How can I get in the habit of reading the Bible everyday?

PollyJetix said:

Well, there you have it. If you want to be the kind of Christian who lived in the Dark Ages, content to let Mother Church read the Bible to you in a language you can't understand, and then tell you what they mean... you can opt out of reading them for yourself.

Me, I'm an Anabaptist. I'd willingly die for the right to read the Bible myself, without a middleman standing between me and God.

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My church reads the Bible in English and I can understand it. I do read the Bible sometimes, particularly in situations where it might be difficult or stressful, but I don't believe I HAVE to, to be a "real Christian".

My pastor does not stand in between me and God. God has called him to serve our congregation. We respect that preaching, teaching, and sacramental office within our congregation. We don't ask you to share that conviction.

I was just sharing my perspective, it doesn't have to be a matter of right and wrong. Different people have different ways of being Christian, and that's my point. How you approach the Bible is going to depend on what religious tradition you identify with.

At the end of the day, being a Christian for me is just about trusting in Jesus and finding moments of gratitude and moments to serve him in my day to day life. It's different from being a "Bible professor".

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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You're not alone, and don't feel down. The Bible is not just an ordinary book, so it requires some elbow grease. Luckily, we live in an age where theres more ways than one to understand the Word.

-Two Words. Audio. Bible.

I'm more of an audiovisual person.

-Also, its good to organize the books into categories, to get the overall pictures of how they connect to each other. Ill provide a link to a visual diagram once i can find it. When there's more of an aim, or a clearer starting point, it makes the reading with more purpose and more understanding.

You can also go to Youtube to get a jinst of the book before reading in detail. The Bible Project I think is a great channel that does illustration of each book, so it serves like a bit of a preview before going in.

It could also be the version, maybe the version you're reading will more serve you better as something use for study as oppose to getting the message in an easier way. I use the Bible Gateway app, since it has many versions, and I can easily compare as well when I do more detailed study.

And make it a habit, I have an app to remind me to read a proverbs a day, and also to listen to a sermon a day. That way, i'm also touching upon scriptures and getting meaning out of them. I destinate one day to actually study and I take that category and spend my sweet time with it. For me, its more important that I understand as I go, more than to read the whole Bible. But you have to be consistent. Find a way to be.

At the end of the day, when we die, God is not gonna give us a pop quiz. The most important thing is that you understand the heart of God, and even with reading the Bible back and forward, without the guidance of God, its just memorizing. So ask God for guidance, use the Word as a go-to when you're facing problems, saved a couple in case you go through situations, get to know God more, and incorporated it into every aspect of your life.

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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Perhaps try studying topically. All of us have certain "questions" on our minds about different things at different times.... or have read certain passages and don't feel like we really understand the "subject matter". I do word/phrase lookups and then read all the verses that relate to the subject matter. A lot of times also I go into the Greek and Hebrew using the Strong's Concordance. These languages have great depth more so than English. The way I look at it is ..... what were the definitions/meanings of the words used from the Hebrew or Greek? It is amazing many times there is "clarity" given when doing this.

It's pretty quickly and easily done ... here is one source: www.biblehub.com

Also, it is interesting reading History and finding out how various historical events relate biblically.

I usually do my studying early in the morning .... and then "ponder" on what I've studied throughout the day which usually leads me to other things I want to "investigate".

I believe in keeping the Sabbath .... so I spend almost that whole time studying God's word.

I also look at different "theologies" and compare different doctrines with the bible. Look at history to see where the "theology" roots are from etc. People believe different things, but for "reasons" .... what are those "reasons"? What are my reasons for what I believe?

Anyway ... point is ..... you have things on your mind, perhaps being lead by the Holy Spirit .... try exploring them topically and see if you don't find reading/studying God's word "interesting".

God Bless

I can understand your dilemma, mmbattlestar. I have a form of religious OCD called scrupulosity along with ADD. The scrupulosity causes me to feel I have to understand everything I read perfectly and the ADD makes it nearly impossible to concentrate. It ends up feeling like a huge ordeal instead of a blessing. The desire is there, but it is just so difficult. I've tried reading a chapter a day, devotionals, and commentaries, but nothing ever lasts as I get so bogged down. This causes my thoughts to get so jumbled up that at times I doubt my salvation. I see a Christian therapist and he has repeatedly told me that if I were not saved I would not be bothered by this.

I don't know if this makes any sense, but I thought I'd join the discussion.

fashionkath

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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Hi battlestar! I find your honesty refreshing, as I have also with struggled staying focused on parts of the OT. I am thankful that because of Jesus...there is NO condemnation! One thing that I do enjoy is the Bible read in one year with the DAB (Daily Audio Bible app)..Brian Hardin's commentaries and the prayer community of thousands of people are awesome too. Hope it helps!

