This is a question that has been asked throughout time. Everyone wants to know the truth, to find the right answer that will not let them down, will not change, will not be destroyed. But today, there are thousands of voices in the world: coaches, trainings, "motivational courses"...
People search, read, listen—and still remain dissatisfied and empty inside. Because the real truth is not sold, is not invented, and does not change with global trends.
Truth is not a "what," but a "Who."
Truth is God Himself.
Jesus said, "The word of God is truth" (John 17:17). It is through the Word of God that a person comes to know God, and by knowing God, they begin to see what is truth and what is falsity.
The Word of God (the Bible) is not just a book. It is a living and effective compass that guides us when other paths are confusing. It helps us distinguish between good and evil, and teaches us to love in a true way, not through emotions and feelings that pass like a wave.
Truth cannot be learned or trained – it can only be experienced when you meet with God, speak to Him (in prayer), and listen to Him (through the Word). And the closer you become to Him, the clearer everything inside yourself becomes.
By coming to know God, you learn the truth. And once you have learned the truth, you no longer seek external answers.
Because the Truth itself begins to guide you.

This is perhaps the most important question every person has asked themselves: why do I live, what is the purpose of all that?
The Bible gives not a philosophical answer to that, but a living, true, and right one.
It shows that the point of life is not in the search for happiness, success, or recognition, but in coming to know God, Who gave us breath and the meaning of existence itself.
King Solomon – a man who experienced everything: wisdom, power, wealth, fame – wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes the words that every seeker comes to: "Vanity of vanities – all is vanity".
He experienced everything this world has to offer and finally said:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind " (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
This is the truth that everyone who sincerely seeks meaning comes to.
Life acquires meaning only when a person lives in the fear of God, in reverence for Him, and fulfills His will. The point of life is not simply to live a certain number of years in pleasure, but to know the Truth, to grow in spirit, to choose good over evil, to learn to conquer the flesh and follow Christ.
Everything earthly is but a journey, a time of preparation for eternity.
We live to learn to love, to forgive, to be a light where there is darkness. To grow closer every day to the One Who is the Source of life and unconditional love.
And today, when the world offers thousands of false meanings – success, freedom without God, pleasures that quickly end – many feel internal emptiness and loneliness. Because the soul cannot be satisfied with what is perishable and temporary. It thirsts for the One who created it. The true point of life lies only in God. Without Him, everything loses its meaning, but with Him, even simple things – breath, a meeting, a word, a choice – become eternal.
We live to learn Him, to become like Him, and to inherit eternal life.
This is the essence of everything.

Probably everyone has experienced betrayal at least once. When you feel pain not from enemies, but from those you trusted. When your heart feels burned out from the inside, and the only thought is: "I will never forgive this".
But, honestly, a person cannot forgive on their own. We can forget, we can pretend to let it go, but inside, the pain, resentment, bitterness, or residue still lingers.
And there is only one Source that can provide true forgiveness – God Himself.
When you open the Scriptures (the Bible), you realize: each of us has betrayed God more than once. Perhaps not with actions, but with thoughts, words, indifference. And yet, God forgives everyone. He gave His Son so that the whole world could receive forgiveness. This is true Love, which is stronger than any offense. Therefore, to forgive means to allow God to heal your heart.
This does not happen in an hour or a day. Sometimes it takes a long journey. But when God's love dwells in one’s heart, it does the impossible: it gives the strength to forgive even what seemed unforgivable. Forgiveness is not a weakness. It is freedom. Not justifying someone else's evil, but setting your heart free.
And only through God's love can one truly let the pain go, forgive, and begin to live with a new heart.

