How to build a daily Bible-reading habit

A daily Bible-reading habit begins with making room for a passage today. You don’t need a perfect morning routine or an ambitious reading plan to start spending time in Scripture.

Choose something simple enough to repeat on an ordinary, busy day. Here’s a gentle way to begin.

Start with a book you can follow.

If you’re unsure where to begin, try the Gospel of Mark to read about the life and ministry of Jesus. Read one short section at a time and continue where you left off. Following a book in order helps you see how each passage fits into the surrounding story.

For a shorter first reading, try Psalm 23. You can return to the same passage more than once. There is no need to rush past something you want to understand.

Attach reading to something you already do.

Choose a cue that happens most days: after breakfast, at the end of your commute, or before you put your phone on charge at night. Set aside a little time after that moment for your Bible.

Make your starting point easy to find. Leave a bookmark in your printed Bible or keep your Bible app within reach. Decide on the next passage before you finish today’s reading.

Read, reflect, then pray.

You can give a short reading time a simple shape:

Read. Read a short passage slowly. Notice who is speaking, what happens and what comes before it.
Reflect. Ask what the passage shows you about God, and what you want to understand more clearly.
Pray. Bring one thought, question or concern from your reading to God.

If a verse is confusing, read the surrounding passage. Write down your question and come back to it, or discuss it with someone you trust at your church or Bible study. You don’t have to resolve every question in one sitting.

Plan for the days that go differently.

A late start, a family need or a difficult evening can change your plans. Decide what a smaller version of your routine looks like: one short passage instead of a longer reading, or a quiet moment later in the day.

If you miss a day entirely, return to where you left off. A streak can be encouraging, but it doesn’t tell the whole story of your time with God.

Let your phone support the habit.

If social media takes the time you meant to spend reading, try putting Scripture first. Bible Unlock is coming to iPhone to help you read the Bible before unblocking your chosen apps. You can also read at your own pace without using app blocking.

Whatever you use—a printed Bible, an app or a reading plan—choose a routine you want to return to. Begin with the time you have today.