Reading the Bible Can Change Your Life (Really!)

When Allison Gingras began reading the Bible, the Lord spoke to her heart, freeing her from anxiety and unforgiveness and waking her to the beauty of her Catholic faith and practices. In this episode, Allison shares how she finds value in scripture nuggets, why random reading suits her ADHD, and how she discovered a spiritual lifeline for her deaf child in sacramentals.

 Allison Gingras is author of Encountering Signs of Faith and developer of the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women series. She is a Catholic new media specialist, hosts A Seeking Heart podcast, and is cohost of CatholicMomcast. Her contributions to the Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible include reflections on how sacramentals unite church and home, and “Reconciliation: More Important than Shoes.” Follow Allison @ReconciledToYou.

Take Allison’s Favorite Scripture to Your Next Holy Hour

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to hear your word today. 

Read the Word: Philippians 4:4–7

(Read it in your own Bible so you can make notes.)

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Ponder the Word: Read the passage several times, lingering where it touches your heart. What catches your attention? What do you hear the Lord saying to you? 

Pray with the Word: Bring to the Lord what you have heard and talk to him about it. Ask for his grace. Thank him for his loving care.

Live the Word: How does what you read touch your life? What can you do this week to put it into practice?