If we look at it through the eyes of the Bible, fate as people often understand it does not exist.
People often call things they cannot explain fate: accidents, meetings, twists and turns, pain, losses, joy. It seems as if there is some force guiding life. However, the Bible speaks not of "fate", but of God's plan and human choice, which is the consequence of certain events.
God indeed has a plan for each person. Psalm 139:16 says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be". This means that God knows a person's path from beginning to end. But this does not mean that a person is a puppet. God has given us the freedom of choice: to love or to turn away, to follow Him or to go our own way. And it is exactly in this freedom that lies choice and the consequences of each choice.
By believing in an abstract fate, a person loses responsibility. He or she begins to think, "So, everything's already decided; nothing depends on me". But this is not God's view. God invites people to cooperate with Him – to follow the path He has prepared, but at their own free will, with trust and obedience.
There is no "fate" in the human sense – as inevitability, predetermination, or serendipity. There is God's plan – a loving, kind, perfect, and fair one. And there is your choice – to accept this path or turn away. God does not write a script in which people are simply actors without a right to say a word. He calls you to go on a journey where both His will and your freedom exist. This is not fate; this is a relationship. And if you walk this path with God, everything, even difficulties, will turn out for the good.
Instead of asking, "What is my destiny?" ask, "God, what is Your plan for my life? What do You want to show me today and what do you want to teach me?" Seek not fate, but God's will. Then your path will not be an accident, but a story in which every “why” has its meaning.

Any religious belief claims religious exclusivity. And every person has a religious belief, regardless of whether they belong to an organized religion or not. Because answers to questions about good and evil, morality, and the meaning of life are not produced in a scientific laboratory; they are born in one’s heart, in one’s soul. And the way n which a person understands these questions is his or her religious answer.
It is impossible to invent a device that will show which faith is "the most correct", because this is a matter of faith, not experimentation. And this is exactly what the Bible tells us about.
Therefore, the question is not so much about religious exclusivity, but rather about the beliefs which are truly capable of leading us to peace, love, and inner well-being. And here, as Christians, we are deeply convinced: it is only Jesus Christ who can lead the world to true harmony and well-being.
What makes Christianity radically different from all other religions is that man does not find God through his own actions, but God Himself descends to man. We see a God who does not punish or bludgeon "petty people" with His righteousness and truth, but a God who becomes human and suffers for the sinner.
And it is here that the essence of Christianity is revealed: God is Love. Not abstract, not philosophical, but living and active one. Love that forgives, saves, and shows mercy. Love that takes the first step toward meeting.
Christianity does not simply speak of a God who demands; it reveals a God who loves and forgives. And this is exactly its true uniqueness. Therefore, Christians, as true disciples of Jesus Christ, are not those who beat others with their "religious exclusivity", but those who are ready to endure, forgive, and even suffer from those who persecute them, because they know that love is the only force that can change the world.
This is why Christianity has always been the most persecuted and ooppressed religion.
And this is why, despite centuries of suffering, it has managed to become the most widespread religion on earth. Because what lies at its core is not power or fear, but Love, which is stronger than death.

The problem is that many who open the Bible expect it to be like a novel, a short story, or simply a history book. But this is not the case.
The Bible is not a human creation. It is the living Word of God. Through the Bible, God Himself speaks to man, revealing Himself, His will, and His truth.
When a person opens Scripture, it is important to understand: there are things that cannot be comprehended by human logic alone.
The Bible is opened not just with one’s mind, but with one’s heart, when a person reads it with faith and a sincere desire to know the Truth. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us see the depth of God's Word, renewing both mind and heart so that a person can accept what God has to say.
Sometimes it is difficult for a person to understand what it means that the Holy Spirit reveals.something. This may sound unusual. However, if you go step by step in learning the truth, God Himself will show you what it means.
Just as a small child may not immediately understand everything his or her parents say, but grows and begins to understand the world, so a person who reads the Bible gradually grows spiritually. This is a path of growth: step by step, the truth becomes clearer, and God reveals Himself ever more deeply.

