Day 15: Books

Thank You, God, for Books

Yes, first and foremost, I thank You for the Bible—our Holy Scriptures. It holds the stories we grew up with, the scripture we grew into, the revelations of God, the struggles of humanity, and the gift of Christ, to name a few.

There are other books, too—books about the Bible, whether commentaries, devotionals, or something else. Books on Christian living, Christian memoirs, and even Christian fiction.

I’m sure I’m missing a ton, but these are just the books that might have "Christian" in the title or genre. Yet, there are countless books that go beyond that label, and each one speaks to something in life.

Now, I want to talk about books in general—both fiction and non-fiction. Books are a gift. Sure, I could watch a video or Google something, but there’s something special about holding a book. Reading requires imagination, no matter the subject—even listening to a book can spark that. And once imagination is engaged, I believe application follows. Books—whether fiction or non-fiction—transport us to different places, challenge our thinking, and open our minds to new possibilities.

Personally, I’m on a bit of a non-fiction freeze (this may sound odd, but I read a lot). I’m trying to limit my non-fiction reading as much as possible. With my job, that’s not always realistic, but I’m choosing to read more fiction—maybe I’m just burned out on the types of books I was reading. Fiction helps with relaxation, imagination, writing, vocabulary, and even theology—truly just about everything. It’s amazing how much God shows up even in books that aren’t explicitly about Him.

This was a hard one to write for some reason. I could easily just say, "I love books—give them a try!" But it’s difficult to put into words. I once heard a quote that goes something like this: There’s no difference between a literate person and an illiterate person if the literate one never picks up a book.

That reminds me of one last story. I visit libraries often and enjoy striking up conversations with librarians. Once, I met a man who couldn’t read—but that didn’t stop him. Every week, he checked out several audiobooks.

So, let’s not dismiss audiobooks! Some people say, “I just don’t have time to read,” but listening to a book can provide many, if not all, of the same benefits.

Maybe for you, it’s not a book, but what helps you open your mind, spark your imagination, learn, or take you to another place?