Understanding the Bible starts with reading the Bible 📖

When was the last time you felt completely disconnected while reading scripture?

There is no perfect way to read the Bible, but every single method and strategy—from in-depth analysis to quick studies—has one step in common. 

Opening the Bible and turning the page. 

All the plans and devotionals in the world are worth nothing without taking that first step because understanding the Bible starts with reading the Bible. 

Easier said than done, we know. Sometimes, the action of picking it up and cracking it open can feel heavy. Those fragile historical pages can hold more mystery and confusion than answers at times.

But that’s why we must keep coming back. To know the Bible is to know God. That should be the goal every time we pick up His Word.

We are called to know Him.  

What do we do when God seems silent?

One-way relationships are never fun. Infatuations, unrequited loves, unbalanced friendships, etc. 

They can make us feel alone and isolated. As if nothing we do can break through the invisible wall between closeness with that person and a lack of connection. 

Trying to understand and know God can feel kind of like that sometimes. No matter how much we try to listen for His voice, we hear nothing.

Sometimes the reason for this distance is as simple as this: We are not listening for Him in the right places. 

If we aren’t opening our Bible and absorbing His Word—the tangible scriptures, lessons, and directions we have within arms reach—how can we hope to recognize His voice when it’s tangled up in the ruckus of daily life?

And if we are constantly in God’s Word and there is still only silence, it’s our responsibility to keep coming back. We practice patience and diligence and seek not to know it all but to be transformed and renewed by God's word. 

Not on our terms: on His.

The staggering lack of daily Bible reading as a habit

The Pew Research Center reported as recently as 2022 that only 9% of US adults read their Bible outside of church every day, and 34% never read their Bible outside of church at all.

With numbers like that, it’s no wonder many struggle to hear God. 

It isn’t always from lack of trying. Life is dynamic, we know this. But if our relationship with God is the thing that keeps slipping off our plate, that may be a sign it’s time to reconfigure our priorities.

What typically takes your Bible time slot in your day-to-day life? Not people. Think of those precious idle moments, no matter how few. What do you reach for? 

Action Items: 

1. Explore new ways of diving into the Bible 

If you’re looking for a more consistent routine when it comes to reading the Bible, there are more options than the classic “read the whole Bible in one year” approach.

You can start wherever you want. Yes, it’s important to know how everything fits together, but when trying to build a habit, the less daunting the better. Pick a book that interests you and follow the thread!

2. Examine your priorities throughout the day and/or week

We don’t mean you should feel guilty about reading other books or taking a minute to decompress when you’re free. 

But there is a difference between disconnecting here and there throughout the day and letting doom scrolling take over every free moment of your day. Try auditing your habits. 

3. Build an accountability system

We are meant to enjoy the community and connections of fellow believers. Building an accountability group can be a great way to read the Bible more as well as explore different perspectives. 

Knowing that you are not alone can make all the difference when embarking on forming a new habit and staying consistent.

That type of consistency can change not only your life but also your relationship with God.

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