So you know you should be getting into your Bible, yeah? But if the idea of that sounds boring or daunting, don’t worry because I have 5 different ways you can engage with your Bible today. Getting into the word of God doesn’t mean you do the same old thing every time you pick it up (although doing the same thing everyday can be a rich experience too!). You can mix and match activities to form your own rituals (which I’ll talk about in part 8) and daily practice.
So whether you’re new to the Bible or you just need some motivation, here are 5 ways to engage with your Bible!
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1. Read it
I know, this may sound boring, but stay with me.
The Bible is just like most books we might have on our shelves in that it’s meant to be read. However, unlike many of the books we may have on our shelves, the thought of reading it can be daunting. I mean, it’s a big book! However, if you don’t already have a habit of just reading the Bible on a regular basis, you absolutely should!
Keep in mind, though, that you shouldn’t just read the familiar or easy parts, the parts that make sense, or the parts that make you feel good. The Bible is meant to be read in its entirety because all the different parts fit together to tell one story about God and His desire to redeem humanity.
If you want to learn more about how to read and understand the Bible, The Bible Project has a fantastic, easy to follow series on this – I HIGHLY recommend it!
If you have never read the Bible all the way through, I also highly encourage you to do so. Having a broad view of the story of scripture is crucial to understanding the depth of scripture. While I’ve read a lot of the Bible, I still haven’t completed it, so I’m currently working through a chronological plan on YouVersion for my adventure through the text in 2022. There are many different plans you can use for reading through the Bible! Here are a few resources you may consider for your own adventure –
- Reading God’s Story – One Year Chronological Plan
- One Year Bible Online
- The Bible Project 1 Year Reading Plan
- A Year in the Bible with the Daily Grace Co.
2. Study it
If reading the Bible gives us a broad view of Scripture, then study gives a deep view. My parents instilled in me the fact there is a difference between reading and studying. They’re both important but totally different activities. Study involves searching for meaning, asking questions, and learning how to correctly apply what you’ve read. If you’re looking for some good Bible studies to get you started in digging deep into the scripture, check out these resources:
- Story of Redemption Bible Study Bundle
- Attributes of God Bible Study
- Preaching the Gospel to Yourself
- Growing in Grace – Spiritual Disciplines Bible Study
- Give Me Jesus Bible Study Journal
3. Memorize it
Psalm 119:11 that says –
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Memorizing scripture is an important way to engage with the Bible because it gives us a leg up when we face challenges and temptations in our lives. The best example of this is the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. You can find it in Matthew 4:1-11 Three times, Satan tries to get Jesus to obey him and every time, Jesus thwarts his scheme by quoting scripture. One of the greatest gifts that God gives us for victory in our lives is His Word and one of the strongest ways we can use that gift is by storing it up in our minds so that can use it when we need it!
Check out these links to help you start memorizing scripture –
- 50 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Memorize
- 10 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know By Heart
- Scripture Memory Journal
- DWELL SCRIPTURE MEMORY JOURNAL | GROWING IN GRACE
- DWELL SCRIPTURE MEMORY JOURNAL | GOSPEL PASSAGES
- DWELL SCRIPTURE MEMORY JOURNAL | PSALMS
- DWELL SCRIPTURE MEMORY JOURNAL | WALKING BY FAITH
- DWELL SCRIPTURE MEMORY JOURNAL | BELOVED BIBLE PASSAGES
4. Write it
Scripture writing is a great way to engage with the scriptures. There’s an actual scientific evidence that writing things down by hand, the old fashioned way, is linked to stronger neural encoding and memory retrieval. In other words, writing things down helps us to remember that information better! If you’re really trying to remember more of the Bible, one way to help that process is to write it down.
CLUB 119, my Bible study community, used to be a scripture writing community and there are several monthly scripture writing plans you can use to get you started with this activity. You can check them all out here. They’re absolutely free and you can start them at any time!
One of my other favorite scripture writing resources are the Write the Word Journals from Cultivate What Matters. They are beautiful, easy to use journals that combine scripture writing with journaling and/or light study! You can check them out here.
5. Pray through it
Praying scripture is simply taking a passage and using it to inform and shape our own prayers to God. This is an especially good thing to do when you’re not quite sure what to say or ask when you’re in a challenging season.
Here are some resources to help you get started –
- How to Prayer the Scriptures: 4 Things to Get You Started
- Praying Scriptures Back to God
- How to Pray the Bible
What are some of your favorite ways to engage with the Bible? Can’t wait to read your comments!
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