Many of us are on day four of a bible reading plan, and in a few weeks or months, some of us will ask the question, how can I keep the momentum going? Bible reading isn’t a chore or a checklist (even though I check off as I read). Reading the Bible is how we get to know God. Making it from January through December is all about our mindset and perspective. When we approach our reading of Scripture as a meeting with God, a time to receive instruction, correction, encouragement, and overall a time of fellowship with our creator, it will be easier to engage in daily Bible reading.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 CJB “All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; ¹⁷ thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12 CJB “See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.”

When we recognize the power and authority of Scripture to change and transform us, it will be impossible for us to find the Bible boring. Sure there may be “dry spells” from time to time; every day will not be filled with incredible insights, highlighting, and journaling, but we can know that our spirit is continuously being fed. When the devil tempted Jesus, He responded to each temptation with Scripture, one of those being that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

It’s funny that we have no problem watching our favorite show over and over, yet we find it challenging to make it through the Bible. There’s a straightforward reason for that; we have an enemy who doesn’t want us transformed by the Word. So when we approach our Bible reading, we need to do so in prayer and realize that every time we read Scripture, we are encountering the God of the universe; we see how He has interacted with people throughout history.

The truth is, we may find it challenging to make it through the Bible because our heart is hard. Remember the parable of the sower? More accurately, it is a parable about the soils; the path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. Each of us reads the same Bible, yet it will have a different effect on us depending on what kind of soil we are. So how do we go from hard ground or thorny ground to good soil? By reading the Scripture. The Scripture makes itself come alive in us. Unfortunately, many of us have never experienced Hebrews 4:12 because we haven’t stuck with the Word long enough for it to do its work in our hearts.

There are plenty of tricks and tips out there; I recommend reading in different translations, using a different plan each year, listening to an audio Bible as you read, and other things. But at the end of the day, it comes down to us being willing to let the Word do the work in us.

Take some time tonight and read through Psalm 119, and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to make the Word come alive as you read it. Surrender to its correction, instruction, and encouragement. When you come to the day or days you don’t feel like reading, pray and read. You may not feel it, but your spirit is being strengthened.

The more you read, the more you will want to read. The more you read, the more interested you will become in what Scripture says. If you’re having difficulty seeing how Scripture is connected, read a chronological reading plan to help you see how everything fits together. The main thing is don’t allow discouragement to set in. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up; pick up where you left off; if you don’t finish in a year, it’s no big deal; the main thing is making God and His Word a priority.