Are you discouraged with your Bible reading? Find it hard to be consistent? Want to get more out of the Word?
Here are a few tips that help to be more consistent and enjoy devotions.
1. Prepare the night before
Every night before going to bed, get your coffee tin, put your coffee cup on the counter and fill your electric kettle with water, so all you need do is push a button to heat the water for your morning tea or coffee.
Make sure everything you need – Bible, marker, journal – is on the stand where they can be reached easily. This saves you having to scramble around wasting time in the morning, and you can get reading more quickly.
2. Pray
Spend a couple minutes praying before reading.
Thank your Father for His love and the gift of sleep, and for protecting you and your family during the night.
Also thank Him for His gracious invitation to enter boldly into His presence through the merits and blood of Jesus Christ.
Then pray John Piper’s I-O-U’S:
• “Incline my heart to your testimonies”
• “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law”
• “Unite my heart to fear your name” and
• “Satisfy me with your love.”
3. Same time, same place, every day
Find your best time, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions.
For some people, it’s first thing in the morning. The house is quiet and no one else is up.
If you start in on projects or reading the news, you may never get to reading the Bible. In the evening you might be too distracted and tired. But for some, evening is their best time.
The important thing is to find a time when you are least distracted and can concentrate.
Read in the same place every day. Keep your Bible, marker, journal and prayer notebook on the end table. That way you don’t have to waste time searching through the house for things before you read.
4. Keep track of what you read
After reading, in the back of your journal, write the day, date, and the passage you read. That way you don’t have to try to remember where you left off the day before.
You can use a bookmark as long as it doesn’t fall out and you lose your place.
5. Write in your Bible
Don’t hesitate to underline, write in the margins, or circle words. Underlining and writing helps us concentrate more on what we’re reading.
For some people, their favourite marker is a light blue Sanford China Marker. You can underline lightly or darker and it never bleeds through the page.
6. Read consecutively
Don’t skip around or play Bible Roulette. Finish one book before going to another.
One way to consistently read through the Bible is to read through Matthew, then Genesis. Then Mark, then Exodus, and so on.
If you are keeping track of what you’ve read, you’ll eventually work through the whole Bible. Nothing is more discouraging than picking up the Bible and reading at random every day.
7. Use a journal
Some people have used journals for years in their devotions. As you read, write down any verses that stand out to you or any thoughts you have about the passage.
Writing slows you down and helps you focus. Try to look for one key verse or passage that stands out to you from that day’s reading to record in your journal.
8. Respond to what you’ve read
After recording one key verse or passage in your journal, write a prayer in response.
This prayer will sometimes be worship and praise to God for the truth you’ve just read about Him or it may be supplication for Him to change you to conform with His Word.
Keep the prayer to one, maybe two pages at the most. It takes about 10 minutes and propels you into your prayer time.
Whether you use these approaches or you have your own, try to build consistent habits of reading the Bible. There’s no better way to fellowship with Jesus Christ and delight in Him.
• www.biblestudytools.com
