible reading plans to jump start your year in a Biblio-centric kind of way.

From the YouVersion Team

Just in time for the new year, we’ve launched more than 20 new Bible reading plans on YouVersion!

Click Bible Reading Plans

• 20+ plans are available online and on your mobile device, so you can keep up with your reading no matter where you are.
• You can customize each plan to match your schedule by making it shorter or longer.
• Easily track where you are by checking off each day’s reading. We’ll also show you how far along you are with a percentage of completion.
• Your online and mobile accounts will synchronize your information, including your plan and your progress.
• Soon, you’ll be able to build a support system by opting in for accountability emails to you and/or a friend.

Following a reading plan helps you stay on track with your Bible reading goals. Choose one (or several) and each day a special selection will be ready and waiting for you.

Pick the plan that’s the best fit for you:

Click Bible Reading Plans

See what God reveals to you when you spend time in Scripture each day!

Logos

I recently downloaded the free app from the iTunes store for the Logos Bible selections. It has many wonderful features on it. Click LOGOS to find out more.

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One of the bible programs I use on my computer and iPhone is from the good folks at YouVersion. Yesterday they went over the 19-centuries-of-bible-reading-time from their subscribers. That’s a lot of time in the bible. Here is their news blurb about their milestone. Checkout their site and use their online bible software. It’s a simple program that also has an online community.

From the YouVersion Team

Way to go, YouVersion users! Together, you’ve spent one billion minutes reading the Bible on your mobile device. It’s pretty exciting to see so many of you reading God’s word consistently because you always have your Bible with you. That’s an awesome way to make your minutes count!

While you’re on the go, you’ve been using YouVersion on iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android phones, reading the Bible in your choice of 41 translations and 21 languages.

We’re polishing up some great new features we can’t wait to share with you soon. (Like reading plans? You’ll love what’s coming!)

For now, how about taking a minute to celebrate with us? http://www.onebillionminutes.com

Thanks for being part of the YouVersion community. We’re making history by reading Scripture together!

The YouVersion Team

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My friend Michael Stalker from Apex, NC has created a new ESV Bible Software. He has also created three other versions including the NASB.

You can find his bible work at Bible Touch. Take a look at it. It is an offline version that is compatible with iPhone and iTouch as well.

And you can download it as an APP on the iTunes site. It is $9.99 for each bible. If you purchase one of the versions from iTunes will you write a review for Michael’s work?

Here is a brief blurb from the Bible Touch Website: Bible Touch is a fast and intuitive application, great for the everyday user. Because Bible Touch only contains one version, it is one of the most affordable native Bible Apps on iTunes.

An Internet connection is NOT necessary to use this app! Aside from the ability to access the Bible in locations without WiFi or phone reception (airplanes, thick-walled interiors, churches, subways, etc.), this native application is significantly faster than web-based applications: perfect for keeping up with your pastor or teacher during sermons or classes.

Bible Touch also includes the following great features:

• An easy to use jump-to-book function
• User-defined bookmarks
• Chapter view
• Blazing-fast keyword search
• Red-letter text
• Continuous updates
• Text size adjustment
• English and Spanish localized user interface

Furthermore, when you purchase Bible Touch you will help us put a Bible in the hands of someone else. CrossComm is giving 10% of all net profits from Bible Touch to Samaritan’s Purse to be used for its Bible distribution programs.

I’m sure your heads are spinning with the frenetic pace of Thanksgiving, December and Christmas! Now here we are with the New Year breathing down our necks and if you are like me there are still unattended details to take care of.

Maybe this suggested reading plan will serve you as far as one less thing to do and hopefully be instrumental in keeping you focused as you get ready to crank up for the New Year.

The ESV Website has 10 different reading plans that you can choose from. Take a look and see if there is one that fits your preferences and if so, please take it for a spin and be surprised with your “God-engagements” this year.

Happy New Year!