Whether you are renewing a Bible reading habit or starting a new one these tips can help you get going strong.
As a younger Christian I remember how difficult it was for me to simply open the Bible and read consistently.
I heard it in church and my parents encouraged it but I just held back from digging deep.
I now understand that the mind is a playground for the enemy if we let him. Without reading regularly my mind was under attack.
The older I get the more I understand this. Now I want to dig in and dig deep to know God better. And yet some days are still a struggle.
In this busy season of mommying, every day seems to bring new challenges and new opportunities. So I need to build habits in an ever-changing climate which adds a new layer of difficulty.
Don’t forget that habits take 21 days to solidify. This could be even longer if you give in to the temptation to skip out.
Whenever you try to develop any new habit, having a reason why is great motivation.
So ask yourself why do you want to read the Bible? Why does it matter to you? Maybe you are in a challenging season and need some help or perhaps you see others growing in their faith and you know that you are still a young Christian. Whatever the reason, reading the Bible brings us some benefit.
There are many benefits to reading the Bible. It’s amazing what happens to us and the people around us as we start the habit of reading our Bibles.
Personally, I love the peace that’s available when I read.
So here’s some basic habit starters for your Bible reading time.
- Read somewhere easy to start with.
There are some parts of the Bible that are difficult to read so don’t start there. Start somewhere that is easy to digest yet filling at the same time.
Start in Proverbs. This is a great book to get your feet wet. It’s not difficult to understand and the information is in bite-size chunks. Proverbs has 31 chapters so a chapter a day is easy to accomplish with Proverbs.
Difficulty can come later as you get the hang of it.
2. Mark your progress.
It’s motivating to mark what you’ve read. I put a small mark at the beginning of each chapter I finish right in my Bible. It’s totally fine to mark in your Bible. Trust me, you’ll like it.
When I finish the entire book, I mark it at the beginning the book, again right in my Bible, and in the table of contents.
I’m a checklist gal so it’s fun to mark what I’ve read. I have always wanted to read the entire Bible and this is a visual way to track my progress.
3. Find a time that works for you.
You have to find a time to be consistent with.
Honestly, I can’t do early mornings right now. I hope to one day but for now it’s not a reality. So I need a different time to dig in. I like mid-morning or mid-afternoon. It depends on when my kids are playing well. Often my kids enjoy some quiet time in the afternoons, right after lunch, so this is a great time to enjoy being alone with God.
4. Make your time official.
Put it in your calendar, set an alarm, or make an appointment card for yourself.
When the doctor sets an appointment for you, you make sure that you are there. Why don’t you make Bible reading time official so you’ll show up ready to read every day?
5. Find some accountability.
Do you have a friend who wants to dig into the Word too? Do it together!!
You can do a video chat and read together or you can text to see if the Bible reading was completed.
Accountability is a powerful tool. Use it!!
6. Make meditation easy.
One thing I love about reading the Bible is taking some with me.
When you read a verse that speaks to you, write it down. Either get a notebook for this, start a Trello board, find a pretty Pinterest pin, or simply write it on an index card.
I love having my index cards ready to go when I walk or have to wait somewhere. I just flip through the treasures that I’ve been blessed with.
7. Go Digital!
It is possible to go digital with your Bible. I prefer to read from the book because the screen can be hard on my eyes but there are some great apps, audio bibles, and podcasts. If you are struggling with getting Bible time in on certain day, try this option.
So, how are you doing with your Bible reading habit? Have you found your groove? Let me know in the comments.
Leave a Reply