105. 5 Life-Changing Ways the Bible Transforms and Heals Your Heart

Welcome back to Curious for Christ! In today’s episode, we’re exploring something deeply personal, incredibly practical, and spiritually powerful: how God’s Word actually transforms you—from the inside out.

Maybe you’ve been feeling spiritually dry, unsure where to start in Scripture, or wondering why reading the Bible doesn’t feel as life-giving as it used to. This episode will meet you right there.

We’ll walk through five powerful ways the Bible brings healing, clarity, strength, and renewal—not just in theory, but in real-life moments of doubt, disappointment, and spiritual longing.

 Featured Scriptures include:

• Hebrews 4:12 – “The Word of God is alive and active…”
• Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
• Psalm 119:103 – “How sweet are your words to my taste…”
• Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
• Ephesians 6:17, 5:26, and more.

You’ll hear about:

• Why reading the Bible stirs deeper desire for God
• How the Word becomes your weapon in spiritual battles
• What it means to grow spiritual fruit you can’t manufacture on your own
• And how sitting with Scripture helps you stop hiding, striving, or spiraling—and start trusting again

 Whether you’re new to reading the Bible or returning with a heavy heart, this episode will show you how the Word of God is not just informative—it’s transformational.

 Resources & Episodes Mentioned:

• Episode 99: How to Fall in Love with the Bible (and Be Transformed from the Inside Out) — with Philip Nation
• Episode 97: 7 Faith-Based Principles for Healing & Spiritual Growth - with Kathy Heinen

Stay until the end for a short, heartfelt prayer to help you fall in love with God’s Word again.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro & Real Talk About Bible Reading

1:03 – The Living Power of God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12)

7:33 – #1: It Transforms You From the Inside Out

9:47 – #2: It Awakens Your Desire for God

12:49 – #3: It Strengthens You for Battle

13:49 – #4: It Washes and Heals Our Wounds

14:44 – #5: It Grows Spiritual Fruit You Can’t Manufacture

16:26 – Recap & Final Reflection + How to Start Today

17:25 – Closing Prayer

18:01 – Thank you & Outro

 Let’s Stay Connected

If this episode encouraged you, would you share it with a friend who feels distant from God or His Word?

And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode. You are not alone—and God is speaking.

The question is:

Will you make space to listen?

Until next time,

Stay curious and keep drawing near.

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Want to go deeper? Let's connect—set up a FREE Discovery Call today. See you next time!

