August 4, 2021: Speak Life

“In the beginning, God” (Gen. 1:1, ESV).

It was a rainy Monday morning. I stood in front of my seventh-grade class ready to teach Bible. My head cloudy, my heart in pieces from trials in my personal life, I struggled to hold back the tears.

“Good morning, class! Let’s pray! There will be no singing today for Bible class,” I said as quickly as I could. “We will go right into our lesson. It will be a review because you all know the creation story!” I allowed a student to pray because I knew the darkness I felt would cause me to cry.

I then opened the Bible and began reciting Genesis 1:1–3: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth ...” As I continued about how the earth was first empty and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep, the Holy Spirit hovered over the void in my heart. Tears began to roll down my cheeks.

God spoke light and life into my heart that day, and my journey with Him has never been the same.

Sometimes, studying the Bible becomes a duty, not an encounter with our Best Friend. God wants to meet us through His Word and speak life into our lives. Maybe words of comfort, maybe words of reproof. Whatever we need, He has a timely word in His Word. Will you allow Him to meet you in His Word today and speak light and life to you?

Father, in any and every beginning, be God! Amen.

Gladys S. Guerrero is a member of the Sligo church in Maryland.