By Aaron Earls
For some church leaders, their jobs entail reading and studying Scripture. For others in ministry and for most of the people in the pews, they have to find extra time during the day for the Bible.
Even though we know the Bible is important, we can still struggle reading it on a consistent basis. So how can we help others in our congregation spend time in Scripture?
Try these six ways to help carve out daily time for the Bible.
1. Recognize the spiritual battle
You may stay up all night completely engrossed in a book, but find your eyes closing minutes after opening the Bible. Maybe you can easily find time to watch TV or read a new fiction book, but the moment you start to read Scripture, something pops up to distract you.
We should not be surprised by that. Satan recognizes the life-changing nature of the Bible, so he and the spiritual forces opposed to God will do everything they can to keep us from engaging with it.
Before you read, pray that God would help you stay focused on Him and His Word. Recognize that when you open the Bible you are engaging in an act of war against darkness.
2. Add it on your calendar
Practically speaking, put the Bible on your calendar. Literally. It helps you and the other people in your life.
Set up a calendar event on your phone that sends you a reminder when it’s time to start reading. This can be a way to establish reading the Bible as a priority.
If you have lots of out-of-the-office work responsibilities, having a time on the calendar lets others know not to disturb you during those moments.
3. Listen to it
Maybe you are ambushed with responsibilities as soon as you wake up until you lay down your head and having time to read at all seems impossible. Have you tried listening to Scripture?
If you have a morning commute, listen to audio versions of the Bible. Shorter books can be finished in one drive, while you might listen to longer books over the course of a week or more.
Maybe you like to walk or run. Instead of always listening to your workout playlist, why not mix in some Bible?
4. Post it around you
If we are finding ways to get as much Scripture into our lives as possible, why not take a page from Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and write God’s words “on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates”?
This can be in the form of permanent decorations in your home that incorporate Scripture, but it could also be a sticky note on your computer at work or a short verse written on your bathroom mirror.
5. Find a partner
Almost anything is easier with someone else to help you stay accountable. Try reading and discussing Scripture with someone else.
Each week, another man from church and I talk on the phone and go over one chapter from the book of Judges. Having this standing appointment motivates me to read over the passage for that week.
6. Weave it into your family life
What regular patterns do you have in your home? How can you make Scripture part of those times?
Does everyone eat dinner together? Read a verse and discuss it as you eat. Are you constantly in the car with kids? Ask them to share their favorite verse or something they’ve been reading in the Bible.
What other practical ways can you add Scripture to your daily life?