Transcript

0:00

Welcome back to Curious for Christ, and for those who are new to the show, welcome. I'm your host, Alexandra, and today we are diving into a conversation that might just reignite your soul. What really happens when we read the Bible, not just skim it or quote it, but actually fall in love with it. Hebrews four, verse 12 says that the word of God is alive and active, but what does that mean in everyday life? Why does it matter, and why is it so crucial not just to hear about the Bible or paraphrase the stories we grew up with, but to open it for ourselves word by word. Maybe you felt disconnected, spiritually dry, or unsure where to even. Dart, or maybe you've been reading scripture, but you wonder why it hasn't felt transformative Wherever you are on your journey, this episode is meant to ground you in both the spiritual power and the practical impact of soaking in God's word. Let's go back to the foundation. Hebrews four, verse 12. The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sort. The Bible is not just the book, it has tremendous power in your life today and for eternity. And I want to say something upfront. It doesn't matter if you grew up in Sunday school. It doesn't matter if you had catechism or like me, studied at a Catholic university and took Bible classes taught by priests. That alone doesn't bring you close to God. Proximity to tradition isn't the same as intimacy with his voice. And here's something I also noticed. Sometimes we hold on to what we did yesterday. I used to be so close to God, or I used to study the Bible regularly and we use that as an excuse to co spiritually. Today, like Faith is an overarching fact about who we are. God is inviting us to meet with him now in the present moment, and he does that through his word. I was recently talking to a woman at work about a difficult situation and I said, really, from a place of faith, you know what? I trust God. And to me that meant I released the stress I want peace and therefore. I trust and she responded quickly. Well, me too. I went to Sunday school every week. I grew up in that church. I forgot the name that she said. And it felt to me, not in a judgmental way, it was just an observation, but she was reaching for all the things she's done, the places she's been, the background she has as a way to validate her faith. Not because I worry that I do not have faith. That's what she probably meant and that is understandable. We all do that sometimes, but her response told me something more that this situation, the one she's facing right now is hard to trust God with. That's the truth. And honestly, I get it. I've been there. There are times I want to say, God, I've walked with you. I know the Bible. I've led Bible studies, but still I don't feel like trusting you in this moment. That's when I have to remind myself, it doesn't matter that I have LED studies before. God already knows that. He also knows that I have a hard time trusting right now and that I'm struggling. I don't need to pretend. That's good news. He can handle my doubts. But I cannot stay there. Instead, I must go back and open his word and say, God, what do you want to say to me today? How can you meet me in this specific situation so that I can trust you again? Because trust isn't something we just decide once and keep forever. It's something we return to one moment at a time. So let's go back to Hebrews four, verse 12, because it goes on to say that God's word penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. That's very specific, and it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. It exposes what's really going on beneath the surface and lovingly brings it into the light. Because we can deceive ourselves or we can hide. But the Bible reveals truth. It reveals us. It's like a mirror, a sword, a compass, and a bomb all at once. And that's why it's so important to read it daily because in order to change, to grow, to be free of our anxiety, to grow in confidence, we must first assess where we are. Just like a GPS, it can only guide us to our destination once it knows our starting point. And the Bible not only reveals our true condition, but also leads us step by step into closeness with God and the peace that is only found in His presence. It's also incredibly reliable. The Bible didn't survive centuries of persecution, translation, and transmission by accident. It is the most historically verified book in existence. There are over 5,800 Asian ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament alone. By contrast, Homer's Iliad, one of the most respected ancient works, has only about 643 manuscripts, like 10 times less. So when you hold the Bible, you're not holding an outdated book. You are holding something eternal, intentional, and divinely preserved for you. So let's walk through five ways Scripture transforms your life and brings deep lasting healing Welcome to Curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying, awake at night wondering about God's plan for your life? Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Alexandra. I too felt lost and sure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me, but I kept telling myself I was too busy. The timing wasn't right, and my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and revealed the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those earbuds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He's making everything new and you don't wanna miss it. Let's get started. number one, Scripture transforms you from the inside out. Romans 12, verse two says, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. God's word doesn't just change your behavior, it rewires your thinking. When you read scripture consistently, it begins to reshape your inner world. Fear turns into faith, scarcity, lack becomes trust. Striving becomes surrender. You start to interpret life through a redeemed lens, which means you start seeing everything, your emotions, your choices, relationships through the truth of God's word. Instead of reacting out of fear, shame, or past wounds, you begin to respond with grace, with trust and wisdom, because your mind is being renewed by Christ. You don't just know scripture. You start to think like Jesus. That's real transformation, not from the outside in, but from the inside out. So for example, instead of seeing failure as proof, you're not enough. You see it as a place where God's strength can meet your weakness, as in second Corinthians 12, verse nine says. And when you feel anxious, you don't spiral. You stop and invite God into your uncertainty, trusting his peace is available. Philippians four verses six and seven. And when someone hurts you, you don't clinging to bitterness like I have. You remember, you've been forgiven and you begin to forgive. Ephesians four, verse 32. Through this redeemed lens, life doesn't all of a sudden becomes free of trouble, but it does get easier to deal with. Because you see that it is not random. God invites you to be more anchored in his truth, or he is bringing more clarity to a specific situation, or he is growing your character and then you are filled with hope because you see that you can change, that