I recently received a question from someone in my private FB Group, Happy Chicks (click here to join my group). It was such a great question that I thought it would be great to share it here, on the blog. The question was this:
“What is your favorite way to read the Bible?”
There are so many ways to read through the Bible, including various reading plans. None of them are necessarily better than the other. I think if you’re digging into the Living Word, you’re going to glean serious wisdom and you’re going to learn more about God and grow closer to Him (which is something He deeply desires).
That being said, my favorite way to read the Bible is cover to cover.
It can be a little daunting to read the Bible cover to cover. I think that’s why a lot of people start and quit. The trick to not getting overwhelmed (and not quitting) is by doing it in small chunks! For example, start by reading for 20 minutes a day, or reading 2 chapters a day.
You know that silly question “How do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time.
It’s the same way with just about everything in life. You simply start. You take one bite, and then another.
Who cares if it takes you 3 years to read through the entire Bible? The time will pass anyway. Can you imagine, 3 years from now the wisdom that will be tucked inside your heart! That’s good stuff!
I have the “She Reads Truth” Bible, which has space on the sides for note-taking (so awesome!), explains things simply and has beautiful graphics of some really important Bible verses. You can find it on Amazon! My daughter also has a copy of the “She Reads Truth” Bible and we spend early mornings digging into God’s word, side by side. It’s the best way to start the day!
I also love to spend time in the book of Proverbs.
Did you know that there are 31 chapters in Proverbs (and it’s full of so much wisdom!)? I highly recommend taking one full month and reading one chapter in Proverbs each day. Start on the 1st of the month and by the end of the month, you’ll have consumed all 31 chapters of rich wisdom!
You could actually do this year-round to gain deep understanding. Just think… you will have read each chapter 12 times by the end of the year!
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
-Proverbs 1:7
I especially enjoy studying Proverbs 31 and learning how I can become more like the Proverbs 31 woman…. “Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come. Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:25-26)
Every Wednesday, I send a chapter from Proverbs straight to the inbox of my email subscribers, along with a beautiful graphic. You can sign up for Wisdom Wednesdays by clicking here.
Sometimes, searching for a specific topic is what my soul needs.
An old-fashioned flip to the back of the Good Book will often result in the wisdom I need to hear. Yep, the Index (the original Google) has references to every topic you can think of. The most awesome and outrageous things are in the Bible.
“The most awesome and outrageous things are in the Bible.”
-Katie Hedrick
I dare you to grab your Bible, find the index and start reading down the list of topics. You may end up spending more time “trolling” there than you do on your Facebook feed… and it will leave you filling a lot more fulfilled than social media will!
Finally, I like to practice “Lectio Divina” (Latin for “Divine Reading”)
Have you heard the term?
It’s a way of reading through scripture intentionally and slowly. You read a passage, taking note of the words or phrases that really stand out to you and you meditate on them for several minutes before moving on, asking the Holy Spirit to help you interpret and apply the wisdom to your life.
It’s an impactful way of letting the Living Word sink deep into your soul. For me, the practice has been life-changing. It helps me to slow down and rest in God’s word. It also allows me to retain what I read even better, as does note taking and highlighting! (I first heard about Lectio Divina in the book “Present over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist. It’s a must-read!)
No matter how you choose to spend time in God’s word, it will bring blessing and rich wisdom to your life. It will also bring honor to your Heavenly Father and it will deepen your relationship with Him, the one who loves you most! Try one or more of these techniques out. Also, be sure to download the Books of the Bible printable, designed to help you grow in God’s word!
Download your free Books of the Bible printable here.
Looking for Ways to Feed Your Faith? Browse these articles:
- 4 Things I Pray About Daily
- Karen’s Story – She Says Yes
- Warrior vs. Worrier
- Dori’s Story – There is Hope
- From Broken to Beautiful, The Truth About KatieHedrick.com
- Thriving in the Midst of Physical Pain
- How to Find Your Purpose in Life
Discover who you are in Christ with this beautiful one-page printable, The Happiness Memorandum.
