How To Make Reading The Bible A Habit

Here are ways you can make your Bible reading become a daily habit.

Use a Chronological Bible

I have a Bible where the books of the Bible come in the chronological order in which they were written. For example, the Book of James was written very early in the first century and this book appears earlier than you’ll find it in most Bibles, which is near the end of the New Testament. Also, the Book of Acts and Paul’s other letters (epistles) are intermixed within the Book of Acts because they were written during the time sequence or time period that the Book of Acts was written. In the Old Testament, the Book of Job, thought to be the oldest book in the Bible, is within the time period of the Book of Genesis. The order of the books of the Bible was not inspired; only the Word of God is inspired so it’s interesting to read the books of the Bible in the order that they were written in or in the time period that the book’s events occurred.

Try a New Translation

I have several Bible translations and although I prefer the King James and even the New King James, I have an ESV (English Standard Version) that is written in very easy to understand language that I can identify with more easily. Since it’s so much easier to read than the “King’s English,” I end up reading more of it than I typically would. Sometimes I get bogged down in the Book of Leviticus or Deuteronomy but with a more readable translation, it’s easier to get through some Scriptures and I end up reading more or at least learning more than I would have done otherwise.

Use a Study Bible

I have two study Bibles that help me to read more about the background, the historical setting, or the audience to which it was written. This helps me to better understand the context and the content. I look at the editor’s study notes at the bottom of my study Bible to help me understand what’s going on and whether the verses have application for me or if they were written to a different audience. Study Bibles are a great way to make the Bible more interesting so that you can have a Bible reading plan that establishes the good habit of studying and reading the Bible on a daily basis.

A Daily Reading Plan

I touched on this in the above paragraph but having some sort of Bible reading plan is helpful so that you can have the discipline of reading the Word of God every day. I try to read some out of the Old Testament and the New Testament every day, even when I don’t feel like it, but strangely, when I don’t feel like it and start reading it, I find that I do like it. There is something about abiding in the Word of God every day that changes us. Maybe slowly at first, but most certainly it changes us. When we are abiding in the Word every day, we are abiding in Christ everyday as Jesus says “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (John 15:4) because “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). If you can’t get up ten minutes earlier to read some of your Bible, you are too busy for God.

The Spoken Word

Today, you can find any Bible verse from just about any translation in audio books of the Bible. These are so much easier to use than the earliest versions because the tracks are divided into chapters and finding a verse or portion of Scripture is much easier than before. You can hear the Word of God in the car or taking a walk; you can listen to the Bible on your phone, in your mp3 or mp4 player, or just about any electronic device there is. The Apostle Paul wrote that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17) and that whenever you get into the Word of God the Word of God gets into you.

Conclusion

Whatever method you choose to help you make reading the Bible it all depends on you, but you lose when you miss the living Word of God and the living water that is found in Jesus Christ. For all who have repented and trusted in Him, they have a hunger to know Him more. That knowledge is just as close as your nearest Bible. For many I know, they feel like they’ve missed a lot by missing the Word because if you stay out of the Word, the Word will stay out of you; at least for a time.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.