You start by picking one place, one time, and one short reading. That’s the whole secret. You don’t need a plan that covers everything, and you don’t need to understand every page before you begin. You just need a small step you can take again tomorrow.
Pick One Place to Start
The hardest part of reading the Bible is deciding where to open it. So decide once, and stop deciding every day.
A good starting point is a Gospel, such as the book of Mark. It moves quickly, and it keeps your eyes on Jesus. Another easy start is Genesis, the first book of the Bible, where the whole story begins. Either one works. The point is to choose, and then stay there.
Read a Little, Not a Lot
One chapter is plenty. On a busy day, a few verses are still a real step. The goal is not to finish. The goal is to come back.
Set a Time You Can Keep
A habit needs a home in your day. Pick a time you already have, not a time you wish you had. Early morning works for some people. A lunch break works for others. Right before bed works too.
Try these small anchors:
- The first five minutes after you wake up
- A quiet moment before you start work
- The last few minutes before you sleep
Then take three simple steps:
- Open the Bible to where you left off.
- Read one short passage and slow down on it.
- Say a short prayer, and ask God to help you understand what you read.
That’s a complete day. It doesn’t need to be longer than that.
Read Slowly
You’re not trying to impress anyone with how much you read. You’re simply showing up.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
A lamp doesn’t light the whole road at once. It lights the next step. That’s enough for today, and it’ll be enough for tomorrow. So read slowly, and don’t rush past the words. If a verse stays with you, write it down and come back to it later. If you’re not sure where to begin, which book of the Bible to read first can help.
The Key Point
Start small, keep it short, and come back tomorrow. A daily habit of reading the Bible is built from small steps you can actually keep.
If you’d like a simple path through the whole Bible, the Journey in Righteously walks you through it book by book, with pictures along the way. See how the Journey works.
