Albert Einstein once said, “I want to know the thoughts of God, the rest are details.”

The Bible is not just another book. It’s the Word of God, and it has the power to transform our lives. That’s why most people don’t read it. Seriously.

When we read it with an open heart, the Bible is able to lead us to God’s mysterious and fabulous plans for our lives. And then our lives are turned upside down—in the best way possible. That’s what happened with Saint Ansbert.

Ansbert occupied one of the highest places in all of France as Chancellor to King Clotaire III. But he longed for a life devoted to Scripture and prayer. He took the drastic step of renouncing his royal status and entering the Monastery of Fontenelle. There, he had all he wanted: Time with God and God’s Word.

Reading the Bible changed Saint Ansbert’s life, and allowed him to cultivate such wisdom that he became not only the Bishop of Rouen, but the confessor to another king of France: Theodoric III.

Tragically, so many people never read the Bible because they get intimidated. So, when it comes to reading the Bible, the first rule is: Don’t be intimidated. Just commit yourself to starting with a single book of the Bible.

If you’re looking for a place to start, here are three books to begin with: 

1. The Gospel of Matthew
2. The Book of Genesis
3. The Book of Psalms

And each day, prayerfully ask God to help you hear what he is trying to say to you. It could be as simple as:

“Loving Father, I know you have good plans for me. Open my heart and my mind so that I can hear clearly what you are trying to tell me in the Scriptures today.”

Invite the Scriptures into your life. Make reading the Bible part of your daily routine. If you do, you can be confident it will become a life-changing habit.

Feast Day: February 9