How To Read The Bible More Consistently

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

- Hebrews 4:12

It’s a goal of mine to read the Bible every day. Most of the time, I do, but that only came after I created a reading habit and understood why I was reading it. Today, I'd like to share some tips that may help you establish a consistent Bible-reading habit and read the Bible more regularly.

Decide On Your Why

Some people read the Bible because they feel they should, but don’t understand why. I did this for a long time, making reading the Bible a chore. I still benefited from reading the Bible this way, but I wanted to understand it and its significance.

One day, I decided to read the Bible, not because I was supposed to, but to learn more about the person I follow as a Christian: Jesus.

I started with the New Testament books, and the more I read them, the more  I wanted to learn about Jesus and how to follow him better. Knowing why you read the Bible could be the first step to reading it more consistently.

Slow Down; It’s Not A Race

Sometimes, when people decide they want to read the Bible more consistently, they may be overly ambitious and plan to read it in 365 days, starting with the book of Genesis and working their way through to Revelation.

There’s nothing wrong with this strategy; however, my experience has been that when trying to read the Bible in this way, I often give up by the time I reach the book of Numbers, because I don’t understand what I'm reading or why I'm reading it.

That’s when I decided to start reading one book at a time and let the Holy Spirit guide me on what to read next. Reading this way has helped me absorb everything I read in one book before rushing to the next.

I purchased a Scripture Journal Set * that includes the New Testament books, allowing me to read each book individually and journal about what I’ve read. Try to savor your reading time and ask God what He’s trying to tell you through each book.

Follow A Bible Reading Plan

Following the reading plans in the YouVersion Bible App has also helped me read the Bible more consistently. I know it can be easy to lose motivation to read the Bible when you don’t feel like what you’re reading is relevant to you today.

The Bible App offers plans with encouragement and scripture to help you through all seasons of life. It also offers programs that guide you through the Bible book by book, with commentary from Bible scholars to help you understand what you’ve read.

Read Whenever You Can

I used to think I had to have this perfect quiet time routine for my Bible reading to “count.” But as I’ve matured in my faith, I now know that isn’t true. I still enjoy days when I sit down with my Bible, coffee, and highlighters and read. But on other days, all I read is the verse of the day on the Bible app, and that’s ok, too.

In closing, please don’t think your Bible reading must be perfect before you do it. God can speak to you through one verse just as much as through an entire chapter, but you must let Him.

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