Top 5 tips for reading the Bible

We all know that reading the Bible is important, but it’s not always easy to do. Based on what I’ve been taught and experienced over my lifetime, below are my top 5 tips for reading the Bible. 

Tip #1 – Start small

As much as I’m sure we’d all love to read the Bible cover to cover the first time, it’s just not that realistic. It takes time and perseverance to start any new habit and the Bible is included. Commit to reading a few verses the first day and work your way up to a few chapters. Sometimes reading less can be beneficial for you anyway because it gives you more time to meditate on scripture. 

As you start to get into the routine of reading your Bible, work your way up to reading whole books. I found that the more I read of the Bible, the more I craved it every day.  

Tip #2 – Pray before you start

One of the best things we can do when we read the Bible is to pray. When you sit down to read, take a few minutes to dedicate the next portion of time to God and ask His Holy Spirit to come and guide you. While you’re reading you can also ask God for 

Tip #3 – Limit distractions

I think we can all relate to getting distracted, right? Whether it’s scrolling on of phone for hours, having a movie going in the background, listening to music or talking to friends, distractions are all around us! Before starting to read your Bible, I’d recommend removing all of those pesky little distractions around you. Find a place to sit where you’re alone, it’s quiet, and you won’t be tempted to get distracted. 

As believers, it’s important for us to be able to focus on the task ahead. Proverbs 4:25 says “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” We should apply this principle to reading the Bible too; let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and prioritise getting into his precious Word. 

Tip #4 – Journal what God teaches you 

The Bible is God’s living, breathing word. It’s full of incredible stories, widsom and best of all – we have the Holy Spirit with us to guide and teach us as we read. As we read, it’s a great opportunity for us to journal what God is teaching us.

When you journal, you can write about particular verses that are really standing out to you, something you feel God spoke to you about, your prayers for the day or whatever else comes to mind. Journaling is an excellent way to keep track of the things that God is doing in your life and can be a great addition when you get into the Word.  

Tip #5 – Don’t give up!

Don’t be shocked or upset if you don’t pick it up straight away. Even though reading the Bible is something that all Christians should be fitting into their schedule each day, like any habit it doesn’t come easily. Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” This can be applied to many things in life, even reading the Bible. 

Summary

So, you’ve made it this far – well done! To summarise what we went through today, the top 5 tips for reading the bible are:
1. Start small – don’t feel like you have to jump in and read the whole Bible in one sitting. Start small with a few verses or chapters and work your way up.

2. Pray before you start – as with anything we do, it’s important and a necessary step to pray. Ask God to help guide you as you read the Bible and for wisdom – come into it with an open heart that is ready to receive. 

3. Limit distractions – If the enemy can’t get you off track, he’ll distract you. Make sure you’re really intentional about limiting distractions around you as you sit down to read the Bible. 

4. Journal what God teaches you – there is so much that God wants to share with us, and writing it down means that we can revisit this over the years. Write down your prayers, verses that stick out to you, or how what you’re reading applies to your life right now. 

5. Don’t give up – this one is so important. Like eating healthy or starting a new fitness routine, good things take time. Be patient with yourself as you learn and don’t give up.