How To Cultivate The Discipline Of Regular Bible Reading

When I look back through my old Bible study journals, it gives me some feelings of guilt, and I cringe when I see the gaps in dates, some of them weeks or months long. There have been times in my life where I was very consistent with Bible reading. I would keep up the habit for several weeks, or even a few months at a time. But then something would happen to make me stop, and a habit, once broken, is hard to restart.

My problem was not busyness, or lack of time, but a lack of discipline.

A Biblical Basis for Discipline

Discipline is such a good thing. In order to create any new good habits, we need discipline. Whether this is eating well, exercising, drinking enough water, or any other good habit, discipline is necessary to start and maintain it. Rooted in the word discipline is the word disciple, so this word is particularly apt when it comes to studying God’s word.

It is my greatest desire in life to be a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ and the best way for me to do that is to study his Word regularly, so that I know what he is teaching me and what his will is for my life, but more importantly so I know more about him and his character and his purpose.

The Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, is full of wisdom regarding the blessings and benefits of discipline– as well as warnings for those who lack it. Proverbs 23:23 reads, “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline [or instruction] and understanding.” Proverbs 12:1 is very blunt: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

Ephesians 6:4 instructs parents to bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (ESV). Other translations use the words training, nurture, and admonition. All of these ideas apply to our study of the Word of God! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) reads, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

God’s Word also includes wisdom and encouragement for the development of self-control, which is necessary to practice discipline. In order to get in the habit of daily Bible reading, and stay in that habit, I need to use my time well, not waste it, and choose carefully how I spend the time God gives me each day. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline [or self-control].” 

In his first epistle, Peter instructs the believers, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (4:7). He also reminds his readers, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (5:8-9b).

Self-control is an essential tool in our spiritual battle against Satan, who will do everything he can to discourage us from being in God’s Word regularly. He knows that our one weapon against him is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)!

Finally, self-control is a defining characteristic of a godly woman. In his letter, Titus instructs his readers, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God” (2:3-5).

Reasons and Motivations for Scripture Study

In order to be motivated to read Scripture regularly, I needed a good reason to do it. Some reasons I’ve had in the past are wanting to accomplish reading the whole Bible in a year, wanting to imitate the example set by my parents, who I often saw reading their Bible when I was growing up. And if I’m very honest, simply wanting to be a holier and better Christian.

These are not bad reasons in and of themselves, but the best reason is to desire more intimacy and a closer relationship with God, my Father, Creator and Savior.

It’s always good to be in the Word, regardless of the reason. Some less-than-ideal motivations for being in God’s word regularly would be a sense of guilt, or a desire to simply check another task off my list.

Reading God’s word is not meant to be a legalistic task, but a grace- and gospel-filled blessing. I’ve had these motivations in the past. But the more I grow in my faith, and the more regularly I study God’s word, the greater my desire is to do it simply for the sake of knowing my Lord better, and I am much less likely to beat myself up over missing a day or two. 

Approaches for Regular Bible Reading

I have tried a variety of different methods of Bible study, and I’ve also tried multiple methods of reading through the Bible from start to finish. Once, I figured out how many pages were in my Bible, and did the math to determine how many pages I would need to read in a day in order to read it all in a year. This was very daunting, and I think I only got a few books in before I became overwhelmed and gave up.

That wasn’t the first time I got partway through a year-long study and gave up. I have used some Bible studies with great success, and my favorite one that I’ve read so far is Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood. I’ve done that twice in the last few years.

But most recently, I have managed to accomplish reading through the whole Bible in chronological order in a year, and I am more than halfway through doing it again for the second year in a row. I have found a few things that have made this not only doable, but a joy.

First, I have found that there are apps and Bible reading plans that make it so much easier than trying to figure out for myself how many pages to read a day. I have been using a Bible in a year plan called The Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble, and this plan goes through the Bible chronologically, instead of straight through from Genesis to Revelation.

