Time in the Word

Digging deeper into the Word

“"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 3:16

Daily Bible reading is really important, and it can be really overwhelming to know where to start. Maybe you have read the whole Bible in the past and you are really familiar with scripture. Maybe you have never owned or even picked up a Bible before.

The Bible is BIG. It's important. The Bible is where we get to know who God is and how he shows us who we are. It instructs us how to live. Being in the Bible everyday is the goal. This deepens your connection to your heavenly Father. It can be overwhelming to know where and how to start, though! Let's talk about some tips for getting started!

Where to start?

Begin in the Gospels. This is the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospels focus on the story of Jesus’ life on earth and it discus the plan for salvation and topics of daily life as a follower of Christ.
Another option to start reading the Book of Ephesians. This New Testament book shares details about our identity as people who follow Jesus Christ.
Romans is another New Testament book that discusses that the good news of Gods free gift of salvation is available to anyone who responds to Jesus with faith.

Start small:

When adding something to a new routine, it can help to start small. Maybe this looks like just 5 to 15 minutes that you can set aside. Maybe have a goal of just reading a chapter or two at a time.

When?

It can help to have a dedicated time of day that you are going to spend with God in His word. This will help make it a prioritized and predictable part of your routine. Is that time early in the morning before everyone else is awake or is it at night before you go to bed? Maybe it's on your lunch break at work. Pick a time that you can be consistent.

How?

Our first recommendation would be to get a physical Bible that you can underline scripture or take notes in. Study Bibles are excellent for this and usually have wide margins designed for note taking. These Bibles also have maps and other educational resources. Maybe the idea of taking time every day to sit down and read, just sounds impossible for your life schedule right now. I totally get that! Here are a couple options to consider.

Get an App for your phone. Here are a couple of my favorites. YouVersion. This is the full Bible in almost all available versions. This app also has reading plans and devotionals available along with a daily scripture highlighted for acknowledgment. The other app I enjoy is called First 5. This app is designed to be your first 5 minutes before you even get out of bed. It has short devotionals with related scripture and closes with a prayer. This app also has reading plans based on topics or books of the Bible. Once a week there is a 20 minute message where someone discusses what you went over in the last week in more detail. Both of these apps are free.
YouVersion has the capability to read the Bible to you! This is a great option for someone that has a packed schedule and needs to fit in Daily Time with God on the go. Listen to the Bible while you are cooking, driving, working out, cleaning, or taking a nature walk. Anywhere!

Other tips:

Here are some other tips you can incorporate in your Daily Time with God.

Pray before and after your reading (or listening) time. Ask God to help you understand and accept His Word into your heart. Ask Him to speak to you. Ask Him to open and soften your heart to receive His word and guidance.
Use a journal. Write your notes and questions. Write your prayers and what you want to communicate to God. How do these passages apply to your life?
Join a Bible study group. This has many benefits. You have a sense a community and can meet new people. You can hear new insights and have accountability if youre looking for that. Most Bible studies either work through a book in the Bible, a concept, or are working through a Bible study book. This can give additional things to study and be involved in for your Daily Time.