When I first became a Christian, I believed the Bible by faith, but not everyone does. Many struggle to believe the Bible. In the 35+ years since I became a Christian, I’ve discovered there are other very strong reasons to believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. I stumbled upon one of them recently in my quest to read through the Bible in a year:

Historical Accuracy 

One of the strongest proofs for the Bible’s origin is its historical accuracy. Take, for example, Ezekiel 29, a prophecy recorded in approximately 597 BC against the nation of Egypt:

“It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.”

Ezekiel 29:15

You may remember Egypt as one of the world’s first civilizations. It reached its zenith of power during the days of the Pharaohs. This mighty country led the world in military strength, architectural advancements, science, and medicine. We get a glimpse of its power in the biblical account of the exodus of the Israelites in the book of Exodus.

The beginning of the end came, however, when God drowned the Egyptian army as they pursued the Israelites to enslave them. It was downhill from there. Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 BC, then Cleopatra’s death ended its nominal independence. It became just one of the many provinces of the Roman Empire. When the modern Republic of Egypt was founded in 1953, it marked the first time in 2,300 years that Egypt was fully independent.

Now, after more than 2,500 years, Ezekiel’s prophecy still holds true. Egypt is still “the lowliest of kingdoms,” has never “exalted itself above other nations,” and “will never again rule over the nations.”

This example is one of thousands that shows the Bible’s historical accuracy. It gives us one more reason to believe. I’m convinced God will never remove all our doubts, because it’s faith that pleases him. He has, however, provided ample evidence to strengthen and encourage us to believe.

If you’d like more straight answers to honest questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity, I encourage you to check out Chip Ingram’s new book, “Why I Believe.”

Now it’s your turn. What extra-biblical evidence has strengthened your faith? Leave a comment in the box below and share your thoughts.

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

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