Consider Alex,b who has spent the last 19 years in the Brazilian prison system for several acts of assault. He became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the year 2000, after studying the Bible with the Witnesses. Has he truly changed his violent behavior? Yes, and Alex deeply regrets all the bad things he did. He says: “I have come to love God for allowing me to feel genuinely forgiven. Gratitude and love for Jehovah have helped me to change my ways.”

César, also in Brazil, was involved in burglary and armed robbery. That was his way of life for some 15 years. What made him change? While in prison, he was contacted by Jehovah’s Witnesses, and he too studied the Bible. César explains: “For the first time, I found a purpose in life. I learned to love God. I also learned to fear him​—a wholesome fear of returning to doing what is bad and making Jehovah sad. I did not want to show myself ungrateful for his kindness. That love and fear motivated me to change.”

What do those experiences show us? That the Bible has the power to transform people’s lives profoundly​—by changing their way of thinking. (Ephesians 4:23) Alex, mentioned earlier, adds: “What I learned from the Bible was like clean water pouring through me, gradually purifying me by washing away bad thoughts. These were things I never imagined I would be able to get rid of.”