I have a confession...
I am very, very easily influenced.
For many years, I used to take someone’s word for it when it came to Scripture. If it was in a bestselling book, a Christian podcast, or spoken from a pulpit, I assumed it had to be true.
But eventually, I started hearing things that didn’t sit right.
Promises that sounded too good.
“Truths” that contradicted each other.
I realized I needed to know the Bible for myself.
Sweet friend, we live in a time where false teaching is everywhere—and it doesn’t always sound false. It’s often mixed with just enough truth to make it seem right.
Remember how Satan first deceived Eve? In Genesis 3:1, he asked her, "Did God really say you must not eat of any tree in the garden?"
Notice, Satan didn't just flat out lie; he used what was partially true to create confusion in Eve. She responded in the next few verses saying that God also told them not to touch the tree of life - which He hadn't.
Let's keep in mind at this point that God's instructions were given directly to Adam, before Eve was created - so she is hearing them second-hand from him.
My point is two-fold:
First, we need to be reading the Bible for ourselves. If Eve had heard firsthand from God what His instructions were, she would have been better able to recognize Satan's deception tactics.
Which leads me to my second point: we must be on guard against anything that seems Christian, or simply sounds biblical, and diligently study Scripture for truth before making a decision or standing firm on a topic.
God doesn’t want us to be led by clever words or viral reels. He wants us rooted in His Word, unshaken and discerning.
Bible literacy—the ability to study, interpret, and apply Scripture—is our guardrail against deception.
As wives and moms, we are often the spiritual thermostat of the home. If we’re filling ourselves with half-truths, shallow interpretations, or worldly wisdom dressed up as “Christian,” we can throw our whole family off course.
But when we know Scripture deeply, we are able to recognize what isn’t of God. We can teach our kids truth. We can lovingly challenge our husbands in grace. We can stand firm when culture shifts.
If you don’t know where to start, try reading one book of the Bible slowly and deeply. Check out this link for a graphic that breaks down exactly how long it takes the average person to read each book of the Bible. According to that article, "Did you know that many of those books can be read in less than an hour? 40 out of the 66 books (61% of the books) can each be read in less than an hour? In fact, some of the books will take the average reader 2 minutes to read."
And yet we often claim we don't have time to read the Bible.
Use the SOAP or Verse Mapping method to help you engage. Check out the free Bible Study Toolkit to learn more about those and other ways to help you engage with and intentionally study God's Word.
Follow along with a solid Bible teacher, but always go back to the text. If you need a list of recommended teachers, this list by Michelle Lesley is a great place to start.
Finally, ask God to sharpen your discernment. James 1:5 tells us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, because He gives generously and without reproach. That means we can ask again, and again, and again, and God will never fault us for not having enough wisdom and needing to ask for more. He will patiently supply the wisdom we need, when we need it...when we ask.
Sweet friend, there is so much freedom in not being easily swayed anymore. Are you ready to have that freedom? Let's dig into the Word together! Share with me what you're most interested in learning about from Scripture!
