“The Bible Charts My Path Through Life”
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Ayana writes:
I was a young widow and single mother, working as an Administrator for a non-profit organization that helped low income people find jobs. My plans had been to go to law school and become a lawyer, but my husband’s sudden death caused me to re-think my plans and to take an interesting but low-paying job in order to support myself and my son. Sometimes my sister-in-law would call me from another city and as we talked, she could hear sometimes hear the sadness and confusion in my voice. One day a package arrived in the mail wrapped in brown paper. I opened it, wondering what it could be? It was my sister-in-law, Pat’s own Bible, with underlines and notes in the margin. I began to read the gospel of John, and before I was finished, I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Hungry for God’s word, I read the Bible for several hours every night after I had cooked dinner for my son and myself, and completed household chores. The Bible changed my life! It literally became a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Through it, God guided me to form a Women’s Bible Study, then a Prayer ministry, then to attend Seminary. I am now an ordained minister and teach discipleship classes to new members and those continuing in the faith. God’s word has comforted me, corrected me, and changed me. It is a living word that still excites me, even after over 30 years of reading it, studying it, preaching it and teaching it.
The power of God’s word is why I became a contributor to the American Bible Society. Second only to my church, I consider my contributions to the ABS one of the most important I can make, even on my very limited income, because helping people all over the world to read the Bible or hear it in a sermon or Sunday School lesson, or on CD or tape is life-changing for them, as well. I thank God and praise Him for the Holy Bible. It is a book like no other that can change your life like no other book can. It is a living letter from God!
Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on August 15th, 2008 and filed under Praise, Bible, God's Love, Hope, Your Stories, Conversions, God's Sovereignty, Struggles, Verses, Life Verse.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Dear Ayana:
Having experienced sort of life-changing situations as yours to pick up the pieces after the loss of my significant Other Half, I survived, too. “For Thou art my lamp, O Lord; and the Lord illumines my darkness” (2 Samuel 22:29).
Hence, I resonate your uplifting heartfelt expression: “I thank God and praise Him for the Holy Bible…It is a living letter from God!”
Furthermore, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he whoever follows Me will shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
And, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14).
“Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?” (Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16).
Thank you for your shining lamp and light “all over the world.”
May GOD ALL MIGHTY Bless you and your Precious Prince infinitely and inestimably;
GODSPEED, always and forevermore!
Mary Sun.