Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
As an LPGA Class A Teaching Professional, I’m often asked, “What’s the best golf club manufacturer out there?” Honestly, with today’s incredible advancements in golf technology and added benefits of launch monitors, most major brands make excellent equipment.
The key isn’t necessarily the brand—it’s getting properly fitted. With a good fitting, it’s relatively easy to find clubs that feel right in your hands and deliver great results for your swing.
Interestingly, I get a very similar question in another area of life. As someone who also serves full-time in ministry, people often ask me, “What’s the best Bible translation?”
And I usually answer, “The one you’ll actually read.”
Much like golf clubs, every Bible translation has its strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I spend a lot of time in the New King James Version (NKJV) and the English Standard Version (ESV).
But I also enjoy exploring many other translations. When a verse really speaks to my heart, I love looking it up in multiple versions. Each one can bring out a different nuance or insight, and it helps deepen my understanding.
Just like golf clubs are uniquely suited to different players, Bible translations can uniquely connect with different readers.
So, here’s my encouragement: Use the clubs that make you feel confident and help you enjoy the game. And read the Bible version that draws you closer to the Lord. You don’t need to swing ‘blades’ if they’re too difficult for your game, and you don’t need to struggle through the 1611 King James Version if it keeps you from reading God’s Word. What matters is growth—on the course and in your faith.
The Bible speaks beautifully about the power of the Word and the benefits of reading and hearing it:All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm119:105)But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Knowing that the Word of God is this powerful, take advantage of the strength, power, and knowledge it beholds for you. When a verse stands out, pause. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak through it. Look it up in different translations and let it sink in—chew on it. Meditate on it.
We’re so blessed to have access to multiple translations that help us understand God’s heart and the message of the Gospel more clearly.
Remember, the goal is to grow closer to our Lord and Savior, to be strengthened in our faith and journey of sanctification until the day He calls us home to glory.
And if the Bible translation you’re using is hard to understand, switch to one that speaks more clearly to you. Just like in golf, if your clubs feel too heavy or too hard to hit, it’s okay to find a set that’s more forgiving, lighter, or simply easier to play with.
Because in the end, whether in golf or faith, it’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about finding what helps you grow, staying encouraged in Him, and leading you closer and closer to being an image bearer for Christ.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to spend more time with you in your Word.