Be honest: how often do you actually open your Bible in a typical week?
I read something that said more than half of Americans rarely read the Bible, and a third never pick it up on their own. Meanwhile, in parts of the world, believers risk everything just for the chance to read a page of Scripture.
What actually gets you into the Word consistently? A set time of day, a reading plan, an app, an accountability partner?
I try to do it daily, but sometimes life interrupts. Especially when I’m reading something like Deuteronomy or Leviticus, or trying to follow who begot whom. But I’m up way earlier than most, so I use that quiet time, before the storms hit, to read.
Peter
You’ll find that with good Bible software, you can study the Scriptures inductively, exegetically, or using virtually any other method, all from your PC, with the added bonus of being able to make notes and organize your studies. It’s a discipline we should not lose.
Shalom.
J.
You can donate Bibles and study materials through Open Doors, which distributes them in some of the most persecuted areas of the world. In doing so, you help get God’s Word into the hands of believers who have very limited access to Scripture, helping us live out the principle we see in Matthew 25.
J.
Every morning, like clockwork. During the day/evening I will read various lessons. With all that’s going on in the world and within my own family plus being treated for cancer, I refuse to ignore God. Thank you for everything.
In this busy season with young kids, I don’t read the Bible as regularly as I did in high school and college. I do find that being part of a church small group or Bible study where we get into the Word is very helpful, especially on weeks when I don’t open my Bible much for a personal time of study. I find structure very helpful as well, so the Book of Common Prayer or other studies or books that cycle through the year with Scripture for each day/week are a huge help.
I use Bible Gateway. I start every morning when I wake up. I start with Proverbs. Then I read some chapters from the New Testament. Then I. read some chapters in the Old Testament. Then I read a Psalm. After I’ll sing a praise and worship song. Some days I have interference. Like doctor’s appointments. But it will bothered my mind all day until I get back into the word. I do this in the privacy of my room. I try daily to get on my knees and pray. But it’s painful. Am I still a sinner? Absolutely. Do I still fall short? Absolutely. But God’s mercies are new every morning. I try to remember that. I used to carry guilt all the time. Not anymore. I trust In the Lord. He is my rock and my fortress. My deliverer. I’m not suggesting that people follow my example. I’m just telling you what I do. This is what makes me comfortable. Bible Gateway contains many different. Versions. I have read a few versions. There are very little differences. I’m currently reading NASB. 1995. It is supposed to be the closest to the Hebrew the Greek. I have also read The New King James. I don’t remember how many times I completely read through the whole Bible. It doesn’t matter. I have ADD. It’s hard for me to remember what I’ve read So repetition is necessary. I am retired. I have a lot of time on my hands. It’s easy for me to pick up the word. I understand it’s not easy for other people. But I hope that some would take a little time out of their busy schedule and pick it up to just read the proverbs. There is one for every day. It tells you how to live. God bless you all.
I read the bible 7 days a week. I usually read at least 6 chapters a day and that don’t count for bible sudy or listenig to a message from someone and looking up their scriptures.
I usually wake at 3 Am and pray and be with the Lord for an hour and then when sufficiently full of the Spirit go read 6 chapters in a progression of cover to cover each year. If you start reading Genesis 1 on Jan 1st and read 3 chapters a day you will end Revelation in the last week of December.
I’ve done that for the past 6 or 7 years? Awhile back this year 3 chapters left me wanting so I started reading 6 chapters a day minimum. I guess I’ll finish this year between halloween and Thanksgiving?
First thing in the morning is a great time to read (and pray. You’re rested and fresh.
Most Bibles, have the “Read the Bible in a Year” page, usually in the back. I copied the page with our printer/scanner, and use it as my checklist to keep track. The unusual days, are the ones when I don’t open the Bible to read.
No, I do not read through in one year- last time took me 26 months to complete, I’m a year into this round, and figure it will be another year before I finish.
My set time is in the morning before work, and/or lunchtime at work. I read “J. Vernon McGee style” jumping from OT to NT to break up the monotony of some of the law books. Job 23:12 says “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food”, so that keeps me accountable.
My wife and I are reading somewhat regularly now, we bought the Bible Recap which does just that, you read some chapters in the plan and then you read the recap which helps you understand what you just read. It is done in a chronological order, which has its benefits and downside (being it takes a long time to get to the New Testament). If read everyday doing the schedule you get through the whole Bible in a year. That is not our goal, our goal is to get into it, understand it and enjoy it. The recap is showing how the Old Testament points to Christ. We do recommend it and a few friends also use it.
So to be perfectly honest we were not doing it regularly so having a plan like the recap does has inspired us.
It seems good to me that a person should read the Bible all the way through.
