Change is inevitable, but true transformation requires more than time or effort—it demands a source of unparalleled power. So, what is the ultimate Change Agent capable of renewing hearts, minds, and lives?
What Is the Ultimate Change Agent?
Bill Popejoy was not strong enough to stand. He sat on a chair in front of the assembly of eager listeners. His physical frailty didn’t equal the aliveness in his voice. Hearing of the nine surgeries, including a prosthetic jaw, made me wonder why he had traveled from Missouri to Minnesota to speak to us. Yet, his life-giving message energized him as it compelled us to listen.
At this minister’s seminar early in our ministry, the keynote speaker, Bill Popejoy, who exuded passion despite his weakness, captivated my husband and me. He boldly promised that our lives would change forever if we embraced his championed practice—he guaranteed it! His message was unmistakable: Consistent, daily reading of God’s Word transforms the Bible reader.
With tears of gratitude, Pastor Popejoy recounted the transformation within the congregation—crippling addictions overcome, rivalries reconciled, and lives filled with God’s presence and peace. The powerful new life he witnessed in his pastorate so deeply moved our speaker that his message poured out like a raging river rushing into our eager hearts.
We weren’t strangers to the Bible. We had read it, knew the stories, and memorized passages. Yet, like starving children unaware of the feast before them, we had failed to grasp the life-altering power of the ultimate Change Agent behind God’s Word—God Himself. As pastors, the remarkable transformation in Pastor Popejoy’s congregation deeply moved us. The congregation’s understanding of Scripture increased; counseling needs decreased; they restored broken marriages; they healed wounds; and the church experienced revitalization. Discipleship flourished, fostering genuine, godly relationships with both God and one another.
It seemed simple enough. Pastor Popejoy divided his congregation into two Bible-reading groups. One group committed to reading through the Bible in one year, averaging three pages per day (about ten minutes). The other group read through the Bible twice in one year, dedicating about ten pages per day (twenty to twenty-five minutes). We left the seminar determined to read through the Bible twice in one year!
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Marjan Apostolovic
1. The Bible—God’s Mind on Paper
The first time I read the Bible from cover to cover, the congruency between the Old and New Testaments revealed a weighty new awareness of God’s perfection—His boundless love, abundant grace, and the part I had not comprehended before, His perfect justice. The Word penetrated my mind like a seed planted in fertile soil, taking root. My attitude shifted. Forgiving grievances became more manageable, and extending grace to troublemakers felt more natural. Trusting God’s promises became more believable, and life’s storms grew less daunting. With a deeper trust in Him, better choices followed, and I discovered the joy of obedience in pleasing Him.
Inner Reconstruction
As we’ve seen firsthand, the Bible is no ordinary book. It’s an invitation to sit down with the Author of the Universe, a library of wisdom, and a guide to the human condition. It challenges, inspires, and transforms. If you’re doubting or questioning, the Bible welcomes your skepticism, inviting you to explore and discover. And when you do, you’ll find a joy and fulfillment that’s truly indescribable.
For the academic mind, it offers literary richness, philosophical depth, and insights that illuminate the world. For the artist, its stories, poetry, and vivid imagery inspire creativity. And for the seeker of purpose, its pages unlock a path to fulfillment, joy, and lasting peace.
Heart Overhaul
In 2024, I completed reading through the Bible for the fourth time. Bible reading has become an unquenchable thirst, continually drawing from the life-giving stream of God’s holy Word that refreshes and revives the soul. Years after Pastor Popejoy’s challenge to read through it twice in one year, that thirst only grows stronger. I couldn’t live without hearing from God daily! Yes, treasures still need to be mined, burdens lifted, and sins confessed when revealed by the Word. But the joy in God’s presence and at His right hand is indescribable. For the hungry soul, God’s Word is the doorway to His heart—daily Bread!
