How to read the Bible every day? I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I currently have a busy week. I work, I study, I have a cell group at home, I participate in many church activities, I need to take care of my home, etc … Everyone has their commitments and how easy it is to have a very busy schedule of responsibilities.
I know it is challenging to stop in the midst of chaos to spend time reading the Word. I also know that some find it easier to pray while others find it easier to read. To help you in the challenge of reading the Bible every day, I will share some tips here.
Tip 1: set small practical goals
At the beginning of the year we usually make a lot of plans and set a lot of goals. Weight loss, exercise, read 1 book a month, change your diet and many others. Authors and professionals who talk about changing habits have argued that it is more effective to establish 1 or 2 less aggressive goals and focus on them.
Sometimes we set so many goals that we end up not focusing on any. Or the goals are so aggressive that they become unattainable. And the chance of reaching the end of the year frustrated is great.
If you are not in the habit of reading the Bible today, it may be easier to start with a small daily reading goal this year. And then next year you will add to your routine more time of in-depth study. Gradually, with small practical goals, you will become the great student of the Word you dream of being.
Starting with an annual reading plan in the app, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes a day to read, is a great solution! Your daily goal will be to keep up with very accessible reading time.
And if your goal of the year is already to read the entire Bible, don’t try to add several other reading goals together. Focus on her!
Of course, this is not a rule! There are people who can make radical changes quickly. But for me the gradual changes and setting few goals a year have helped me.
Tip 2: use moments when you are waiting or in transport
Depending on the city where you live, having to wait a long time in lines, waiting rooms or transportation is quite common. In several cities around the world people spend a few hours a day on public transport.
As we carry the Bible on our cell phone, it became very accessible to read the Word anytime and anywhere. Whenever I go to the doctor or the bank, when I’m waiting, I take the opportunity to complete my goal of daily reading the Bible. I recently completed my daily reading in the registry office.
Bible Offline app works without the need of connection. So if you have no internet signal on the subway, for example, the app will work anyway.
Tip 3: download Bible audios
You may think: but I drive! I spend hours in traffic, but I can’t read the Bible at the same time. You can’t really read it, but then just download the app’s audios. Connect your phone to the radio, either by cable or bluetooth. Or use the cell phone’s own audio.
If you are like me who get dizzy when reading on a moving transport, you can also use this function of hearing the Word. Take your headset anywhere you go. That way you can hear the Bible anywhere.
This audio tip is also useful to use when doing housework. While doing my activities, I leave the audio of the Bible playing.
Tip 4: block a time on your calendar
As I said at the beginning of the text, I went back to studying. And the biggest challenge for me is that the course is EAD (distance learning), that is, I will need to be disciplined. I hope to finish successfully! What has worked the most in this beginning is to block my schedule on certain days and times of the week. So I reserve a time to dedicate 100% to the course.
If for you daily reading the Bible text has become a habit and you want to go to a new level of Bible study, I recommend this tip.
When you set aside time on certain days of the week or every day to devote yourself to Bible study, put it on your calendar. You can use your Google calendar, where all your other appointments are.
And your commitment to the study will need to be taken seriously as much as meetings or other events on your agenda. To the point, if someone invites you to something at that time, you suggest another time or day.
Conclusion
These are some practical tips that I see people doing or strategies that I have used to discipline myself. I hope that they can help more people to remain steadfast in reading the Word.
