7 Ways to Be Diligent in Daily Bible Reading

So often, we hear about the need to be regular and diligent in our Bible reading. From sermons to books to other outlets, we are often told that we should spend time daily in the reading and study of God’s Word. And, no matter how good our intentions might be, most of us will fall off the track sometime.

It may seem like an odd time of year to write this post, since daily Bible reading articles usually come out around the turn of a new year. But why do we have to rely on the turning of a calendar to get into the Scriptures? Today’s post is not meant to be a “read through the Bible in a year” type of reminder, although that certainly is a good goal. Instead, we want to share seven ways that you can insure that, each and every day, you get into the Bible, even if only for a few minutes.

1. Read a Paper Copy. This is the most obvious way, and the one most of us use, but sometimes it is the easiest to overlook. In our constant search for “new” or “more innovative” ways to read and study the Bible, sometimes our tried and true copy of the Bible just lays dormant on a table or shelf. Open it and read it!

2. Get a Free eBible. With the explosion of ereaders (like the Amazon Kindle), Bibles have gone digital. Many people carry their Kindle (or other device) with them more often than a book, due to its small size and weight. Did you know the English Standard Version is absolutely free on these devices? It is, and you can download yours at these sites:

Amazon Kindle

Barns and Noble Nook

3. Listen to Scripture Daily. I try to both read my Bible, and listen to a daily portion as well. Being a lover of podcasts, this should come as no surprise. I get a daily dose from the Old Testament, Psalms, and the New Testament from the English Standard Version Daily Reading Bible podcast [iTunes / Rss]. While the reader is a bit dry, it’s still a wonderful way to hear Scripture. Other apps and podcasts do the same thing, as well. Many add commentary, though, which is not what I’m looking for. These podcasts from the ESV are just the text being read.

4. Rss (or email) the Bible. I used to do this and it was a good way to get a small part of the Scriptures automatically put in front of my eyes each day. Just like you get blogs and websites sent your way through an rss reader (like Feedly or Flipboard), you can get the Bible that way, too. Check out this page at Bible Gateway to see how to have Scripture (from either the King James Version or the New International Version) sent to you each day. You can choose to have it sent to your rss reader, or emailed to you, just like you can subscribe to nearly any blog or site.

5. Get the ESV App. I preach from the English Standard Version, which is one reason it appears on this list so often. It also appears here often because so much of what they offer online is free. You can download the ESV app to your smartphone or tablet and use it whether you are online or offline. So, no matter where you are, you can call up your screen and read for a few moments. [Apple App Store / Google Play]

6. Use the Bible App from Lifechurch.tv. I have this app, but I will admit that I am not using it to its fullest. However, this simple app has quite a large number of daily reading plans that come to you through the app, and you can get push notifications to let you know that the day’s reading is ready to view. Another great use of technology that can be accessed anywhere. Oh, and it’s free, too. [Apple App Store / Google Play]

7. Have a Reading Accountability Partner. So, this is not a book, website, or app, but it certainly helps. Why not read with someone? Of course, you don’t have to be face-to-face (although that’s great, too, especially for families), but how about checking in with each other daily or weekly, and making sure you are both in the Word on a regular basis? This is especially helpful if you are new to daily reading, or are working through a particularly difficult section of Scripture.

COMMENTS: So, what other tips do you have? What are some sites, books, apps, or suggestions you use to help you stay in the Word of God on a daily basis? Share your tips in the comments!

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Photo credit: Jimmie home-school-mom on Creative Commons

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