How to ACTUALLY Stick with your Bible Reading Resolution

How to ACTUALLY Stick with your Bible Reading Resolution

Establishing new habits is difficult.

It is that time of the year where we have thought about new habits – and perhaps already broken a few resolutions. It’s no secret that starting a new behavior is a lot easier than sustaining it as a new habit. Take exercise, for instance. I’m not sure how many times I’ve started some new commitment to get back in shape. I’ve done all kinds of things to convince myself that it will stick this time. Things like buy new equipment. Download a new app. Read advice from experts. Sign-up for a new membership. It doesn’t take much to immediately go all in.

At least for a while.

And then the zeal begins to fade. Consistency declines. Excuses begin. Equipment gathers dust. Memberships are unused. Apps are unopened. Before long the new habit becomes nothing more than another failed attempt at change.

Sound familiar? I suspect it does to many of us.

Unfortunately, developing a new habit for Bible reading is not immune to the same sad roller coaster of ups and downs or starts and stops. For many of us, it happens every January. The new year seems like a good time to start a “read through the Bible in a year” plan. But by the time the Israelites are wandering in the wilderness, many of us lose interest, get busy, or are simply too distracted.

The hard reality is that many people who start a new Bible reading journey won’t stick with it. What would it take to turn our commitment to read the Bible into something more than just another forgotten resolution? How do we get over the hump of moving this journey from a desire into a lasting habit?

What follows are four suggestions that may just help your new Bible reading resolution stick this year.

Don’t go at it alone.

Community is a powerful thing, especially in developing new behaviors. The fitness industry has certainly realized this. There are apps where you can share your workouts and your progress to get the encouragement from your network. Gyms have successfully built themselves around a community of people enduring the pain of the workout together. Even exercise equipment manufacturers have tapped into the power of community through connecting users’ online experiences as people exercise from their home.

While Bible reading is often thought about as an individual discipline, what if we leveraged the power of community to help us stick with our Bible reading resolution this year?

This could be as simple as finding a few friends to follow along on the same reading plan, getting together weekly to discuss what you have read, or even sending a quick text message for accountability—these things and more invite others to help make Bible-reading a habit that sticks.

We know there is power in community to do hard things. Applying that principle to your Bible reading may just be the most helpful thing to build consistency this year.

Read Like a Marathon, Not a Sprint.

The Bible is a big book. It will vary based on the translation you are reading, but there are approximately 750,000 words in the Bible. By contrast, the average novel may only be between 60,000-90,000 words. Reading the Bible is a far bigger undertaking than breezing through your favorite fiction author. While you can read through the entire Bible in a year by just reading about 15 minutes a day, it is a big commitment to read the entire Bible.

I’m not much of a runner these days, but in my younger years I ran quite a bit. I loved running longer races; I was not fast in short distances. Running a marathon is completely different than running a sprint.

Perhaps it is helpful to think about reading the Bible more like running a marathon than a 100- yard dash. This means that a slow, consistent pace may very helpful—especially as you are beginning a new Bible-reading resolution.

It is okay to start small. Get a Bible reading schedule that will serve as a guide to read 15-20 minutes a day. Set a manageable goal as you get started so you are more likely to build on your success rather than get frustrated because you couldn’t keep up the pace.

Mix It Up

When I think about failed attempts to start a new exercise routine in my own life, there is another problem that has plagued me: I get bored. For instance, after a few days or weeks of running, especially if it is the same route over and over, I get tired of the monotony of it. I have found that this can be true of Bible reading as well. Especially if we are following a Bible reading plan, our reading can become something of a mundane task that we feel obligated to just get done every day rather than to experience the joy and wonder of reading God’s Word. If you are starting to feel stuck by the repetition of reading the Bible, then why not change up how you are experiencing the Bible?

There are great (and free) ways to listen to the Bible on audio. Or read the Bible with your family and friends.

Read the Bible with your family or with friends by taking turns reading a chapter aloud to each other. If you are in the portion of the reading plan where you are reading some of the more challenging parts of the Old Testament, like Leviticus or Numbers, simply take a break and read the Psalms or one of the Gospels for a few days. There is no magic formula or prescribed methodology that is required for reading the Bible. If you find yourself getting stuck, mix things up to do something to stay consistent and faithful in your Bible reading resolution.

Have a Plan to Get Back on Track.

Depending on what research you read, anywhere from 80-95% of people will fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions, usually by February! It is amazing that we keep making those resolutions—sometimes the same ones, year after year—knowing we probably won’t keep them.

There is no reason to think that resolutions are kept longer simply because they are spiritual ones, like reading the Bible. Sadly, most people who decide to read the Bible in the new year won’t make it all the way through. And many won’t make it very far.

The reasons are varied. For some, reading some of the books in the Old Testament can get confusing and overwhelming. Others find that their schedules get busy and Bible reading isn’t a priority. Sometimes our schedules change and the time we planned to do our Bible reading gets overrun with work obligations, kids’ activities, or other commitments.

I’ve heard Bible reading advice that suggests we should find the same time every day to read our Bibles. If your schedule is anything like mine, it is nearly impossible to find a time that works every day because each day’s schedule can be quite different.