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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Hi you have made an error in your approach to scripture as you state your goal is to read the Bible and the command is to study it. 2 Tim 2 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. For instance there are a bunch of rules in Deuteronomy about inspecting the leper and how to inspect them and also how to restore one who was cleansed of leprosy. The law has them offering a sacrifice and placing blood on the right big tow thumb and ear of the one who was cleansed. You know this law was given almost 1500 years before Jesus and not one person was cured of leprosy and had this ritual performed on them. So when Jesus told the cured lepers to go to the priest and perform what was written in the law it was the 1st time it had ever happened. The priest when they are ordained also had the blood applied to the right tow thumb nad ear lobe. So the unclean leper now has the same initiation as a priest would have gone through. What a great picture the unclean irremovable disease that made you isolated from everything was only cured by Jesus and they are now initiated as priests.
This is the kind of gold that is all throughout some of those dry chapters of the law. The Bible is a history of what happened with a revelation of God and his standards along with a prophetic voice showing he future of what will come to pass. A good way to study is to read the entire book through a few times and then you can see an overview of what is said and readdressed and emphasized and what ideas are developed over time. Then go a few chapters at a time and look up key words and see how they are used elsewhere in scripture and note any promises or prophecies that are given. The command is to study so you have to establish a set time and commit to doing it. God says without faith it is impossible to please God and faith comes by hearing the word of God. Study should always come with a willing and open heart in an attitude of prayer and being aware of Gods presence in your life. I suggest you read psalm 119 which is Davids meditation on what Gods word will do in his life. This is the longest chapter in the Bible but shares the development of a willing heart towards God. David recognizes his own guilt and his reliance on God to change him. His praises to the LORD will stir you and the prayers he makes are models for spiritual growth. All scripture is God breathed and integrated into a single message. God bless you can start today.

PollyJetix said:

Well, there you have it. If you want to be the kind of Christian who lived in the Dark Ages, content to let Mother Church read the Bible to you in a language you can't understand, and then tell you what they mean... you can opt out of reading them for yourself.

Me, I'm an Anabaptist. I'd willingly die for the right to read the Bible myself, without a middleman standing between me and God.

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It's as if when the curtain was torn a mob of people ran up the steps with their needles and thread.

Someone may have already said this, but why not listen to the Word instead? "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of YHWH" aka the Lord.

There are many great audio Bibles online. Plus there are some great movies, some totally Scriptural based and very well produced. Go to You Tube and type in things like: The Book of John move, The Book of Matthew movie, The Book of Acts movie, Revelation movie.

And that's not all! There are a lot of Scripture based songs on YT. Just type in things like Scripture Memory Songs. I especially love those by Maranatha.

Enjoy!

P.S. I did want to reinforce the points the Bible makes about Bible study. Read Psalm 1. Who is like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, whose leaves never wither etc.? Well for one thing that person is meditating on the Word day and night. Also, when Joshua was being counseled on how to be successful he was told "This Book of the Law shall be always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Also in Proverbs we are told about the words of the Almighty, "Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body."

Now some seem to feel that things from he "Old Testament" don't matter anymore. Yet can we lie and cheat and murder and bow down to other gods now? Do we just dismiss things like Psalm 23 and say "That was then. Not for us now"? The Bible says "YHWH" aka God "changes not."

Listen to it on bible gateway . I’d recommend always KJV the others are watered down and to avoid a lot of friction. I will say it’s just better for me. Listening will give you a blessing as well.

I read while on the treadmill. I HATE the treadmill but I know it's good for me...so I have a bible on my tablet and the 30 minutes or so I spend on the treadmill I read scripture. I'd love to find some way to waterproof an mp3 player so I could listen while I swim...

OP,

Well, I suppose I could suggest that you try and read some of the shorter ones in the Old Testament. Joel is 3 chapters long. Malachi is 4 chapters long, etc. And you'll also notice within these shorts ones that some of the details of Jesus are described. Naturally since these are found in the Old Testament, this means they are describing him before he was born. Such as in Malachi chapter 3. That is surely talking about Jesus. Now I suggest to start with smaller "books" as a way to maybe lean into reading it more. If you truly want to seek God, I'm sure you'll find the inspiration to read more of your Bible. Though some of the bigger books can be more important (if you will, I know everything in scripture is important), the smaller ones might be a starter. Just my suggestion I suppose. I did the same with my younger brother.

Eutychus2018 said:

Starting in mid'June, 1975, I have read, without fail, the entire New Testament every 13 days (taking the 14th day off). That means I read the complete New Testament, 26 times a year. As of January past, I have read it entirely 1092 times. It is a discipline, and returns more truth on investment, than anything I've ever done. If I reach my Bible anniversary, in June, I will have read it 1112 times. Here is how I do it...

