he other day I hung a note on the refrigerator for my children. It says, “Dustin, Cara, Peyton and Coby, ‘obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.’ Ephesians 6:1.”

If you look up the verse, you will see that it actually begins, “Children, obey your parents ... .” I simply substituted the word, “children,” with my own children’s names. My teenage daughter rolled her eyes and said, “Mom, you would!”

Am I using God’s Word to my personal advantage? You bet! After all, isn’t that why God sent his Word in the first place – to speak to us personally?

The Bible is God’s individualized, personalized message from him to you.

In my opinion, we often fail to accept God’s Word as an individualized, personal communication from God. We may experience certain emotions while we read, breathing a sigh of relief as God promises David rest from his enemies (2 Samuel 7:11), rejoicing as the Lord restores Job’s fortunes (Job 42:12) and celebrating Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-19). But the Bible is not just a good read. It isn’t a mere collection of inspirational stories from history. God’s Word is truly his Word to us, written as a guide to our individual lives.

Take Psalm 23, for instance:

“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
For his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In this familiar passage, David paints a beautiful picture of sheep and their shepherd as an analogy for his relationship with God. We can use this passage to learn about God’s protection, comfort and guidance. But when reading Psalm 23, we can go beyond simply understanding the shepherd analogy. We can personalize it in our minds with words that speak to us individually and in real time.

Perhaps you are going through a period of loneliness. Try substituting words of comfort to personalize the passage for your individual needs:

The Lord is my Friend, I shall not be alone.
He makes me enjoy his presence,
He provides his companionship,
He restores my security.
He guides me in paths of refuge,
For his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of solitude,
I will fear no isolation,
For you are with me;
Your nearness and embrace,
They comfort me.
You prepare a place of assurance
In the presence of anxiety.
You anoint my mind with serenity;
My tranquility overflows.
Surely peace and security will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Perhaps you are suffering with illness:

The Lord is my Physician, I shall not be without care.
He makes me rest in his capable arms,
He leads me to periods of recovery,
He restores my inner peace.
He guides me in paths of renewal
For his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of infirmity,
I will fear no deterioration,
For you are with me;
Your power and presence,
They comfort me.
You prepare a bed of comfort
In the presence of suffering.
You anoint my body with healing;
My well-being overflows.
Surely restoration and hope will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Or, perhaps you are suffering financially:

The Lord is my Provider, I shall not be deprived.
He makes me rest in his care,
He leads me to periods of blessing,
He restores my peace of mind.
He guides me in paths of prosperity
For his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of hardship,
I will fear no destitution,
For you are with me;
Your aid and benevolence,
They comfort me.
You prepare provisions for me
In the presence of adversity.
You anoint my finances with stability,
My bounty overflows.
Surely security and provision will follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

When you absorb the Bible as God’s personal communication of assurance, hope and comfort, you allow God to speak to you on an individualized level. God didn’t give his promises only to biblical figures. He gives them to you. And he wants you to accept them as his personal letter of love.

Editor's note: This article is an op-ed and, therefore, reflects the opinions of the writer.