There are a lot of things that have the potential to interrupt your Bible reading and get you off ttrack. And unfortunately, once we fall off track it is hard—sometimes very hard—to get started again.

What can we do if find ourselves falling behind on our new Bible reading commitment? Maybe it sounds too simple, but simply jump back in there. If you missed a few days in your Bible reading plan, you can make it up over time. Ask someone to help hold you accountable to getting started again. On your commute, listen to an audio Bible for some of the days you missed to help you get caught up. And just know that you are in good company with lots of people who are facing the same struggles.

Bottom line: just get going again.

A Hope for You

Your decision to read the Bible in 2025 may have the biggest impact on your life this year. The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It is God’s Word to you to help transform you into the person God desires you to be. Reading the Bible will change you this year… and in the coming years.

My hope for you is that you experience the joy and power of God’s Word in your life this year. If you are already struggling to be consistent, then I hope you will keep at it. And if you haven’t started, know that it is never too late to get going!

 

***

Michael Gunnin

[202504WTB]
O Holy Night

O Holy Night

The Messiah had been prophesied for centuries. But on the surface, the prophecies were patchwork, a confusing array of diverse predictions. Prophetic “calculators” —the Scripture experts— couldn’t quite add them up. The best they could do was watch and wait.

But at the appointed time, Jesus came, born of a virgin. Son of Man and Son of God. Born in Bethlehem (a lowly place), sojourning in Egypt (a sinful place), and settling in Nazareth (a despised place). A suffering Servant, a King in humble disguise. A Branch (Isaiah 11:1) and a Root (Isaiah 11:10). Worshiped by kings and despised by men. Dying, yet eternal.

Any way you look at it, our Messiah was a walking, talking bundle of paradoxes. The impossible became real, not just in prophecy, but in every aspect of Jesus’ ministry. When Jesus stepped into this fallen world, “impossible” lost all relevance.

Join us this Advent season for O Holy Night, a FREE resource from Walk Thru the Bible!

Draw closer to our Messiah with this 26-day devotional guide! You’ll have time to contemplate, study, and reflect on the story of the birth of our Savior. You’ll also hear weekly messages about the names of Jesus: our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

More Than a Book!

More Than a Book!

Join us for More Than a Book!

Our new, FREE series More Than a Book: 5 Big Bible Questions from Michael Gunnin is a 5-
session video series that answers these questions about the Bible:

  • Session 1: What is the Bible?
  • Session 2: Where did we get the Bible from?
  • Session 3: What does the Bible say about itself?
  • Session 4: Is the Bible reliable?
  • Session 5: How is the Bible authoritative?

Additionally, we’re providing a FREE Downloadable Guide & 40-Day Bible Reading Plan (see below) that you can use to follow along in this study.

At Walk Thru the Bible, we know that Bible engagement is the number one way that we grow in our relationship with God. When we truly, deeply engage with God’s Word, everything changes. This is our prayer for you!

Watch the Series Today!

Watch the series below or on our YouTube channel. Watch them anytime for your personal study, with your family, or with your small group.

Session 1: What is the Bible?

Session 2: Where Does the Bible Come From?

Session 3: What Does the Bible Say About Itself?

Session 4: Is the Bible Reliable?

Session 5: In What Ways is the Bible Authoritative?

Thank you for watching & participating in More Than A Book: Five Big Bible Questions! Make sure to download your free study guide and 40-Day Bible Reading Plan below!

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Join us for our Proverbs Challenge!

Join us for our Proverbs Challenge!

This coming month, take on the Proverbs Challenge and read thru the entire book of Proverbs in 31 days! With only 1 chapter a day, you’re sure to feel God speaking His wisdom to you in every aspect of your life.

Open your hearts and Bibles to hear God speak wisdom to your life today!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will make straight your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

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The Word of Life

The Word of Life

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Psalm 119:15-16)

Is the Bible an obligation, something that we know we should read whether we have enthusiasm for it or not—like finishing our vegetables before we head on to dessert? If so, we have perhaps not accurately understood the weight of this Word that God has given us. It is more than literature, more than history, more than theology. It is life.

Many a reader has gotten bogged down in the “begats” and “thou shalts” of the Bible, missing the relevance of those sections in establishing our faith as historical and human. But think about our condition: We are lost in this world, not knowing which way is up. Every midlife crisis or pang of existential angst will force us to admit it, whether we want to or not. Meanwhile, the Bible smoulders on the shelf, burning to answer our ultimate questions on meanings and mysteries. It is the revelation of the Divine. It has all the wisdom we need.

The Bible is more than literature, more than history,
more than theology. It is life.

Your culture and whichever elements of it you dwell in—whether it’s your work environment, your entertainment choices, your conversations with friends, etc.—will constantly try to pull you into its value system and its own sense of morality. God’s Word, if we will let it, will pry us back out of it. Only the Word can resist the currents of this world and shape us according to God’s design.

Does this mean we should avoid our culture? No, we cannot escape it. In fact, we should involve ourselves in our world in order to influence it for God’s Kingdom. But we cannot be swayed by it. Let the Word be a stronger influence in your life than any other philosophy or value system. Not only should we give it proper attention; we should delight in it, crave it, and savor it. When we do, it will accomplish in us all that God means for it to accomplish. It will make us everything we are meant to be.