Monday Matt 1 through Matt 10 1 Cor 1 – 1 Cor 10

Tuesday Matt 11 through Matt 20 1 Cor 11 through 2 Cor 4

Wednesday Matt 21 through Mark 2 2 Cor 5 through 2 Cor 13

Thursday Mark 3 through Mark 12 Galatians through Ephesians

Friday Mark 13 through Luke 6 Philippians through Colossians

Saturday Luke 7 through Luke 16 1Thess 1 through 1 Tim 3

Sunday Luke 17 through John 2 1 Tim 4 through Philemon

Monday John 3 through John 12 Hebrews 1 through Hebrews 10

Tuesday John 13 through John 21 Hebrews 11 through James 5

Wednesday Acts 1 through Acts 10 1 Peter 1 through 1 John 5

Thursday Acts 11 through Acts 20 2 John through Revelation 7

Friday Acts 21 through Romans 2 Rev 8 through Rev 18

Saturday Romans 3 through Romans 16 Rev 19 through Rev 22

Follow that path, and you will get a bible education second to none, and blessings attending every aspect of your life. It is now, and has been a long time, a habit, and I think during every day, of my evening coming up, in God's Word...The downside is, the more you know the Word, the less fit you are to belong to normal denominational Christianity. As Solomon said, "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow" Ecc 1:18. I know this personally to be veritable truth.

I read the Old Testament, free style as it were, and read it entirely every 3-4 months.

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Wow! That is a lot of reading.. You must read fast, or enjoy reading in general?

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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What you can do is ask questions about how Leviticus and Deuteronomy are applicable to your life. For instance Leviticus is all about personal sacrifices such as peace offerings which we offer by reading the bible or praying each night. Deuteronomy is interesting because it is an adventure story that prompted me to write my own biblical adventure stories similar to the ones told.

Gwen-is-new! said:

Wow! That is a lot of reading.. You must read fast, or enjoy reading in general?

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I love that picture it is presently shown in love song for a savior-jars of clay, and who am i-casting crowns!

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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First, most Christians on the planet have probably never read the entire Bible. Second, get an actual physical book to read. It will matter. Thirst, just start reading it, a bit each day, even the un-exciting parts. It may help you to know that long lists were traditionally chanted or sung, or it may not.

Approach it a different way perhaps.

New can become interesting.

E.g. Pick a bible you can search online, there are many. And try picking a word and search it.

Anything! Try kneel, or truth. I had a surprise the other day searching " selfish"

It turns out selfish can lose eternal life! But I leave the readers to find out where...

Or listen to videos about a topic... and often you will hear verses quoted. Look them up.

Or use the divine office of readings used by religious t( e.g. Universalis)
offers readings every day.


All alternatives to reading sequentially,

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

Click to expand...

Mountainmike said:

Approach it a different way perhaps.

New can become interesting.

E.g. Pick a bible you can search online, there are many. And try picking a word and search it.

Anything! Try kneel, or truth. I had a surprise the other day searching " selfish"

It turns out selfish can lose eternal life! But I leave the readers to find out where...

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Yes, I recently found out that the word "breakfast" was in the bible! Not sure how I missed this before

Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." John 21:12

I have notice reading through many of the post that many say you must read the Bible daily; others say they don't read it daily. Now if God were in the business of giving out reward for reading the Bible, I am sure they would be few given out. However, God is not in that business.
The Apostle Paul, who was appointed the apostle to the Gentiles did say this: Study daily, to show yourself approved of God, a workman who need not be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
So if one reads the Bible daily and does not rightly divide it's truth, what good would it be? This is one of the problems with Denominations today; they set up their own idea of what the Bibles says and for whom it says it. That has this sound to it: Has God said?
So is it another man who causes one to come to the spiritual truth, or is it the Holy Spirit ? It is the Holy Spirit. However, a man who is truly lead by the Holy Spirit can be of help to another who is seeking to understand the scriptures.
Consider this fact however: The are over 41,000 Denominations in the so called Christian churches! How many denominations did Jesus have? ONE. How many did Paul teach? ONE. Christ crucified. From this one can realize that Denominations are not the answer to walking with God and His Christ Jesus. It is only through serious prayer to God for help from the Holy Spirit than one can start to learn what the Bible really is saying.
Beware of false Denominational teachers!

This writer has been at this seeking of the truth for over 50 years, and am still seaking to know more of it. God is a God that is far beyond our thinking; yet He has left us a way to know much of Him and His Jesus Christ.
May this be help to those who are TRULY seeking to know Him.

Andy Centek

mmbattlestar said:

I'll admit it. I very rarely read my Bible. I have the youversion app downloaded on all of my devices but my wife and I don't really read the Bible much. I just cannot get motivated to read it. Especially the boring parts like Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I LOVE the gospel of John I've read it at least 15 times. But I cannot get motivated to read the rest of the Bible. Its like I think that the only part of the Bible worth reading is the gospel of John. Ive read the whole NT all the way through at least twice. But ive never read the OT at all past 2nd Samuel. How can I get motivated to read my bible everyday like every other Christian on the planet? I feel so alone! Lots of people have read the Bible all the way through. Why can't I?...

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What version do you read?

You enjoy the bible more if you have a version you like and understand.

The Kings James version is just utter bordom full of old english and i won't read it.

Have you tried the street bible, its a great read.