7 Things I’ve Learned About Staying Consistent in Bible Study

A few years ago, I sent a survey to my email list asking them to share their biggest struggle when it comes to reading the Bible. Most people shared that staying consistent in Bible Study was their greatest hurdle. I hadn’t thought about it before, but it made perfect sense. How can someone grow in their understanding of the Scriptures if they’re struggling to find time to read the Bible? 

It’s been a couple of years since that survey, and I still receive emails from blog readers and subscribers hoping for a tangible solution to this very real problem. When I read their emails, I sense their genuine desire to grow closer to the Lord. But I also sense that they feel discouraged and stuck. They’ve tried almost everything and are hoping for a fix that will stick. 

These questions are not always easy to answer because I don’t know each person’s unique situation. First of all, what does consistency mean to each person? Where are they in their journey? What barriers are keeping them from reading the Bible consistently? What internal beliefs might they hold that makes consistency feel impossible for them? 

Even though I don’t know the unique situations of those who email me, I do know that our modern world is often busy and fast-paced. There are some things about the way our society is set up that makes it difficult to be consistent at anything. Our careers and day to day responsibilities can take up a lot of our time, and we can’t neglect them without consequences. When we do have a moment to breathe, we’re so overwhelmed and tired that doing anything that requires effort feels like a chore. 

So, it’s common to allow TV, the internet, and social media to distract us. These forms of media give us the dopamine we desire to help us get through the week. Unfortunately, that dopamine comes in quick, short bursts, leaving us always needing more. Often, the last thing we want to do is open up the pages of an ancient text and spend time deciphering how God might be speaking to us through it. 

So, what are we to do? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years about being consistent in Bible Study.

Consistency doesn’t just happen, it takes practice.

If you’re not used to reading the Bible regularly, it’s not going to be easy to begin, and that’s okay. Don’t give up just because things aren’t working out how you hope they would. If you’ve committed to studying the Bible 3-5 days a week and you miss a few of those days, just begin again where you left off. There’s no shame in missing days.

Motivation doesn’t lead to consistency, commitment does.

Motivation and desire are great but ultimately, they don’t lead to consistency. Personally, I love reading the Bible but I don’t always feel motivated to do so. Committing to reading the Bible even when I don’t feel like it helps me to stay consistent. 

Consistency doesn’t mean 100% all the time.

Learning this was a game-changer for me. I’d feel discouraged if I read the Bible for five days in a row and then missed the next day. I felt like I was doing something wrong. But I discovered that consistency didn’t mean that I had to show up perfectly 100% of the time. It’s not inconsistent to read the Bible 4 or 5 days out of 7. Nor is it inconsistent to read with deep focus one day and then struggle to pay attention the next day. Reading the Bible is a practice that helps us grow closer to God. This practice doesn’t require perfection. What matters most is that we’re learning and growing in our faith. Rather than seeing Bible reading as another task to fulfill, consider that its end goal is to help us learn about God and grow closer to Christ. 

🌿 Ever feel like you’re missing something when you read Scripture? Our Bible Study Guide helps you study and interpret the Bible with confidence, so you can draw closer to God and grow in a more personal relationship with him.

Our capacity changes as seasons in our lives change.

When I first started reading the Bible seriously, I’d just graduated from college and had plenty of time each day to read for hours. Then, I got my first job and had to wake up pretty early in the morning to catch my train and make it to work by 8 am. I didn’t have as much time as I used to have so my methods had to change.

Since I personally absorb information better in the mornings, I decided to wake up a few minutes earlier than I needed to so that I could have time in prayer and in Scripture. I had 30 minutes at most. If I woke up too late, I’d just have to pray silently in my head on the train and read from the Bible app on my phone. But you know what? That was absolutely okay. What mattered more than having the perfect routine was being present and willing to spend time with God. 

But, it isn’t just our time capacity that changes with different seasons. Sometimes our mental, emotional, and spiritual capacity changes too. That’s okay. Maybe in one season you’ll have the mental capacity to study passages deeply and in another season, your capacity will be limited to reading short passages of Scripture and reflecting briefly or using guided study tools like apps or workbooks. 

Consistency requires a plan.

In the past, when I picked up the Bible to read, I’d just turn to whatever passage that came to mind that day. If nothing came to mind, I’d open a random page and start reading. I had no plan. It’s hard to be consistent in your Bible Study routine if you have no idea what you’re going to read each day. You don’t need an elaborate plan, you just need something that you can stick to longterm. Personally, I often start in a particular section of the Bible and focus on that for a while. Right now, I’m reading the Torah. In the past, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Prophets or in the Gospels. Sometimes, I spend time praying and reading through the Psalms. Last year, I read through the Bible in a (somewhat) chronological order. Sometimes I use Bible study and devotional material to help guide me. Whatever you choose, it’s really helpful to have a plan. 

Related: Where to Start Reading in the Bible

Consistency doesn’t require perfect conditions.

Many people struggle with staying consistent in Bible study because they’re waiting for the perfect conditions. The conditions will never be perfect. It’s completely okay to read the Bible while waiting for your grocery pick up or listen to it while washing dishes. You can read the Bible for a few minutes during your lunch break at work. You can read even if you don’t have time to take notes or if you don’t have a physical copy of the Bible with you. Having the perfect conditions matters way less than actually allowing Scripture to draw you closer to God. 

Consistency is a lot easier with other people.

Last but not least, it’s easier to stay consistent in Bible Study when you do it with other people. This can look like joining a Bible Study and using the same material as the other people in your group.

Or it might look like meeting up with a friend or your spouse daily or weekly to informally talk about what you’ve read. As the proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

The recurring trend in these points is that our purpose for studying the Bible matters far more than rigid consistency. Consistency is important insofar as it helps us develop a better understanding of the Bible, learn more about God, and grow closer to Christ. If we’re making steady progress towards this goal, we know we’re on the right track. 

Note: This article originally appeared on my Substack, For The Everyday. I’m sharing it here on Daily She Pursues because these tips are worth revisiting. If you’d like to read the original and follow along with more reflections on faith and everyday life, you can find it here on Substack.