How to Stay Consistent in Your Bible Reading (Even When Life Is Busy)

I would venture to say that for everyone reading this, we all know the vital importance of Bible reading. It is not just a book, It is living and breathing, and it is life for us! However, staying consistent in Bible reading can sometimes be an overwhelming struggle, especially during a difficult season.

Thinking back to when I first started getting serious about reading my Bible on a consistent basis, I remember the struggle! The kids were young, I was working and going to school full-time, and many times I felt like I failed. I can’t count the times I had to pray for the determination and desire to have a daily quiet time, and He always answered those prayers.

Sometimes it was hard to start back up with it, but I sure was glad when I did. That time in the Word has been one of the biggest blessings!

Have you ever had those seasons? You start out strong and fully motivated with great intentions, and then the busyness of life kicks it up a notch. Before you realize it, your Bible reading has fallen to the wayside. If you have been there or happen to be there now, let me just tell you, you are not failing!

Consistency in Bible reading isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating a daily ritual that draws you closer to God, one small step at a time. Once you get in the habit of it, (I hate calling it a habit) it becomes hard to miss it.

Why It’s so Hard to Stay Consistent in Bible Reading

I recently sent out a poll asking what everyone’s biggest struggle is with Bible reading. I gave four choices:

1. Finding Time
2. Understanding what your read
3. Seeing how to apply the truths
4. Staying consistent

People chose a variation of answers, but consistency was overwhelmingly the highest one chosen. 56% said their biggest struggle with Bible reading was staying consistent. 

If more than half of us struggle with consistency, there’s reasons. Here are a few of the most common challenges:

• The enemy tries to keep us busy and distracted – I think this is the greatest struggle we face with staying consistent. The enemy will use the busy seasons of our lives and our everyday activities to keep us from reading God’s Word. Be aware and don’t let him have that victory!
• We Try to Do Too Much – We start with long reading plans, big expectations, and the pressure to “do it right.” Then, when we can’t keep up, we feel discouraged.
• We Fall Into All-or-Nothing Thinking – Have you ever missed one day and it felt like you had failed completely. Instead of picking back up, sometimes it’s easier to stop altogether.
• We Don’t Have a Simple Plan – Without a clear, easy-to-follow approach, it’s hard to know where to start each day. 
• We Let Guilt Replace Grace – Instead of coming back to God, we pull away because we feel behind. I am here to tell you though, God isn’t keeping score! He just keeps inviting us back into fellowship with Him.
• We Don’t Understand What We are Reading – When we don’t understand the message of what we are reading or how to apply it to our lives, it just becomes something we do out of obligation. The whole point is to hear what the Lord is saying to us.

Helpful Ways to Stay Consistent in Bible Reading

Let’s take the pressure off and focus on what truly works. Take a look at this simple five-step process.

#1 Start Small (Smaller Than You Think)

You don’t need an hour a day. You may grow into this and love it, but for consistency, start small.
Start with:

• One chapter
• Even just a few key verses
• A section of the chapter – Most Bibles have headings within the chapters to divide the events.

When you get into a daily rhythm and time permits, you will find yourself wanting to spend more time in the Word. Consistency grows from small, faithful steps.

#2 Tie It to Something You Already Do

Anchor your Bible reading to a daily habit:

• Morning coffee
• During lunch
• Part of your bedtime routine

Darren Hardy is a very successful business man who shares helpful success principles. He always says that the best way to get something to become a regular part of your daily routine is to “anchor it” to a daily habit. 

When it becomes part of your routine, it becomes easier to stick with. 

Try pairing your Bible reading with something you already love like your quiet morning coffee or even while something warm is baking in the oven. (I love reading my Bible while I am having my morning coffee.)

Jay and I both like to read our Bibles early mornings when we are having our coffee. My daughter prefers reading her Bible at night before going to bed. Before my brother-in-law retired, he went to his truck everyday for lunch and read his Bible then.

There is no right or wrong time. Once you get started, you will find the right time and place for your situation.

#3 Keep Your Daily Bible Reading Time Simple

There are lots of Bible reading plans out there, and many of them are very helpful. However, if you are just trying to get consistency mastered, you don’t need a complicated system.

