The Miracle of Reading

"I could not read or write," said the women in a beautiful blue sari. She had just told a long story from memory. As she began to share in her own words about her lack of literacy she cried profusely.

Going on she shared,

"I had memorized many stories from God's Word, taught to me by my mentor. I had even planted five Oral Bible home groups. But still I longed to pick up the Word and read for myself, anytime anywhere.

I prayed to God and one day I asked my mentor to show me the stories I knew by heart in the Bible. I looked long and hard at the stories in print and I prayed again. Soon by a miracle beyond belief I found that I could read the words I knew so well by memory.

Then I began to read other text from the Word of God and I realized God had answered my prayers."

Then the Bridges Leader asked her to open up the Bible to any page and read. As she did so with confidence and fluency the Bridges coordinator for the region was deeply moved. Tears came to his eyes and he raised his hands in praise to God, the worker of miracles, the one whose heart is tender toward the humble and the downtrodden.

It makes us think how those of us who are literate in the West may take this gift for granted, maybe even neglecting our Bibles and the Word. Not understanding how new believers around the globe are motivated by the Scriptures in unimaginable ways.