4 Keys To Consistent Bible Study
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:4 (ESV)
Wouldn’t it be great to have a steady, meaningful encounter with God each day? If we could find time to sit at the feet of Jesus as Mary did (Luke 10:38-42) or find an isolated spot and spend time with the Father like Jesus (Matthew 14:23). But we are so busy these days that the thought of spending a significant time alone with God praying and studying the Bible may seem like a pipe dream to you. However, if you desire to have a relationship with God and feel like Bible study is too complicated, or reading your Bible daily or praying for everyone who has requested your help seems overwhelming, don’t lose hope. I discovered four hacks that help me stay grounded in the Word and consistent in my prayer life when time begins to get too tight.
4 Ways to Be Consistent In Your Chrisitan Walk
1. Read one Bible verse a day or one chapter a day. How many of us have read the entire Bible in one year? I mean, many people have done it, but that’s a lot of reading for people who don’t necessarily like to read. And why do we have to read it in one year? We have a lifetime to read it, meditate on it, and study it. By reading a verse a day or one chapter a day, we can stay consistent and not feel guilty about failing again to reach a challenging goal of reading the Bible in a year.
2. Listen to the Bible online or with an app. That’s right! There’s an App for that. I have a hard time staying focused when I sit down to do my Bible study if I’m reading a lot. But, if I can listen to someone read the Bible to me, I can listen for hours. I love listening to preaching also, or someone doing a topical study. You can find numerous podcasts online, or you can download an audible Bible to your phone and stick your AirPods into your ears and listen all day! If you are an auditory learner, like me, this is a great tool. Oh! I bet I could listen to the Bible in a year. hmm
3. Focus on studying one topic at a time. The Bible is a composition of 66 books, so it’s really hard to follow the story’s plot. The Book begins with God the Creator and ends with Christ the Redeemer, but there are many story plots and twists and turns between Genesis and Revelation. By concentrating on one topic, we can dig deeper into the meaning and purpose of the topic by using commentaries and Google. Yes, Google! When doing a topical study, you can Google it and find all the information you’ll ever need. It’s very in-depth.
4. Journal each morning or evening. Reading and then writing out what you discover or feel like God reveals to you can encourage you when you are studying the Bible. Journaling doesn’t have to be a big production. You’re not actually writing for anyone but yourself. It also doesn’t have to be a lot of writing. You can write out a prayer, or a verse that spoke to you, or maybe just one line so you can refer back to it at some point. A gratitude journal is a great study tool, too. Write down something you are grateful for each morning or night or both, and you will begin to develop a grateful spirit. I have some gratitude journals on Amazon if you would like to check them out. Click on the links below to go to them:
What Is Your Biggest Challenge When Reading the Bible?
Everyone has their own story about why they may not read the Bible as much as they want to. And although reading the Bible is tremendously beneficial, it is not a requirement to salvation. Many Christians live under unnecessary guilt because they “don’t read as much as they should.” But, Bible reading and Bible study are privileges, not requirements. So, please don’t beat yourself up about it. Find the time that works for you and give yourself grace if it doesn’t always work out because God has.
