3 Things That Will Help You Consistently Read Your Bible

There is Nothing like spending time with God through his word!! Since I was a young kid my parents taught me the value of loving and reading the Bible, and trying to read it daily. I can remember often waking up and seeing my dad in the living room with the Bible open and ready to receive what God wanted to say to him.It's important to remember that reading the Bible isn't about fulfilling a religious obligation as a Christian. We aren't obligated to read the Bible before God loves us, and it's not a requirement before we can get into heaven. But if we neglect spending time reading the Bible we're missing out on the full life that God has for us. In these couple of verses in Ephesians 5, you can see that God's word is the catalyst in our transformation.

... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. — Ephesians 5:25-27

Daily intake of God's word is essential because it cleans us, refreshes us, renews us, encourages us, reminds us of God's great love, and every time we read and apply what the Bible says we are transformed into all that we were designed to be!

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2

I know that most of us want to read the Bible, and know the value of reading it more consistently, but find it difficult to develop the habit. With that in mind I want to share a few things that have helped me develop a consistency in my bible reading, but before I do, let's consider this important factor that is at the foundation of developing the habit.

Remember: The Bible is God directly talking to you.

While this may seem obvious, it's easier to overlook God's word if we lose sight of the fact that God literally inspired men to write down and record His words so that we could have them with us everyday. We don't read the Bible like it's some history book, we read as though we are sitting down for coffee with God and He is telling us about how much he loves us, and He's inviting us to be a part of his plan and purpose on earth.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

How to Become Consistent in Your Bible Reading:

1. Get a Plan

The Bible can seem intimidating if you're not sure where to start. If every time you read the Bible you're just picking it up, closing your eyes, opening the Bible, and reading wherever it opens, you may not get out all of the benefits of a more intentional approach to getting into God's word.There are a lot of great Bible reading plans that have already selected specific chapters and verses for you to read every day throughout the year, so all you have to do is follow the plan. I use a plan called, "Life Journal Reading Plan". You can find it in a paper journal at lifejournal.cc or on the YouVersion Bible app. In the app, you can search and find that reading plan or others and begin it today.

2. Get a Place

Like other important things in our lives, we have to develop the habit if we're going to stay consistent. This is often where people lose it because they try to start reading the Bible but then they forget and the next thing you know it's been weeks, months, or years since you've read.So, I encourage you to identify what time of the day that you are most likely to be able to consistently create space to read the Bible. For me, I'm a morning person, so I read it every morning when I first wake up. I literally, wake up, grab my phone and headphones, walk to the living room, put my head phones in and begin to listen to that day's reading plan. Now there are days where my morning schedule is different for some reason and I will then just make sure that I get my reading in sometime that day, or if I need to, I'll catch up on that day's reading plan the next day. The key is to find what time, and place that works for you and block that space on your calendar so that you can be sure to be consistent.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. — Psalm 5:3

3. Get Started

I know that we often want to start new things at the beginning of the month or year, but I encourage you to just begin today with reading the Bible. And another important key here is that when you do miss a day in your new reading plan that you don't get discouraged or feel like God is now mad or disappointed in you. Just take on that reading plan for that new day. The enemy loves to discourage us in things that we help us, and this is the main area that he'll try to stop you, because he knows that you if you read the Bible consistently, it will radically transform your life.

What are some ways that you've found help you stay consistent in your Bible reading?

Would love to hear in the comments below.