When You’re Ready to Go Deeper
Heart Happy
Audio By Carbonatix
How Daily Bible Reading Transforms Your Life
By Tricia Goyer
Have you ever felt like you were walking in circles—doing all the “right Christian things” but still feeling unsure of your purpose? I’ve been there. For many years, I wandered through my days the same way I wandered through the wild Montana woods—stepping over logs, ducking through branches, unsure where the path was or if there was one at all. I didn’t realize that God always had a destination in mind. I just wasn’t listening closely enough to the Guide.
What changed everything for me?
Opening my Bible… and actually letting it shape my steps.
In Walk It Out, I talk about this very shift—how Bible reading moved from something I knew I should do to something that completely redirected my life. Today, I want to share a few truths from that journey—truths that can help you move from simply reading the Word to really understanding it, living it, and letting it anchor every decision you make.
1. The Bible Shows Us the Path—Even When We Can’t See One
Years ago, I was hiking through thick brush with a friend and feeling lost. That’s when my friend Tara whispered, “There’s a beaver pond just ahead.” She knew where she was going even when I didn’t. That is exactly what God’s Word does for us. We don’t always see a trail. We don’t always feel certain. But Scripture is steady. Sure. Unchanging.
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
—Psalm 119:105 (NLT)
Bible understanding begins with this confidence: God knows where He’s leading you. Your job is simply to stay close enough to hear Him say, “This is the way.”
2. Knowledge Alone Isn’t Enough—Transformation Happens When We Do the Word
One theme throughout Walk It Out is this simple but challenging idea: We often study the Bible without ever stepping into what it asks of us.
American Christians often have Bible knowledge, but they don’t understand how to translate their beliefs into their actions. Understanding Scripture is not about filling notebooks or checking boxes. Instead, it’s about allowing God’s Word to shape our daily choices, our relationships, our priorities, and our courage.
James says it plainly: “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.” (James 1:22). Real understanding blooms when obedience begins.
3. The Bible Helps You Hear God’s Voice… Especially When You Make Space for Him
One of the problems that comes with obey God’s voice is that I don’t have any space to do so.�� I tend to overfill my schedule. But when that happens spot on the calendar feels like a problem to solve rather than a gift from God.
Then happens often. Then, my heart gets cluttered. My mind gets overwhelmed. And in that noise, it became nearly impossible to sense God’s direction.
The good news is, Jesus speaks to quiet hearts. Bible reading isn’t only about extracting information. It’s about becoming still enough to hear God whisper real direction. When you sit with Scripture—slowly, prayerfully—you open space for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, nudge your decisions, and lead you toward God’s best.
4. Scripture Gives You Courage to Say Yes to God
A defining moment years ago came when I reluctantly prayed about helping start a crisis pregnancy center. In that quiet space, God asked me to step toward something that scared me, stretched me, and ultimately transformed my life.
Bible reading prepares us for obedience. It roots us in God’s character so we can trust His leading. It reminds us that He equips those He calls. You will never know how God wants to use you until you are close enough to hear Him say, “This is the next step.”
5. The Bible Helps You Remember Who You Are
As I mentored women and teen moms over the years, I realized this: When we forget who God says we are, the world will rush in to define us instead.
It’s only when we sit down with an open Bible that this mindset changes. Scripture reclaims our identity. God’s Word tells us:
- You are loved.
- You are chosen.
- You are forgiven.
- You are called.
- You are equipped.
Understanding the Bible isn’t about mastering a book. It’s about letting the Author reshape your heart.
A Simple Way to Begin (or Begin Again): The One Year Bible for Women
If you feel overwhelmed about where to start, let me offer something gentle and doable: check out The One Year Bible for Women. I recommend it often because:
- It breaks Scripture into manageable daily readings.
- It takes you through the entire Bible in a year—without stress or pressure.
- It includes encouragement written specifically for women walking through real-life seasons.
- It builds consistency, which is the secret ingredient of deep understanding.
Even if you’ve struggled with reading plans before…
Even if you just “don’t have time”…
Even if your faith feels dry or distant right now…
One quiet moment with God’s Word each day can reshape everything.
You Don’t Have to Walk Blindly
God isn’t asking you to map your own path. He isn’t waiting for you to “have it all together.” He simply invites you to walk with Him, step by step, through the pages of His Word. And I promise—because I’ve lived it.
When you open your Bible, you begin to discover your purpose. When you understand Scripture, you learn to recognize His voice. When you walk it out, your life becomes a story only God could write.
A Simple Way to Go Deeper in 2026 with God
If you’re ready to start (or restart) a daily Bible habit but feel overwhelmed about where to begin, I want to share the tool that has helped me stay grounded year after year. The One Year Bible for Women and The One Year Bible for Men make Scripture simple, accessible, and genuinely doable, especially on the busy days when you need the Bible the most.
Each daily reading includes:
- A portion from the Old Testament
- A portion from the New Testament
- A Psalm
- A Proverb
- Plus a short, heartfelt devotional written specifically with you in mind
You don’t have to plan anything or guess where to read next—you just open to today’s date and start. It’s the same rhythm that helped shape my spiritual life, renew my mind, and carry me through some of the hardest seasons of motherhood, marriage, and ministry.
If you want a Bible that meets you where you are but doesn’t leave you where it found you, this is it.
Whether you’re beginning your Bible-reading journey or returning to it with new hope, these are beautiful tools to help you stay rooted—day after day, verse after verse.
And who knows? That simple habit you start today may be the very thing God uses to rewire your brain, strengthen your faith, and shape your story for years to come.
Go Deeper: Walk It Out by Tricia Goyer
If this post inspired you, grab Walk It Out—Tricia’s book about discovering how God’s Word becomes the map for your daily life.
Inside, you’ll find:
- How to move from reading Scripture to living it
- Stories of modern obedience that bring the Bible to life
- Practical steps for aligning your plans with God’s purposes
- Encouragement to walk out your faith—one small yes at a time
“God’s Word doesn’t just inform you—it transforms you.”
– Tricia Goyer
- 🎧 Listen: Daily Bible Podcast for encouragement as you start your day
- 💬 Join: Daily Bible Podcast Facebook Group for daily Bible discussion & community
