In our previous article, we considered four reasons why Christians must regularly and personally read the Bible as a spiritual discipline. Evangelical believers usually agree with this conviction in theory, but sometimes they struggle to move beyond theory to practice. So, our next two articles will offer some practical tips and suggestions for how you can develop a more intentional and effective practice of regular Bible reading.
Read for Both Understanding and Application
The first and most basic goal of Bible reading is to understand what the text means. That usually isn’t an insurmountable difficulty, since the Bible was written in normal, everyday language and its contents are mostly quite accessible and understandable. But not all of the Bible is equally understandable. We’ve all encountered tricky passages and wondered, “What in the world does that mean?” In cases like these, a few strategically chosen resources can alleviate the perplexity.
A good study Bible is a must-have. Not only do the explanatory notes at the bottom of the page help illuminate the meaning of each passage of Scripture, but the introductions to each biblical book that explain key background information and contextual factors can also help orient our reading. A few of my favorite study Bibles are the Ryrie Study Bible, Thomas Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible, and the CSB Study Bible.
A good commentary resource also helps when you need to dive deep into a passage. The Moody Bible Commentary is an excellent one-volume commentary on the entire Bible, written from a sound doctrinal perspective at a level that non-scholars can understand and appreciate. Tom Constable’s notes on every verse of the Bible (available for free online) are also extremely helpful.
Every time I read Scripture, I try to challenge myself with this question: What does God expect me to think, feel, or do differently as a result of what I’ve just read in His Word?
However, understanding the meaning of the text is just the beginning. Only when we apply the text to our lives will our personal Bible reading transform us. Every time I read Scripture, I try to challenge myself with this question: What does God expect me to think, feel, or do differently as a result of what I’ve just read in His Word? Admittedly, some Bible passages lend themselves to an easier answer than others. But usually, an honest effort to find a point of application will produce at least one helpful and challenging insight anytime you read Scripture.
Build Bible Reading Into Your Normal Schedule
We tend to be creatures of habit, and if we don’t make Bible reading an intentional, scheduled part of our day, we’ll probably find ourselves losing interest in and neglecting it after a while. To combat that tendency, it’s important not to leave Bible reading to “whenever we feel like it.” Instead, we should proactively schedule a time each day that can be set aside for devotions. The specific time can vary from person to person. Some prefer mornings; others, evenings; still others might find that their daily lunch break is the most convenient time for regular Scripture reading.
Whatever time you choose, schedule some dedicated time for Bible reading, and then try to stick to it regularly so that it becomes a normal part of your everyday routine. This is the only reliable way to make Bible reading a lifestyle rather than an occasional digression.
Make Your Bible-Reading Plans Realistic and Sustainable
One common approach to Bible reading is to use a premade Bible-reading planner, which aims to “get through” a portion of Scripture within a scheduled period of time (for example, reading through the Bible in one year). Such approaches can be helpful, but they may inadvertently create problems. For example, some Christians start out using the Bible-reading planner with high spirits but eventually feel they don’t have the time to “keep up” with it. So, they fall behind, get discouraged, and sometimes eventually give up on their Bible reading entirely.
Don’t think of Bible reading as a one-time, long-term project to be completed; instead, think of it as an open-ended, ongoing part of your life.
To correct this problem, it’s important to remember that the goal in personal Bible reading isn’t to “get through” Scripture in a certain amount of time; it’s simply to immerse ourselves regularly and intentionally in the Word of God. It would be better to take three years to read through the Bible carefully and thoughtfully than to rush through it in one year without much meditation and application (or, worse yet, to try the one-year approach, get overwhelmed, and give up on it). So, feel free to slow down. Read shorter portions if necessary. Don’t think of Bible reading as a one-time, long-term project to be completed; instead, think of it as an open-ended, ongoing part of your life.
Relatedly, some people find it relatively easy to build Bible reading into their regular schedules during the weekdays, but they struggle to maintain it during weekends. If that’s the case for you, consider doing daily devotions five days a week and simply taking the weekends off. That may strike some people as an irreverent suggestion, but wouldn’t it be better to successfully maintain a five-day Bible reading schedule over the long term than to insist on a seven-day reading schedule, get frustrated, and give up on it?
Another time people sometimes struggle to maintain their devotional reading is on a long trip or vacation. Then, when they return home, they may feel pressure to “catch up” on the Bible reading that they missed. My advice in those situations is not to worry about “catching up” at all; instead, simply pick up wherever you left off and carry on at your normal pace. Again, the goal isn’t to “get through” the material like it’s a project or a chore; it’s simply to marinate in the teachings and worldview of Scripture intentionally and regularly. If you have to ditch the high-pressure, Bible-reading-planner approach to make that happen, feel free to do so.
Use an Audio Bible as a Supplemental Resource
Once you have successfully built regular Bible reading into your normal schedule, you may want to consider using an audio Bible strategically to supplement your reading. Are there particular recurring times when you’re busy doing something but your mind is free to shift into neutral and focus on Scripture? Examples of these times might include commuting to work, mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, running errands, doing household chores, or exercising.
Usually, people like to listen to music, the radio, or podcasts during such times—and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But what if you used those times to listen to an audio Bible instead? That could be a relatively easy way to increase your Bible intake significantly without putting extra demands on your schedule.
Next week we will consider more practical tips and suggestions to help you study your Bible joyfully and faithfully.
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