Mind Rebuilding
Starting daily Bible reading is a journey worth taking. Consistent Bible reading unlocks the power of God’s Word in ways we haven’t imagined. Daily Bible reading gave congregants life tools to make God-honoring choices, pursue purity and holiness, and deeply love God and others. One young family from our congregation says it all. The young mother’s mental illness led to her hospitalization, leaving her husband overwhelmed by caring for their two small children. After a pastoral visit and encouragement to immerse herself in Scripture daily, her recovery took just six weeks—far sooner than the expected two years. But the benefits of daily Bible reading are not just for those in crisis. It can bring peace, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of God’s love into your everyday life. God’s Word transforms hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2).
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2. Cultivating the Habit of Daily Reading
“Millions of Americans are disengaged from Scripture” (American Bible Society, State of the Bible Report, [2024]). While consistency can be challenging, it’s like any rewarding habit—it becomes easier and more fulfilling as you persist. Experience the life-changing power of God’s Word—start with just one chapter a day. Begin with baby steps - reading a few verses, a Psalm, or even a chapter in the Gospel of John. Psalms are short and uplifting, while John introduces the life and teachings of Jesus beautifully.
Consistency
Think of it like a workout: the first steps may feel stiff, but consistency brings strength and growth. Over time, it’s like weaving a tapestry—each thread revealing more of God’s amazing love and grace. James Clear explains in Atomic Habits that even a 1% daily improvement leads to a remarkable transformation.
Find a quiet place, open your Bible, and begin. Even if all you do today is locate your Bible, that’s a step forward! Read a few verses tomorrow and a little more the next day. The key is consistency—showing up daily and trusting God to bless and grow your efforts. When we committed to reading through the Bible twice in one year, we missed days, and consistency was tough. But we didn’t give up—we started again. That’s the key: keep going.
Life Reshaping
Day by day, with regularity, your spiritual muscles grow, and the changes may surprise you—hearing God’s voice more clearly, being more aware of His presence, making choices that honor Him, forgiving a friend, or letting go of a slight. Don’t feel guilty if you miss a day; begin again tomorrow. Over time, the more you read, the more you want to read. It’s like eating: the more you feed on God’s Word, the hungrier you’ll become for it. Each day’s reading nourishes your soul and deepens your connection with Him.
Paul reminds pastor Timothy (and us) of this truth: “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).
Character Refinement
Many years have passed since my husband and I accepted Pastor Bill Popejoy’s challenge, and true to his promise, it continues to transform our lives in ways nothing else can! Will you take the challenge, too? I know it will do the same for you. As the Prince of Preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
God’s life-altering Word lays an unshakable foundation, serving as the ultimate source of wisdom, an unfailing divine compass, and an inexhaustible wellspring of eternal truth. It reflects God’s flawless heart, speaking powerfully and unmistakably to all who pause to listen and surrender to its transformative power.
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Nathan Dumlao
3. Transformation Begins with God’s Word
Words on a page can inform, inspire, or entertain, like any book on a shelf—but the words of Scripture are “alive and active,” pulsing with divine power to transform lives (Hebrews 4:12). While ordinary books may touch the mind, God’s Word penetrates the soul, cutting through doubts, healing wounds, and reshaping hearts in ways no human author ever could. Whether you read through the Bible once or a hundred times, God speaks specifically to you! It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit brings the words to life---illuminating understanding, gently correcting, offering comfort, and filling your heart with peace.
Why Not Start Today?
In a world hungry for change, people search for solutions—self-help books, motivational speakers, new habits, or even technology—to transform their lives. Yet, the ultimate Change Agent has always been present, revealed in the pages of the Word of God. Unlike fleeting trends, the Word of God doesn’t merely modify behavior—it transforms the heart, mind, and every aspect of life (Romans 12:2). Its unparalleled power brings profound, lasting change that shapes how we think, live, and love and lasts into eternity!
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Vanessa Kintaudi
Originally published Monday, 20 January 2025.