Handle With Expectation

When you open God’s Word, don’t just read—listen. Expect Him to speak, and watch how His voice transforms you from the inside out.

How We Approach God’s Word Determines Its Impact

Most of us know we should read the Bible. We’ve been told since childhood that it’s important, that it’s “good for us,” and that faithful Christians spend time in Scripture. But if we’re honest, sometimes that sense of duty dulls our delight. We approach the Word as an obligation instead of an opportunity.

And when we do, we miss something vital.

Our mindset should be purposeful, intentional, and expectant when we come to Scripture. The Bible isn’t just a book to be read, it’s a divine conversation God started long before we arrived, and one He invites us to join every time we open its pages.

When we meditate on His Word, not rushing through it, but sitting with it, God reveals more layers of Himself. The deeper we go, the more we discover. His Spirit illuminates truth that’s been there all along but hidden from hurried hearts. And when that happens, faith awakens. Revelation activates transformation.

That transformation is called sanctification—the ongoing work of God in shaping us to look, think, and love more like Jesus.

Sometimes the change is visible to others: a softer tone, a kinder reaction, a quiet confidence in the middle of chaos. Other times it’s something unseen, deep within—a conviction sharpened, a wound healed, a desire purified. Either way, real change leads us back to Scripture again, hungrier and more receptive than before. And the cycle continues: meditation → revelation → transformation → deeper meditation.

Sadly, many of us short-circuit that process because our approach to Scripture feels like checking a box. We open our Bibles because we feel obligated, not invited. We read because it’s “expected,” forgetting that even God’s expectations are filled with grace and fruit.

The truth is, God’s commands are never empty—they’re full of nourishment. Each expectation of His carries a promise attached. The call to read His Word isn’t a weight to bear but a table to feast at.

When we approach Scripture with expectation, we stop reading for information and start reading for transformation. We stop asking, “What does this mean for me today?” and begin asking, “What does this reveal about You, God?”

And that shift—from obligation to anticipation—changes everything.

So the next time you open your Bible, pause before you begin. Take a breath. Remind yourself: This isn’t just me reading a book. This is me entering a divine conversation. Then listen. Wait. Let His Spirit speak.

Because the goal of Scripture isn’t simply knowledge—it’s knowing Him.

When you open your Bible, what’s your mindset—obligation or expectation?

How has God used Scripture recently to bring change in your life?

What would it look like to slow down and meditate instead of rush through your reading?

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”— Psalm 119:18 (NIV)