Try these practical steps:

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you insight and wisdom before you ever start reading.
• Read – I always suggest sticking with the same book of the Bible until you finish it, regardless of how long it takes you. You pick up on so much more when you are reading in a continuous manner. If you can’t read a whole chapter, just read a section. It is important though to start the next day where you left off, so mark your spot.
• Reflect – Ask: What stood out to me? Think about how what you’ve read applies to your life.
• Write one sentence, verse, or prayer in a journal.

That’s it. Once the habit forms and you start feeling like you don’t want to go a day without Bible reading, you may decide to add more than a chapter. If you don’t, that is still okay.

#4 Let Go of Perfection

It is safe to say that you will miss days, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s returning the next day and continuing where you left off.

#5 Focus on Connection, Not Completion

This is so important to keep in mind! You’re not reading your Bible to check a box or mark something off of your to-do list; you’re actually reading God’s Word and spending time with Him. What a privilege! Even a few meaningful minutes matter.

Picture Him sitting with you, sharing His Word with you over coffee or tea.

I have a picture in my she shed of Jesus sitting at a table with two cups of coffee on it. There have been times that the picture really helped me get focused when I was having a little trouble. 

It is overwhelming in a good way to think that the Lord is literally meeting with us when we read His Word. This kind of mindset is a great way to give you the desire to continue your Bible reading journey.

I have also found that if I get into one of those “dry times” when I don’t really feel like reading, but I do it anyway, the Lord speaks. Hearing from Him is like the needed fuel to get me back on track. It increases my desire to read more of the Bible.

A Simple Method That Works: One Chapter a Day

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, this is a great place to start. You don’t have to spend too much time to get into the Word.

The One Chapter a Day Approach

• Read one chapter each day (or less if you need to). You may actually have different amounts of reading on different days. Be flexible.
• Start in the New Testament.
• Use a translation that is easy to understand. You can see a little bit about different translations here.
• Move at your own pace.
• No pressure to “catch up” if you miss a day

Over time, those small moments add up in powerful ways. 

You might also enjoy finding a Bible project like my Legacy Bibles. Once you get started, it s so motivating to keep going!

My Favorite Bible Study Resources

You don’t have to have anything fancy to start your Bible reading journey.

These are all pretty simple items, but they are my favorite resources for my Bible time.

What to Do if You Miss a Day (or a Week)

Let’s talk about this honestly, because this is where a lot of us get stuck. One single day is just a day. Don’t let it multiply.

If you miss a day:
Don’t try to catch up.
Don’t start over.
Give yourself grace.
Begin again tomorrow – The good news is that every day is a fresh start.

Grace says: “Come back,” and you can do that anytime.

Creative Ways to Stay Consistent When You are on the Go

• Get an audio Bible and listen to the Word of God while you go about your day or on your daily commute.
• Find a friend who will be an accountability partner – Have the same daily readings and discuss them together.
• The YouVersion app lets you choose different versions, and it has a lot of extra tools with it. I personally like a physical Bible, but a digital version works for me on occasion.
• Having company can also tend to throw you off track. I found that when the grandkids came to visit, I could include them in my “quiet time.” It wasn’t the same, but I was staying consistent, and they were involved in Bible reading!
• Find other Bible reading apps to enhance your regular Bible reading time and possibly give you a deeper understanding of what your are reading.

Another time that tends to get us off off track from our consistent Bible reading habit is when we travel. Here are some simple ways for Christians to grow spiritually while traveling.

Join Me

If you enjoy encouragement like this, I share simple faith, home, and heart encouragement each week in my newsletter, Apron Strings & Blessings. Join here and receive it in your inbox along with a checklist of the books of the Bible.

Key Takeaways

• Start small and keep it simple.
• Tie Bible reading to one of your daily routines.
• Let go of guilt and embrace grace.
• Focus on a consistent relationship with the Lord, not checking off a box.
• When you miss a day, just begin again.

Final Encouragement

Let me just say that there is no such thing as perfect consistency. Bible reading isn’t about doing it perfectly every day. It’s about showing up again and again, even after you’ve missed a day. That is where spiritual growth begins to happen.

God is not waiting for you to get it right. He’s just waiting for you to spend some time with Him. 

If you’re looking for more simple ways to connect with God in everyday life, you might also enjoy Bible Study Tips.

Related Posts

How to Read Through the Bible
Life Applications from the Bible (These are insights from my personal Bible study.)
Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
Read the Book of Proverbs in 31 Days

Until next time,

 disclosure: Amazon affiliate links and others are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website. 

“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19