Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”(NIV)

For decades, I have journaled my heart history, a collective of my cherished memories! My various journals include celebrations and challenges, special events and accomplishments, along with my thoughts on my personal and spiritual growth. I also add treasured notes, cards, and letters from family and friends to my journal to preserve those special memories.  I hope by journaling and sharing memories I will keep my heart's history alive for future family generations to read about the joy, pain, and growth I experienced.

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The Bible is like a heart history of Christianity for me. It is a book of events, poems, and songs written by many different authors, inspired by the Holy Spirit that preserves the written history of Christianity for past and future generations to explore faith in Christ. Have you explored the heart history that the Bible records? In past years during January, I challenged myself to read the Bible through in a year, but too often my efforts were stalled. Finally, one January, I made a stronger commitment to follow through with my desire. I set out to read the Bible entirely through in a year for a new spiritual journey. Honestly, I do not know exactly what changed that January, but I knew God wanted me to KNOW Him more deeply. I found a book to guide my reading that inspired my commitment due to its format. Each day of the year included an Old Testament, New Testament, and a Psalms or Proverbs passage along with a reflection on one part of the day’s readings. It was a great fit for me.

I don’t know the year, and it doesn’t matter, because I DID IT! It took me a little over a year, but the journey was filled with many blessings. I took many notes, referenced maps, had to backtrack to make connections clearer, made genealogy maps, and just enjoyed reading the Bible. I soon realized that I was getting to know God more deeply and creating more heart history with Him.

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God created you because He desires a relationship, a heart history, with you!  God gave us the Bible to direct this journey to deeply KNOW Him. In our passage today, Jesus states that the first step to getting to know God the Father is through Jesus His Son. Knowing Jesus as your Savior leads to knowing God! Have you taken that first step?

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Maybe your next step involves your own heart journey of reading the Bible through in a year to get to know God the Father, Jesus – His Son, and so many other men and women in the Bible that God used throughout history. As you read, write down your questions to further explore by yourself or in community. Follow the Holy Spirit on your heart journey to KNOW God more deeply. It is a time and energy commitment that may need to extend beyond a year, but I encourage you to just do it. You will be blessed no matter how long it takes!

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Abba, Father God, we want to KNOW you deeper. We thank you for Your gift of the Bible to guide us on this heart journey. Please give us gentle urges each day to seek You. In 2025 set us free from a past we cannot change and open us to a future in which we are changed! We love You. Amen.