How to make Bible Reading a Daily Discipline         

Whether you’re new to the Christian faith or a seasoned woman of God, the Bible is like a treasure check with valuable nuggets of truth to help us build a life that honors God.

Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV tells us:
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Without getting all nerdy with the original Hebrew words to this verse, I’ll paraphrase what this verse says.

Essentially, there are “hidden things” in the Word of God. There is more than meets the eye. 

Most of us have read the Bible and say we’ve done so. We’ve read the Bible from front to back and completely, but somehow missed the miraculous way this book was written.

 About the Bible

God deliberately orchestrated His Divine Word to be written by forty unrelated men over thousands of years. The Bible was written on three different continents and in three different languages. 

His design of the book we know today is for anyone new to Bible reading.  The ability to read and understand the historical and poetic nature of the beautiful work of the Bible is approachable for most. It’s also for the scholar who understands the language and culture of ancient times. 

I believe that the more we read and seek to study the Bible, the more we seek to know and grow in our relationship with God, the more He reveals to us about His character, will, and nature. 

My relationship with my husband is so much more than it was the day we married. I felt I knew him pretty well that day, but as it turns out, he was so much more of a mystery than I originally thought. Each time I think I have him figured out, I learn something new and different than I’ve known. To know Him fully, I must stay in communication with him. 

So it is with God. We can hear about Him from our pastors and leaders. We can witness God’s creation and be in awe, we can live without doubt of His existence, but we don’t truly know Him unless we live in a consistent, daily relationship with Him. We stay in communication with God as we pray and read the Bible.

What is Discipline?

I’ll tell you the truth. I HATE the word discipline. It sounds like something that will hurt me more than it hurts the one dishing it out! 

But we are not talking about punishment because of wrong behavior. The word “discipline” we are here to discuss is more about learning to live the right behaviors that transform and change us from who we are to becoming more like Jesus. 

Discipline is required to accomplish what we otherwise would not. The kind of discipline we are discussing is meant to shape us and form us into a better version of ourselves. 

 HONEST CONFESSION:

If I know this, what keeps me from living a disciplined life? What I can tell you is that I need work in this area. Am I alone?

 Discipline is Habitual

There are daily habits and routines athletes adhere to for the goal of winning a prize they otherwise would not obtain. Athletes don’t wake up one day and win the Olympics! They dedicate their lives to discipline and training to even be on the stage to compete for the prize. 

Daily Bible reading is a discipline that helps us become more than we ever thought possible, to become the best version of ourselves through the transforming power of the Word of God. 

The habit of Bible reading is a discipline that brings spiritual growth.

How to Make Bible Reading a Daily Discipline:
7 Things to Remember

 1- Remember Why 

 We don’t read the Bible to make God happy. We read it to learn about His nature and character. 

 2- Start Small

 You can read the Bible through in a year, but I recommend starting small. Pick a book of the Bible, like Proverbs,  to read a chapter daily for a month. 

Reading a chapter a day for a month will get you on your way to creating a habit of daily Bible reading.

 3-Decide on a Time and Location That Works for You

 NEWS FLASH: Bible reading can be at any time of day or night. 

Many people read first thing in the morning, but that’s a preference, not a requirement. Find a time that works for you.

Also, find a location that will be your “special place” to meet with God. This may change daily or by season depending on your schedule. But the goal here is to have a place and time to look forward to Bible reading. There isn’t a right or wrong place or time.

 4- Don’t Look for Perfection

Guess what? You will probably forget a day or two. 

You may have a schedule that changes quickly and your plans seem to go out the window. Don’t stress. Just start again. There is no condemnation if you miss a day or two or more!

5- Pick a Plan or Study Guide

Many Christian women find it helpful to select a reading plan or a Bible study guide to help with focus and accountability. This is optional and depends on your preference, schedule, and availability. 

6- Focus on Your Relationship with God

Bible reading is about learning to hear from God. When we pray, we are speaking. 

When we read the Bible, we encounter God. When we combine our prayer with Bible reading, we will soon discover that what we read is often an answer to our prayers and likewise, our prayers begin to be answered by God’s word. 

Spending time Bible reading is more about your relationship with God than checking off a box on your spiritual life checklist. 

 7-Grace Yourself

Let me say this again; there is no condemnation for missing a day or two or more. 

You haven’t let God down, don’t let yourself wallow in guilt. Start again and be thankful that God is a gracious and loving Heavenly Father who loves spending time with you.

Christian women seeking discipline through Bible study can find more on this subject elsewhere in the Bible.

Learning who God is, His nature, will, and character, takes discipline and dedication. 

QUESTION: What steps do you need to take today to make Bible reading part of your daily discipline? 

Meet me in the comments and let me know how you plan to make Bible reading part of your daily habit.