Let’s talk about how to read your Bible.
Especially how to read it and be inspired, motivated and eager to make a fuller use of what you discover. A young friend recently asked me how I read my Bible. That got me thinking about how my Bible reading has changed over the 50+ years I’ve known Jesus.
Why I Changed How I Read the Bible
From Reading Plans to a Closer Look
The key change is that I read less at a time.
I used to follow prescribed Reading Plans designed to take the reader through all of the Bible in a year. That’s a worthy goal, but it didn’t always help me get the best spiritual results from the time I spent reading. I had to re-evaluate my goal. Was it simply to read X number of chapters so I could check the box? ✅ Or was it a something altogether different calling me back to my Bible day after day.
What Triggered the Shift
The change in my own Bible reading habit happened slowly and I didn’t really plan for it. It started with an Instagram reel.🎥
I saw a review about a product called Scripture Journal in an Instagram reel.
You can check the Journals out here: http://bit.ly/4h75SDF I wish I knew where I saw the review because he made such a strong case for the value of these Journals that I bought them to try for myself. They’re available in both Old and New Testament boxed sets. And when I began using them I quickly realized these were going to be a game changer for me personally. The design helped me slow down and go deeper into the verses I was reading.
What Motivates Me to Read Now
Where I Become More Like Jesus
Motivation is key to almost everything we do in life.
What’s your motivation in reading your Bible? Can you answer that? Is it to ✅ it off your Spiritual To-Do List? Is it because you feel bad about yourself if you don’t? I go back to Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Seeking a Work of the Spirit
I read to be transformed by the powerful influence of a renewed mind.
I want the mind of Christ so I can be more like Jesus. I know God’s purpose beyond my salvation is my sanctification. That’s true for every single child of God. God is continually working in each of us to conform us to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29) His two primary forces that work in us are the Holy Spirit who indwells us and the Word of God that communicates to us. But I set my own intentions to go along with God’s motivation and method. I don’t resist, I don’t neglect, I’m not perfect in performance, but I am perfectly happy to cooperate with God in the process. I’m on board, and totally into it!🔥👍
A Personal Example
I intend to hear from God when I read my Bible.
I fully expect He is speaking to me. Imparting truth that has power to change my thinking and therefore to change me. Want a quick example? I’ve always struggled with anger. Years ago I read Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger dwells in the heart of fools.” I heard that still quiet voice appealing to me, “Kelly, don’t play the fool. Surrender your anger to Me and I will help you be wise not foolish.” And He has helped me hundreds if not thousands of times to “be angry and sin not.” (Ephesians 4:26) I can feel the physiological response of anger, but not yield to speaking or acting in anger. That’s renewal. That’s transformation. That’s sanctification.
A Closer Look Leads to Deeper Truths
Consuming Less But Gleaning More
The Scripture Journals have helped me to take a closer look at the truth I read.
Again, their design breaks the Scriptures up into smaller parts. I can focus on just one book and read the shorter ones (many of the Epistles) all in one sitting. And I do that for say 5-7 days until I feel full. 😋 Like Jeremiah says, “Thy words were found, and I ate them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) And the design includes plenty of blank space for me to record what I discover. I can read and meditate, turning the truth over again and again in my mind until it shares its secrets with me.
Discoveries in John 21
I had read the gospel of John many, many times. But when I read it in the Scripture Journal I found 4 key lessons in Chapter 21 that I had never before discovered. That happens over and over again now. It’s those discoveries that lead to renewal and transformation. And I can revisit them when I go through the book again. At some point I’m going to have to buy another set, but for now I add the new date and note the new observation.✨
Read for Life
The Life-Giving Power of God’s Word
I want to savor God’s word and take from it all the ‘life‘ it has to give.
Jesus said life was to be found in His words, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) and when the crowds started to leave Him, Jesus said to the disciples, “Will you leave Me also?” Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) In Psalm 19 you’ll find a celebration of the virtues of God’s word. I like to remind myself of these and see which ones I have experienced in my daily Bible reading.
Let’s take a look at Psalm 19:7-14 for a beautiful celebration of God’s word ⬇️
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Warnings Only God Can Give Me (Ps. 19 continued)
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
We need to hear the warnings God gives us. His whole purpose is to keep us walking in the right path, the paths of righteousness.🙌
Read for Change
Identifying the Benefit I Receive
What was the result of my daily reading?
I have a kind of checklist to help me identify what ‘life’ I received from reading my Bible and how it changed me. Was it a conversion, which is a change in my thinking? Or did I become more wise about how to resolve a problem? Is my heart lighter and full of rejoicing? Do I see things more clearly and from an eternal perspective? Was I convicted of a sin? Can I see my own life and the world I live in ~ in light of God’s judgments, His standards and declarations of right and wrong?
And most important of all, are my words and thoughts now acceptable in God’s sight?
Spiritual Power and Strength
I read to be changed because I know I need to be changed. I need daily renewal and revival. Each day will present me with challenges and struggles. How am I gonna be equipped to face them? Where will I find the wisdom to resolve issues and solve my life’s problems? What can give me the strength to keep going when I’m in a trial? How can I find guidance when I feel lost and like I’m walking in the dark? Who can comfort and console me in suffering and loss?
All of these things happen inside the beautiful communication and communion I enjoy with my God through His words given to me in the Bible.
They are priceless and precious. As the Psalmist said, “More to be desired are they than gold, Yes much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Ps. 19:10)
Read for Reward
Choose to Be a Doer
“And in keeping them there is great reward. ” (Ps. 19:11)
There is a real reward in paying closer attention to God’s Word. We are warned and rewarded for heeding the warnings. We avoid danger and pitfalls. Wrong thinking and bad actions. Do you hope to avoid trouble and sorrow in life? Then read God’s Word and pay attention, close attention to what you discover.
Be a doer and not a hearer only, deceiving yourself.
“But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25)
Set Your Intentions for Obedience
In the end, what’s the use of reading your Bible if you have no real intention of obeying what you find?
But, if you plan, intend on obeying and conforming to the truth then you will find a reward. Right now, in this life, and certainly in heaven. There your reward will be great. (Matthew 25:21)
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ This is what awaits us when we obey and are faithful.
We will reap what we sow. If we patiently persist in taking in God’s Word and letting it shape us and conform us to God’s will, then we will find that will, good, acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)🙂
Want More on Reading Your Bible?
If you’re ready to press deeper, I invite you to explore my post “God’s Message for Me Today” It’s full of tools to help your reading become a two‑way conversation with God. And it’s the most widely read of my 370+ blog posts. Currently at 4.5K and still climbing. ↑↑↑🙂
Here is another post that has a different perspective about How to Read Your Bible⬇️
And if you want to know more about how to engage the Word more deeply, I recommend this article from The Gospel Coalition. It breaks down a simple, effective way to study the Bible with clarity and purpose. Check it out ⬇️
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-study-bible
Final Thoughts
I’d love to hear from you: What’s one verse that’s changed you this week? Leave a comment below or share this post with someone who wants to go deeper in their Bible reading.
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