3 Ways To Enjoy The Bible More.


Have you ever thought to yourself, “I know I’m supposed to read the Bible, but I wish it was more exciting!”
If so, you are not alone. I have had that same thought. There have been times in my life when reading the Bible seemed more like a mindless chore than a refreshing hobby. I would pick up the Bible to fulfill my Christian duty of studying God’s Word, only to set it down ten minutes later for lack of excitement.

But the Bible was never meant to be boring for us. Whenever the Bible seems boring, it usually has more to do with how we study it than the text itself. The bad news is that as imperfect people we have the potential to misread the Bible and develop wrong study habits that won’t work for us. The good news is that God loves variety and allows us to choose different ways to study His Word according to our personalities and desires. If the way you study the Bible is not producing joy within you, then you can change the way you study it.

Here are three different methods that can help you enjoy your Bible more:
Read less
If you are like most Americans, you have a busy life. Setting aside an hour each day  to read the Bible like some spiritual leaders suggest can be difficult. If that is true for you, then it is O.K. to start small. It is better to read a little than nothing at all.

When I was younger I would try to read ten chapters of the Bible each day. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with reading large portions of the Bible in one setting, I was finding it difficult to remember everything that I read. As my life became busier, I was rushing through the Bible without actually internalizing it.

In contrast, when you slowly read as little as a chapter in each setting, you are more likely to remember what you read and meditate on it throughout the day.
So treat the Bible like a meal. Try not to gorge it all hastily. Read less. Savor more.



Hear it
Sometimes it is not possible to read the Bible. Maybe you misplaced your reading glasses or your print Bible. Yet that doesn’t mean during those times it is impossible to study it.  “Faith comes by hearing”, and you can hear the Bible as an alternative way to study it.
Hearing the Bible is not a new practice. Before the biblical books were written down and mass produced they were read aloud by rabbis and priests in synagogues and early churches. It was extremely rare for an individual to possess his or her own personal copy of the Scriptures.
One of the blessings that technology has for us today is the mass market of audio Bibles. You can download the Bible onto your Ipod or smartphone and listen to it throughout the day. If you have a long commute to work, you can listen to the Bible while you drive your car. It is much safer to listen to the Bible when you’re driving than to read it!
Apply more
One of the purposes of the Bible is to produce change in your life.  That only happens when you practice what it preaches. Therefore, when you do more of what God’s Word tells you to do, like pray to God or look out for the good of others, your life can get more interesting.

James 1:22 says, “ But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (NLT).
It can be easy to fall into the trap of reading the Bible and not letting it impact your life. It can be easy to separate Scripture from the rest of your life. When that happens, you can become bored by not allowing the Holy Spirit to use His Word to make radical changes to your life. However, when you make an earnest effort to incorporate biblical teaching into every area of your life, your life can become richer and more meaningful.
Stick With It
“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”
Galatians 6:9
If you have found that reading your Bible lately has been less than entertaining, then perhaps one of these methods will help renew and invigorate your interest in the Word of God. They have for me.  

But perhaps the most important thing to remember is this: if you will commit to seeking God in His Word, no matter the method, He will show up. What could be more exciting than that?

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