Daily Bible Reading For A Simple Christian

Bible reading is supposed to be enjoyable! But sadly, not every Christian think likewise.

Many of us Christians find daily reading of the Word of God a boring exercise and feel kind of lethargic whenever we approach the Bible to read the passages for the day. 

Bible Reading PlanBible Reading Plan

What About You?

  • Are you finding Bible reading enriching and enjoyable? Do you come to the Word with expectation of a blessedly good time with the Lord because it had been so most of the time if not always before.
  • Are you one of those who think of it without enthusiasm but rather because it is expected of you as a Christian, and so you hurriedly scan or read through the passage(s) for the day each morning or evening?
  • Are you stricken with guilt because you are not enjoying your time in the Word? 
  • Are you envious of those who got so much each day from spending time in the reading of the Bible?
  • When you hear of those who share about the wonderful time they have had and the insights they got from reading the Bible, you felt something inside you - it could be a negative feeling of envy or ...a yearning for a deeper understanding of God's Word and an intimacy with Him and His thoughts?
  • You have not read the Bible for a long time. The only time you read the Scriptures are in church. 

Why are so many of us not spending time reading the Bible? And if we do read, why are we not enjoying it at all?

Surely, we need to settle this in our mind and heart so that we can live the Christian life the way God meant for us to live.

What is Bible Reading?

We have Daily Bread, and other daily reading programs. These surely help for the Quiet Time or as a devotional. But if we just read that one or two scriptures, that is not bible reading. It is indicated in each day that we should also read the passage where the verse was taken from.

It Is a Spiritual Discipline

bible verse - I will delight myself in Your statutes

Daily reading of the Bible is a spiritual discipline and as it is a discipline, we need to make time for this exercise.

When we refer to daily reading of the Word as a spiritual discipline, we are saying that it is a training; a training to read the Bible daily and systematically with the end result that we make it a habit for life.

Most of us don't like to live within a box whether physically, emotionally, spiritually or intellectually. We want to be free to live life our way. We do not want to live within an environment where we are told we have to do this or that. 

So if a discipline that is implemented and controlled by someone else; for example an authoritative figure, even an imaginary one, we will tend to fight against it.

Likewise for the Word, even though it might not be preached strongly behind the pulpit, we still receive that strong impression that if you don't read the bible everyday, something is wrong with you so you better read it whether you like it or not. We perceive this as a 'have-to/must-do' in our mind and when something comes across as I have to, we get that "I wish I don't have to' feeling.

But what if we implement it ourselves? We know why it is important for us and know that practicing it will reap benefits for ourselves and set to discipline ourselves to do it well, won't we approach it more willingly? At least, the ball is in our court. The whole scenario changes. It becomes a self-given, self-implemented and self-motivated spiritual discipline.

  • It is good.
  • I want to do it.
  • I will make time for it.
  • Let's do it!

- It is good.

We know that reading God's word is good for us. The Bible is one book that promises nourishment for the soul, guidance and direction for life, empowerment for service, and much more.

- I want to do it.

"I will delight myself in Your word;" Psalm 119:16a  

This is an eye-opener for me. I don't come to the Word because as a Christian I'm supposed to read the Bible everyday. 

I come to the Word to enjoy myself.

It's an attitude I decide to take and truly, when we come to God's word with such an attitude, He rewards us accordingly.

- I will make time for it.

Choosing a set time each day for Bible reading is wise. If we don't do so, we would be zooming through each day telling ourselves, I need to stop and spend time in the Bible and not doing it at all.

I love to do my Bible reading early in the morning after washing up and with a mug of steaming hot coffee, a note-book and a pen beside me. I find that sitting at the same table makes it easier for me to settle down into God's Word.

For some, lunch time is best and for others, evening time might be better. 

Most important, is to make time for it. Set a time and make it an appointment that you would not want to miss.

- Let's do it!

A bible reading plan of the Old and New Testament might be helpful. I used one which I printed out on a sticker paper and pasted on a nice pattern backing paper. When I completed a chapter, I coloured the tiny square. (see the top image on this page) That is helpful to me for I love colours and I also am able to see where I am in my bible reading journey.

Yes! Read and enjoy... No rush. You don't have to rush through each chapter. Linger a while on a verse or a few verses. Dig deep into it. 

Ask questions!

The Bible is all about Jesus - about the heart of God - His love for us, His creation. We are made in His image to enjoy Him. About a God who yearns for the fellowship of His people; who gave His all to bring us into His fellowship. A God who saves. It's all about Jesus. In the Bible, we see Jesus; His types, His person, His works - the redemption story from Genesis to Revelation.

Delight yourself in the word of God; the word of Jesus - His love letters to us. See Him, hear Him, and feel His heartbeats. Let Him draw us into the word. Just come... and sit at His feet.

Enjoy Him!



You might like these



Help Me Spread the Word!

If you like and are blessed by the articles in A Simple Christian and believe that others can benefit from them, then please help me share this website with your friends. Just click on the share buttons below to tell your fans and friends. Thank you for sharing the good things in life. God richly bless you with His manifold blessings:-)

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

New! Comments

Let me know what you think about what you just read. Leave me a comment in the box below.

Top of Bible Reading