For the first 18 years of my life, I attended church services every Sunday and every holiday. I heard sections of the Old and New Testaments read aloud each week, but I seldom, if ever, picked up a Bible to read for myself.

Then all that changed…and while I would absolutely love to take this opportunity to share every wonderful detail about that amazing, humbling period in my life (and the difference it’s made in the past 19 years), I don’t really think Epinions is the proper forum. (I will, however, be glad to answer inquiring minds via email!)

Suffice it to say, daily Bible reading is now a part of my life. Trying to understand and actually apply what the Bible teaches (application is the HARD part!) has become a lifelong goal, and one I won't ever fully or perfectly attain. Check back with me in 30 or 40 years, and I predict you'll find me still scouring the Scriptures for answers, instruction, and encouragement.

Two years ago, I was given a paperback copy of God’s Promises for Your Every Need by my Bible Study Fellowship discussion group leader. Originally published in 1988, this 344-page book is jammed-packed with Old and New Testament verses, divided into nine chapters and indexed topically. For instance, chapter 3 is titled, What To Do When You Feel…, and the subjects covered include: Discouraged, Worried, Lonely, Depressed, Dissatisfied, Condemned, Confused, Angry, etc.

Each section lists verses dealing specifically with each subject. For example, one listed under the Discouraged section is Psalm 31:24, ”Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Other chapters include these topics/sub-topics:

What To Do When…
You Need Confidence
You Have Physical Sickness
You Are Having Marital Problems
You Don’t Understand God’s Ways

What The Bible Has To Say About…
Faith
Love
Eternity
The Church

What You Can Do To…
Grow Spiritually
Help Your Business
Please God

Right off the bat, I need to point out (in case it’s not already obvious) that God’s Promises for Your Every Need presupposes that the reader is at the very least open to learning what the Bible teaches in both the Old and New Testaments, or already a professing Christian. Certainly, someone who’s already decided that he/she completely rejects what the Bible has to say wouldn’t be interested in this book at all. Someone of the Jewish faith, while embracing the Old Testament passages, would not appreciate many of the New Testament references.

What I like about this book is that it’s simply text taken right out of the Bible. There’s no added commentary, no opinions added. The reader is allowed to see for himself what the Bible says—-it’s up to him to believe it or not. Take it or leave it--and isn't that what faith is all about, anyway? ("...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."--Hebrews 11:1 NASB)

What I don’t particularly care for, and this is just a personal pet-peeve, is that God’s Promises for Your Every Need uses the flowery language of the King James version (KJV). For those of you out there who were raised using the KJV and love it, please understand that I don’t dislike it as much as I find it more difficult to understand. I’m a relatively new Christian compared to many of you, and I’ve found the New American Standard (NASB) version or the New King James (NKJV) version much, much easier for my pea-brain to comprehend. For example, Philippians 4:6 in the King James starts out, “Be careful for nothing…” Now, I personally don’t get that, but when I read the NASB, it says, “Be anxious for nothing…”–-which, to me, makes perfect sense.

But I digress… God’s Promises for Your Every Need is a helpful guide to get to answers in the Bible easily. If I don’t understand the KJV text, it’s no problem to look up the same verse in my own Bible. Actually, reading more than one version often helps bring out a fuller meaning and leads me to a deeper understanding. And that’s what Bible study is all about, isn’t it? A deeper understanding of what God is trying to tell me, show me, and teach me?

I recommend this book for those of the Christian faith--any denomination—-who are looking for a simple topical reference guide, and for anyone else who might be curious about what the Bible says about various subjects in every day life.

More Info
Compiled by Dr. A.L. Gill
WORD Publishing; ISBN: 0849951305


Recommended: Yes