A few years ago, Charles and I visited a church while we were out of town. It was our first time there, and we weren’t quite sure what to expect. There were many aspects of the service that we loved—the praise and worship were beautiful, and the message the pastor shared touched me.
But there was one thing that left my heart unsettled.
As the pastor began his message, the scripture reference was displayed on a large screen behind him. Charles and I opened our Bibles to follow along. As he read, I glanced around the congregation and noticed that many people didn’t have a Bible with them. They were simply reading the words on the screen.
After the service, as we walked out, I found myself scanning the crowd again—looking to see who might be carrying God’s Word in their hands. A few were, but most were not. I couldn’t shake the subtle tension in my spirit.
I know we live in a world where Bible apps and screens are common. We’re constantly surrounded by verses shared on social media or projected during services. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that—there’s just something deeply meaningful about holding a Bible in my hands.
It’s sacred to turn those pages, to physically open His Word and read the words He spoke—the instructions, the promises, the comfort, and the truth. It’s more than reading—it’s a physical expression of love for Him. A way of saying, “I want to know You. I want to meet with You. I want to hear from you."
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
—Psalm 119:130
I want to receive God’s Word straight from Him—not filtered through a screen, an app or someone else's post. It’s through His words that the Holy Spirit moves and begins to shape me, refine me, correct me, and draw me nearer to Him. It’s how I learn who He is and what His word says. It’s how I learn to discern truth from deception.
Holding His Word in the palm of my hand connects me to Him—and Him to me.
I never want to become so plugged into to technology that I disconnect from the One who sustains me. Devices may fail, but His Word stays with me—held in my hands and hidden in my heart.
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