I have found that this makes the entire narrative much easier to follow and more interesting, and gives a better overall picture of God’s entire plan of salvation through his Word. I use The Bible Recap plan in the YouVersion Bible App. It has a calendar showing the chapters to be read each day, and automatically checks them off when I read them in the app (or I check them off manually if I read in my own Bible).

The app itself is a wonderful tool for regular Bible reading. You can choose between dozens of translations (in multiple languages) and find reading plans on many different topics from various faith traditions. There are even some Lutheran ones! I much prefer reading in my physical Bible, but having a digital version at my fingertips has been helpful many times.

The second way I’ve found to help me be in the Word regularly is to read in community. I’m in a Facebook group that is working through the same reading plan together, and having that accountability and camaraderie has made all the difference. It helps so much to know that others are doing the same thing I am, and that I can check in with them and know that they are helping keep me on track as well.

Our group started on January 1, but if you’d like to start The Bible Recap you can begin at any time. It’s recommended to start at the beginning of the plan instead of in the middle, but you’re still welcome to request to join our group and scroll back through the posts to see others’ comments about some of the readings. Otherwise, you can wait till January 2024 when many of us will start the study over again from the beginning and join us then!

Another trick that I’ve found very helpful in keeping up with daily readings, even through my current very busy season of life as a mom of four small children (with one on the way!), is to listen to it instead of always sitting down to read. I spent most of last year just listening on the Bible app on my phone, and there were many days when the only alone time I could get was in the shower or in the car, so I listened there. And I’ve washed many dishes and folded a lot of laundry while having Scripture read to me.

This year I have worked on making it a higher priority to carve out time in my day to actually sit down and read, and I retain it much better this way. I’m also able to make notes in my Bible and in my journal while I’m reading. After I read it, I listen to the Recap podcast, and this helps to cement in my brain more firmly what I’ve read.

All of that to say, there is not only one way to study Scripture, and what’s important is to find what works best for you. Whatever way you are getting God’s word in your heart, the Holy Spirit will grow your faith and your knowledge of the Lord!

One more way to be in the Word regularly, and especially to get the benefits of community and accountability, is to join an in-person Bible study. I have attended a local Bible study most years for about the last five years, and this is such a blessing. Not only have I made new friends, but it is so good to have encouragement and fellowship with fellow sisters in Christ. Further, knowing that we’re going to meet each week and talk about the study gives me the motivation and accountability I need to keep up with it.

If your church doesn’t offer Bible studies (outside of Sunday morning), see if another church in your area has a study open to non-members. If you can’t find an in-person study to attend, you could consider starting one online with friends from all over the country or the world. There are multiple ways to have digital meetings where you can see each other’s faces, even if you’re not physically together.

Finding some way to have accountability and fellowship with fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord is worth the effort, whether that is going to a local church or a friend’s house, having people to your own home, or setting up an online meeting.

Finally, the best advice I can give for finding motivation and discipline to being in the Word regularly is to be in prayer daily. God wants so much for us to draw closer to him, to know him better, and to absorb his Word and hide it in our hearts, so that we may become stronger in our faith, full of the Spirit, and more like him. He delights to give us what we ask when it is his will for us, and it is absolutely his will for all of his children to read, study, and learn his Word often.

Don’t hesitate to ask him for help, whether that’s for motivation, to find time to study, or people to study with. He gives wisdom freely to those who ask for it, and true wisdom is found only in the word of God.

The Ultimate Purpose of Regular Bible Reading

Remember the goal and purpose of being in God’s word regularly: to grow in our relationship with the Lord; to gain a greater understanding of his person, character and will; to increase in wisdom; and above all to grow in faith.

God’s living and active Word (Hebrews 4:12) is the only source of guidance and instruction we need for how to live a holy life, as Paul wrote to Timothy: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have been convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy  Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 4:12-17).

And what are these works? They are those which God has prepared for us since before eternity. But they do not save us! God’s Word gives us faith and equips us to do good works– the fruit of faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

And this is the ultimate purpose of reading God’s Word often: to be reassured and reminded of the work of Jesus Christ for our salvation, and the grace through faith which God has given us in him.

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