God can be trusted and that he is with you. Number two, it awakens your desire for God. Psalm one 19 verse 1 0 3 says, how sweet are your words to my taste? Sweeter than honey to my mouth while the psalmist was speaking? Not to a lover, but about God's word. Do you want more faith? Start reading. Don't wait for desire to show up. Ask God to stir your anger just like the psalmist. Romans 10, verse 17 says, faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. When we begin reading, not as a Judy, but as a way to know him, we start to crave his presence more than approval, more than noise, more than distraction. There's a study that I love. And you probably have seen it. Over the internet or on social media. But children were asked that what they wanted most in the world while adults, the parents assumed that they would say toys, fame, or money, or meeting a celebrity that they loved. Almost every child said the same thing. I just want more time with my mom and dad. Parents were in tears. I was in tears because. They had forgotten. We forget what we long for. Deep down is time with our God, and that's exactly what the word gives us. We come looking for answers and realize that what we need most is time with our Father. God's word also purifies our motives. Sometimes we say we want God, but we also want what we want. We're torn. We want Him and our comfort, our dreams, or our timeline. But God, through his word, begins to purify us. And impurity just means something is mixed in that doesn't belong. Think of a diamond in geology. An impure diamond has inclusions or blemishes, like tiny flaws that disrupt clarity or diminish light reflection and lower its perceived value. That's what impurity does in US too. So God's word helps us recognize those inclusions. The other things that we've added to our must have list. And when we, when he invites us to release them, we can res, we can start to resist. We say, but wait, what about that dream? I thought you wanted for me. What about that? That thing that I want. And we look at the dream, we look at those desires that we want, and then we stop seeing him clearly, we begin to doubt his goodness, his presence, his care. But Jesus says in Matthew five, verse eight. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. When you read God's word with an open heart, it won't just satisfy you. It will awaken a holy hunger to see him more clearly and love him more deeply. Number three, the word of God strengthens you for battle. Ephesians six, verse 17 says, take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. The word of God is the sword of the spirit. You may not be in a physical battle, but emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Life is war. The word is your weapon. It doesn't just inform you. It arms you when you're tempted to believe lies like, I've never, I'll never get through this or. I'm not lovable, or God forgot me. The word rises up with truth. Matthew 28, verse 20 says, I am with you always. Psalm 1 39, verse 14 says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made without the word. We fight battles unarmed. We don't even know we are being lied to, but with it, with the word of God, we stand secure. Even in the storm. Number four, the Bible, the word of God, washes and heals our wounds. Ephesians five, verse 26 says that he might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word scripture is soul therapy. It cleanses us from shame and speaks to the parts of us that are weary and wounded. It heals the old stories we've carried. I have to be perfect to be loved. God won't come through. I'm too broken. God's word doesn't just affirm us. It restores us. Isaiah 43 verse one says, you are mine, says the Lord. And if this resonates, listen to episode 97 from Cures For Christ with Kathy Hein, and we go deep into healing and spiritual growth through scripture Number five. It grows spiritual fruit you can't manufacture. Matthew 13, verse 23 says, but the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. Scripture makes your soil good soil, and next week I will talk about that very process and what it means. This is something that God has worked in me. I had a lot of bitterness in my heart and needed a lot of healing, and honestly, that bitterness choked his word and made it ineffective in my life. So I had to sit for a very long time just being in his word and spending hours with God alone and going to church. But for now, I will just say that his word softens hardened places. It helps truth sink deep, and when it does, you start seeing fruit that no self effort could produce. Peace in the chaos. Joy in grief, patience in uncertainty. Courage in weakness. Okay. Reading the Bible is not about finishing it fast. It's about surrendering to a process God designed just for you to grow your life in his spirit. And honestly, we will never read it all the way through. I mean, I've, I've read it multiple times, but since it is living and active, I discover new things daily. Its meaning takes deeper place in my heart. It is new every day. So let me repeat the five truths about God's Word. Number one, it transforms you from the inside out. Number two, it awakens your desire for God. Number three, it strengthens you for battle. Number four, it washes and heals your wounds. Number five, it grows spiritual. It grows spiritual fruit. You can't manufacture. So today, when you sit with God, with your Bible, whether in your living room with a cup of coffee or in your yard in nature, start asking God, what do you want to say to me today? This is how transformation happens. Being open to the word and opening your Bible and reading it. Daily. And if you don't know where to begin, feel free to check out episode 99 with Philip Nation, who is the publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles and the Open Bible. It's full of wisdom and practical help for deepening your Bible reading journey. Let me pray. God, help us fall in love with your word again and again and again. Not as, not as a checklist, but as. Communion with you. Let it be the answer to our questions, the healing for our wounds, the guidance for our confusion, and the joy of our heart. More than anything else, make our heart a good soul where your truth sinks deeper than the outside noise. We don't want to just know of you. We want to walk with the Author of Life itself. You our father. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. So this is it for today. I hope this episode encouraged you, and if so, would you share it with someone who's feeling distant from God's Word? Thank you for listening and being part of this cure for Christ community. I really appreciate you being here. You're Not alone and God is speaking. The question is, will you make space to listen? Until next time, stay curious and keep drawing near. Bye for now. Hi, I hope you enjoy today's episode. If so, would you like to take 30 seconds and share it with a friend who may also struggle with knowing God and his purpose for their life? Also, leave a review on Apple Podcast and let me know what topics you'd like to hear about in the future. Your voice matters. I'll meet you back next Friday. For another episode.