“Some read the Bible to learn, and some read
the Bible to hear from heaven.”

– Andrew Murray

*****
©2024 Walk Thru the Bible

“I don’t have time to read my Bible…”

“I don’t have time to read my Bible…”

Turning the calendar into a new year often sparks a desire to step into new adventures, start healthy habits like exercising and eating well, read more books, get our finances in order, and more, with a renewed resolve for improving our lives.

Yet, it’s no secret that most of our best intentions don’t result in lasting change. Researchers vary on how long New Year’s resolutions will last, but it’s not promising. We all know it – resolutions usually don’t stick. Strava—the fitness app that is popular with cyclists and runners—deemed January 19 as “quitters day” because 19 days into the new year was when most people quit their new exercise commitments.

The desire to do something new in the new year isn’t enough for most people to stick with it.

The same is true of Bible reading. The beginning of a new year often stirs a desire within us to read through the Bible. There is no shortage of Bible reading plans that can guide you from Genesis to Revelation over the next 12 months. But more than a few of us who have wanted to read through the Bible in the new year never made it out of Genesis, or we got lost with the Israelites in the wilderness, or we got bogged down in the regulations in Leviticus.

For lots of would-be Bible readers who set out to read the Bible through in a year, one of the major reasons people give up Is the struggle to find time for daily Bible reading.

Bible reading commitments get squeezed out by all the other stuff that fills our days. Unfortunately, the new year doesn’t come with any extra minutes in the day. To find time to read the Bible in 2024, we are going to have fit it into what is probably already a schedule that is too full.

But how? How can we do it? How can we find time to read through the Bible in 2024? Here are three practical suggestions.

Repurpose Your Time
A rather simple strategy to find time to read the Bible is simply to repurpose time.

My 11-year-old son often asks my wife to read the Bible to him in the evening. We love that he wants to hear the Bible! But after school, homework, sports practices, and dinner, finding time to read the Bible was becoming a challenge. So, my wife found a creative, yet somewhat comical solution. After he gets in the shower, she goes in the bathroom, closes the lid to the toilet, and sits there and reads the Bible to him while he shampoos his hair. He has heard a lot of New Testament this past year from behind a shower curtain!

Maybe bathroom Bible reading isn’t your thing, but where can you repurpose some time to find Bible reading opportunities? There are great audio Bible options to listen to the Bible during your commute or while driving kids to school and activities. Can you read the Bible as you eat your breakfast or lunch? We all spend lots of time waiting—waiting for the doctor, waiting for a hair appointment, waiting for meetings, waiting for flights, waiting in pick-up lines at our kids’ schools, and more. What if we used this waiting time to read the Bible in the new year?

Time is the great equalizer. None of us can create more of it. We all have the same amount each day. But it is our choice as to how we spend our time. Why not be more intentional this year about using some of that time to read the Bible in the new year?

Trim the Time Wasters
Throughout history there have always been temptations to waste time, but modern technologies provide no shortage of ways to simply let time slip by.

Some researchers suggest we spend on average more than two hours on social media sites every day. While at first that may not seem possible, 15 minutes scrolling aimlessly a few times a day can really add up. When you add in any time spent watching TV or time spent playing a game on your phone, this can be a lot of minutes that are simply lost. Most of us could easily sacrifice some time we spend on technology to use time in more productive ways.

Try making an appointment with yourself to read the Bible. Add it to your calendar. Or set an alarm at the same time every day. Treat that appointment or alarm like you would any other important meeting in your day. When we turn off the phone, shut out distractions, quiet the noise of daily life, we can focus on the most important thing in that moment—and that is spending time with our heavenly Father and His Word.

Finding time to read the Bible may not as complicated as we think. If you are looking for time to read the Bible in 2024, it may be a simple as just trimming those time wasters.

Make a Small Sacrifice
As the often-quoted adage goes: The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

The Bible can seem daunting, overwhelming to read—especially if we are trying to read all of it. However, for most readers, it only takes 12-15 minutes per day to read the entire Bible in one year. Think about that…just 15 minutes a day and you could read through the Bible every year!

Making a seemingly small sacrifice may be all that is needed to find time to read through the Bible in 2024. Setting your alarm to wake up 15 minutes earlier or reading for 15 minutes before you go to bed or listening to the Bible on your commute is a small sacrifice. Yet this may be all that’s needed to read the whole Bible this year.

Where can you make a small sacrifice to find 15 minutes each day to read your Bible this year? We all get 1,440 minutes a day, each day. Making sure we spend 15 of them to hear from God seems like a wise choice in this new year.

When I’ve talked to people about why they don’t read the Bible, finding time to do it is an often-cited reason. And I get it. Our schedules are full. Our days are long. And the thought of trying to squeeze one more thing into our 24 hours just feels overwhelming. However, an intentional decision to be purposeful with our time—even just 15 minutes a day—means you could read the entire Bible in 2024.

And that decision might be the most important thing you choose to do in the new year.

by Michael Gunnin