Try following a few practical recommendations:
1. PRAY BEFORE READING.
Ask God in prayer to reveal the meaning of what you are reading.
It is important to remember that without the Holy Spirit, the Bible remains just text, but with Him, this Word becomes alive and begins to act in your heart.
2. REFLECT, DON'T JUST READ.
Do not chase the number of chapters. One verse is better, but if it is understood. Ask yourself questions:
— What is God telling me through this text?
— What should I change in myself?
— How can I use this today?
3. WHEN READING, FOLLOW A PLAN.
A structure helps you see the overall picture: how all the parts of Scripture are interconnected. A daily reading plan that combines the books of the Old and New Testaments will help you see how God's plan unfolds step by step and how everything points to Jesus Christ.
4. ASK QUESTIONS.
If something is not clear, do not skip it. Write it down and send it to the 17:17 School.
The answer may also come from another passage of Scripture, through a conversation, or even through a life situation. Sometimes God does not answer immediately, but always in time.
5. LIVE WHAT YOU HAVE READ.
If you simply read without applying, the meaning is lost. God's Word works when it is accepted with one’s heart.
If you read about forgiveness, try to forgive.
If you read about trust, trust.
If you read about love, show it.
6. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
The Bible is not a detective story or a collection of ancient legends. It is a living book about God, Who reveals Himself to man. When a person reads Scripture with an open heart, the Holy Spirit begins to speak, teach, and change.
If we treat it simply as a piece of ordinary literature, it will remain just that — incomprehensible black letters on white pages. However, if we read it with praying, with faith and a desire to hear and learn God, the Word comes to life and begins to change the life itself.

The expression “to be born from above” emerged in a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a religious man who knew the Scriptures well but did not understand how one could be “born from above”. Jesus explained, “Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. This refers not to the second physical birth, but to a spiritual one – when a person receives new life from God.
After the Fall, the connection between man and God was broken. We began to live at our own will, relying on our mind, feelings, and habits – and lost the ability to hear God's voice. Being “born from above” is the moment when God restores this lost connection. When a person's heart is revived, when a thirst for learning God, a desire to be with Him and follow His path awaken inside. This is not simply a change in behavior, not an attempt to start life from scratch, but a miracle performed by the Holy Spirit.
What happens inside a person is not a cosmetic makeover, but a profound renewal. It is not just words and actions that change – the very nature itself changes: an inner light, a desire to live by truth, to forgive, to love, to seek God's will emerge.

Being born from above does not make a person infallible or sinless. A person can still fall, make mistakes, and doubt. But the difference is that God's Spirit now dwells within him or her. When the person stumbles, his or her conscience begins to speak louder, and an inner unrest, conviction, and desire to improve emerge. This is no longer just a feeling of guilt, but God’s voice, gently calling and guiding.

A person born from above feels that without God, life loses its meaning. Without praying, without the Word, without inner communication with Him, the soul begins to wither. A person born from above understands that faith is not a ritual, but a breath.
To be born from above means to be revived spiritually. It is a return to the One Who created you. This is when you no longer just know something about God, but when you are personally acquainted with Him. When faith becomes not just tradition and rituals, but meeting the One who is the Creator of everything. When your will begins to bow to His will not because of fear, but because of love.
And this is the secret of the new life: God does not simply make us different people on the outside; He revives us from within. Being born from above is the moment when one’s heart truly says for the first time, “Lord, I cannot live without You”.

It is not God who needs prayer; He already knows everything: our thoughts, fears, desires, needs. It is ourselves who need it. Through praying, we learn to open our hearts, recognize what is really going on inside, and stop hiding our feelings even from ourselves.
People often turn to God only when no one else can help, when everything seems hopeless. And at those moments, prayer becomes not a desperate attempt to “fix something”, but a genuine conversation with the Creator. This is the moment when we acknowledge things and humble ourselves: "I can't do this on my own, I need help, I need You."
Through prayer, communication is established. We do not inform God of our needs, which He already knows; we learn to trust, learn to hear His voice, and feel His presence. It is like a deep conversation with a close friend, who is always beside ourselves, who knows us better than we know ourselves.
It is important to understand: prayer is not simply reciting memorized words or prayer books. If you soullessly mouth words you do not even fully understand, that is not prayer, and it changes nothing. Prayer works when we open our hearts, when a living dialogue with God comes alive inside, when our words flow from sincerity, trust, and a desire to be with Him.

Prayer changes us: it makes us more patient, humble, gentler, and teaches us to let go of what we cannot control. It connects us with God, returning us to the living link we so often lose in the bustle and worries of life.
This is the point of prayer: not to tell God something new, but to hear Him ourselves and open our hearts to Him.