Friends
In the gospels of Matthew and Luke chapters 4, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8 when He answered the devil "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” In the gospel of John chapter 4, Jesus reiterated this same understanding when he told His disciples “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”, and "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”. From these and other passages we can accurately conclude that Jesus was doing exactly what he was hearing from The Father, as if consuming The Father’s Words was what fueled His righteous testimony. Brothers and sisters, we have been born into Jesus, His testimony has become our testimony, and so His nutrition has become our nutrition, His food has become our food.
Our natural bodies require fueling from time to time, but unless one is on a remedial diet of some sort, everyone eats as a normal part of their daily course. We eat as we get hungrty. To fail to eat brings discomfort. To eat but not digest is a malady, as it brings malnutrition. The word of God is our new nutrition for our new being. We must consume AND digest to properly fuel our beings for the mission for which we have been comissioned. Furthermore, our consumption must be thoughtful. Like our mothers taught us, we do not gorge ourselves on a diet of sweets, and fats, but dutifully first finish all our vegetables, even the beets and carrots. The word of God is rich fare, some parts are sweet (Psalm 119:103) and quickly satisfy our childish cravings, yet some parts are tough, or less tasty, but they are the essential mainstays of a healthy diet, and must not be avoided.
The word of God must be consumed thoughtfully, nutritionally, and regularly. Thoughtful consumption of God’s Word is essential to fuel intense light-bearers to the dark world; to build strong and healthy branches who yield good fruit that testifies to the Glory of our redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-11
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.
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.
KP
Turn my home into church fellowship. Accountability an Imperative and endeavor not to only read/quote Scriptures, but to put the Imperatives of Christ into daily practice.
J.
Your Amazing. God BLESS YOU.
Available for free on e Sword Bible Software and I would recommend Lightfoot on the four Gospels @BayoR.
Keep up the good work, in this day and age there is no reason to be biblically illiterate.
J.
Being retired I am able every morning and most evenings using the Blue Letter Bible as my guide along with man commentaries. A favorite i she Bible Exposition by Warren W. Wiersbe. During the day I listen to podcasts and listen to many different Christian authors on Audible.ca.
john Burke wrote both the “Imagine Heaven” and “Imagine the God of Heaven”. Both books centre around testimonies of people whom have near death experiences and they are great reads of what happens after death.
One of the most valuable suggestions is what he refers to as his “60/60” suggesting each hour we should call upon the Lord in prayer and to do so for 60 days forming a wonderful habit we can carry through life.
Before I ever read the Bible cover to cover I was thinking about, His Word. The Bible is our field manual in the army of the Kingdom of God. It’s a love letter and an instruction manual. I was sitting there thinking on these things, and a thought came to me, I will stand before the Author of that book one day…What happens if He asks me, did you read my book? (Uh-Oh)
That would be embarrassing to have to say no. Why not? Well, some guy said it can’t be trusted, bad translations and so forth? Those sound like excuses! I’ve always liked to read, and I would have to say no, never read it? That is not acceptable! So I read it (whew!) It’s the least we can do is to read the book. It was good though. It gets more interesting as you read more and easier to understand.
I don’t have a Bible right now but I look at scriptures daily multiple times a day and when I had a Bible I look at it many times each day. I also grew up praying five times a day. My kids didn’t like it though strangely enough so I don’t and never did push it on others. It’s amazing you ask this as just yesterday I seen specific form of my first Bible and I have this specific relationship and criteria to acquire a new Bible I was amazed when I seen it and it said free take me. I did not take one but the Lord was speaking and wants to be as when I had that first Bible God knows what happened. I couldn’t believe it when yesterday that Bible i had I have never seen one since that one anywhere it’s been over 45 years. It’s meaningful to me I wonder what is going to happen next . I wrote specific things in that Bible. I pray for a compatible fellowship I would like to grow that way but I don’t have no one today. Yesterday I also had two other religious experiences besides the Bible , I ate a cupcake and celebrated birthdays with friends of the Lord we wished spoke over each other Happy Birthday, a nd I received a bracelet and a reminder to behave she said we have to behave and use these scriptures she had on the bracelet to remember to behave and when I looked up one so far I was amazed what it said it’s not a common one. I enjoy community in the Lord but it’s been since that first Bible I had that so I was surprised to see that Bible yesterday and all that and my mom was with me and she had expressed certain things of wanting to have more church and such so it a good day and I enjoy scripture I really am not motivated via others as I have a relationship with the Lord but it is nice if others are equally yoked it’s not common for me and I won’t just go to any church either. In the morning after too I could feel the good almost like the Lord wanted to eat breakfast with me he knows my favorite _
Available for free on e Sword Bible Software and I would recommend Lightfoot on the four Gospels
Thanks. I have E-Sword on my phone, I will check that out.
