Learn to read the Bible daily… And stick with it… It doesn’t seem like it’s that hard, does it?
After all, there is no more important, more influential, or life-changing book than the Bible.
So why do so many Christians struggle to make daily Bible reading a habit?
I mean, we don’t struggle to find time for Facebook…we don’t struggle to find time for Netflix…we don’t even struggle to find time to catch up on our favorite websites or our favorite Christian blogs… What makes following a daily Bible reading routine so difficult?
In today’s post, I am sharing what to do about it.
Not because I’m an expert, trust me I’m not! But because after months of intentionally deciding that I DO want to make Bible reading a priority, I have found 6 tips to make learning to read the Bible every day much easier .
They have really helped me. I hope they help you too!
1. Pick a time that works for you
No one says that reading the Bible has to be first thing in the morning or last thing at night before bed. If you want to learn to read the Bible daily so that you stick with it, you need to pick a time that works for you! Something you could get away with without too much trouble for the foreseeable future.
For example, you could choose to read your Bible:
- First thing in the morning, before your kids are up.
- In the bathroom
- during breakfast (Have the kids read their Bibles too, or read together!)
- In the car (Listen to an audio Bible or report to work 5 minutes early)
- In the gym (Again, Audio Bible to the Rescue)
- on your lunch hour
- while cleaning the house
- In the carpool lane
- While kids nap/have quiet time/watch cartoons
- While your children play sports
- during dinner (involves the whole family!)
- Instead of watching TV in the evenings
- While walking through the neighborhood
- In the bathroom (talk about relaxing!)
- The last thing before going to bed at night
2. Schedule it in
Honestly it doesn’t really matter when either where you read your bible, just do it constantly .
So do you have some kind of planner or calendar that you use? Write in your daily Bible time. Put it aside. Treat it like an unbreakable date.
if you think « you will do it «, you probably never will. Set aside a very specific time frame, though, and you’re much more likely to stick to it.
So decide right now: when and where will you read your Bible? Write it down somewhere you’ll see it often or set a reminder on your phone.
3. Make sure you have the right tools on hand
While all you really need to make daily Bible reading a habit is a Bible, Having extra tools on hand can help make the process easier and more fun!so you are more likely to follow it!
- A new translation of the Bible
Do you always read the same Bible translation all the time? You may consider mixing it up a bit with a different translation. Sometimes a verse you’ve read a thousand times will stand out in a different way if you read a different translation.
Alternatively, you might consider a different type of Bible, such as a study Bible.
4. Take responsibility for learning to read the Bible daily
If you’re like most people, you’ll do just fine for the first few days…then slowly kick the habit back as life gets in the way. That is why some form of accountability is so important.
Of course, the point is not to be legalistic. You are not a “bad Christian” if you forget a day or sometimes get distracted during prayer and Bible study. It’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up about it. You are not a failure if you lose a few days (or months… or years…)
BUT if you want to grow in faith, learning to read and study the Bible for yourself is vital, and anything that helps you read more and start anew is a move in the right direction!
Here are some ideas:
- find a friend that you also want to read your Bible every day and commit to text each morning with one thing you learned from the passage you read that day.
- Print a printable goal tracker and put an “x” in the box for each day you read your Bible. Surprisingly motivating!
- Decide that you will not do a certain task until you have read the bible is day. Common options: check social media/email, shower, get dressed. It forces you to read even if you don’t feel like it that day!
5. Associate daily Bible reading with a reward
Well yes, I know we should be reading our bibles because we really want to connect with God and grow in faith. But let’s be honest here. Sometimes we are lazy and unmotivated. We are humans! Happens!
That’s why, until you start to truly enjoy reading the Bible, it can be helpful to associate it with some sort of external reward to get into the habit.
For example, you could:
- Think about your “Why”. If you’re only reading the Bible because you think you “should,” your habit probably won’t last long. You need stronger motivation. What is your real reason for reading? What are you going to get out of it? How will your life change if you keep going?
- Make reading as enjoyable as possible. Maybe you read in a bubble bath, on the back deck in the sunshine, or alone in your kid-free room. Make it a relaxing and enjoyable time for him to look forward to!
- read with friends . It’s more fun with friends!
Again, the point is not to “bribe” yourself into reading the Bible as if it were some horrible punishment to be endured. It’s simply to help set you up for success and make it easy to follow through!
6. Make a plan to overcome obstacles
Unfortunately, no matter how much you want to start reading the Bible regularly, there will always be distractions that get in the way. That’s why it’s a good idea to try to find out what they might be beforehand so you can find ways around them.
For example:
- Often too busy during the day. Read first thing in the morning or at night.
- Too tired in the afternoons? Read earlier in the day while you still have energy.
- Is the schedule too unpredictable? Read the Bible on your phone – you always have it with you whenever you can spare a few minutes here and there.
- Kids constantly interrupting? Read the Bible with them.
- Do you always forget to read? Place a physical reminder somewhere you will see it often.
Do you have a hard time reading your Bible consistently? Which of these tips do you think would help you learn to read the Bible daily? Are there any other tips that work really well for you?
By Brittany
Published in: NOTCIACRISTIANA.COM – Find out daily about all the evangelical Christian news.
Post Visitors:55