I have a LOT of books. Books I’ve read. Books I want to read. Books I’m holding onto in case I want to read them again. I also have an endless list of books I want to buy to add to the books I want to read. Too many books and not enough time, but oh, the fun and satisfaction of reading a good book! Anyone relate?

A majority of the books I read are non-fiction and geared towards trying to improve my Christian life, work life, family life, health, productivity, you name it. They’re good books – books that come with strong recommendations and some that perhaps changed a friend’s life in some way. At any given time, I might be reading several of these good books at once. I have a thirst for knowledge and continual improvement, but is it really possible for me to retain all of this information and make endless improvements? Is it what God wants for me? I have to believe His plan for me is not to have my nose in dozens of books trying to find the next hack on how to make [insert many somethings here] better in my life.

“Girl, Read Your Bible”

A few years ago, my friend and author Alisha Illian posted this quote on a graphic that hit my social media feed. It gave me pause because, for one, the tone was perfectly straightforward and blunt in a way that I immediately connected with (she gets me!). Also, I was reading my usual 4-5 books and chasing after several self-help-something-or-others, and I was immediately convicted. My time spent in those books was far exceeding the time spent in THE book I needed to be in. Not that reading other books was, or is, bad (I’m still reading at least a couple at a time) but my priorities had gone askew, and I realized I was chasing after the next new thing instead of chasing after God Himself in His Word.

That’s when I decided to heed her call on that graphic and jump into a Bible reading plan. If my time was limited on any given day, I would have at least read the pages of my Bible instead of someone else’s words about what I should be doing or how I should be thinking about something. This decision to prioritize God’s Word over others’ words might seem like a no-brainer to some, but for many of us, how much easier does it feel to pick up and read the most recent New York Times Bestseller than to pick up and read the Bible? (Alert: the Bible just so happens to be the #1 bestselling book of all time.)  For me at the time, picking up the Bible and diving in on the regular felt very daunting. I always opted for devotions or Bible studies to get me into the Word. Those ways are great, but I knew God was calling me to get directly into the Bible.

So where to begin? I needed a way to read the Bible that was not so daunting. I had tried various plans and just reading it on my own, but never stuck with it. If you find yourself having a hard time getting into the Bible, I believe it’s because perhaps you have not found a Bible and a plan that works for you. Many of us need to be spoon-fed and that’s okay. Don’t give up. Thankfully, God wants to meet us where we are. Here are some of my favorite tools for reading scripture. These tools have enabled me to look forward to reading the Bible each day. And friends, it’s a game-changer.

1. Get a Bible version that you can digest. I grew up with the King James Version and that is a tough one for me to read now, as I easily get thrown off by the “thous” and “shalts”. My current favorite is the English Standard Version (ESV), but oftentimes, if I am having a difficult time understanding a verse or passage, I will pull up the Message version or dive into my ESV Study Bible. Which leads me to…
2. Consider opting for a Study Bible.  According to a 2020 Lifeway Research study, 57% of Protestant churchgoers said that they find it challenging to make sense of the Bible when they read it on their own. A lack of context is one of the main reasons people struggle to understand the Bible because the stories are from thousands of years ago when life was radically different. Study Bibles give that context, as well as other key pieces of information and commentary help us to understand what we read. 
3. Explore a Bible reading plan that guides you through scripture. My favorite Bible reading plan is Tara Lee Cobble’s “The Bible Recap” (linked here). Her goal through her Bible reading plans is to get you to fall in love with reading the Bible, and she has many tools to help you do so. Her daily reading plans are digestible and she has short daily video recaps that are practical, educational, and illuminating. The YouVersion Bible app also has countless plans, from reading the Bible in its entirety to specific books of the Bible to Old Testament and/or New Testament.
4. A picture is worth a thousand words. For right-brainers, just reading words on paper can potentially put one to sleep. The Bible Project can be found on YouTube and also in the YouVersion Bible app and has wonderfully illustrated topical videos that are very helpful in explaining each book of the Bible, as well as big Biblical topics and concepts.
5. Be patient. Many Bible reading plans have outlined “Read the Bible in a Year.” But unfortunately, some days we just might not have enough time to read what they have laid out. Some days we get thrown off by a sick child or travel. I believe the reason why many people quit reading is because many ‘plans’ become overwhelming. We fall behind. We get stuck. Here’s the truth – God just wants to connect with us in His Word – whether it’s a few chapters or a verse. He won’t love us any less because we can’t stick to an annual plan. I recommend finding a plan you can print out and cross off as you go at your own pace with God. (“The Bible Recap” also has this. You can go at your own pace and start whenever you want.)
6. Reflect and respond. To make this meaningful and applicable to our lives, some questions to consider as we read scripture are:
   • What stands out to me in this passage?
   • What does this reveal about God’s character?
   • How might this apply this truth to my life today?
7. Pray. Pray that God uses His Word to connect with and speak to you. I pray this encourages you to be bold and dive into the Word. And when you find a way that works for you, you will fall in love with reading His Words for you.

Of course, books do still have their place and can be incredibly enlightening and life-changing. A few years ago, a pivotal point in my marriage came while my husband was reading “Unstuck” by Arnie Cole and Michael Ross. They based their book on a study of the lives of 80,000 Christians, separating those who were “growing” in their faith and those who were “stuck.” The single major factor that differentiated the two groups was how often the participants were in the Word of God—not just reading it, but reading, reflecting, and responding. Those who were doing this four or more times per week were growing in their relationship with God and in their lives, and those who were doing this zero to three times per week were all at par with the ones who were doing it zero times per week.  

My husband and I were so convicted by the research stats from “Unstuck” that we decided to do what the book told us to do to get “unstuck,” consistently spending more than four times per week with God and in His Word. When we do this, our priorities, desires, and actions change, and we begin to see life and purpose more clearly.

The Bible is referred to as the “living Word of God” because it is not just a historical text, but a message from God that speaks directly to us in our unique circumstances. It also encourages us to shift our perspective from selfish desires to selfless love and service to those around us. It enables us to find peace amid life’s challenges and uncertainties. It sustains us through all seasons of life.

Who doesn’t want that for themselves?

Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us beyond our comprehension and that You desire to connect with us each day. Thank You for Your Word and Truth that enable us to do that. Please forgive me when I stumble and don’t put You first above all in my life. Please give me the desire and capacity to learn more about Your truth and Your plans for my life. It is with deep gratitude that I pray these things. Amen.