Creating A Daily Bible Study Routine Perfect For You
Creating a Bible study routine for yourself can be hard. At least, that’s been my experience. There are a variety of ways we can interact with and experience the Bible in ways that we encounter God and grow spiritually. Thus, every Bible study routine may look different and can change over time. That’s okay.
In general, creating a Bible study routine involves a implementing variety of practices and interactions with the Bible in a way that leads to increased spiritual growth and faith and love toward God. Such practices and interactions may include meditation, memorization, worship, journaling, etc.
So, let’s take a look at the variety of practices and interactions we can have with God’s word and see how we can use them in creating a Bible study routine. But before we do, let’s turn to the Bible and see what it has to say about Bible study.
Pillars of Daily Bible Study
The Bible talks a lot about itself. It talks of its importance and role in the life of God’s people. The Bible is a primary means God has chosen to reveal Himself to us.
So, it is vital we understand what the Bible has to say about Bible study. The Bible talks a lot about Bible study. What it may look like and what it results in. So, let’s take a look at seven of the key pillars of Bible study according to the Bible.
Practicing Memorization (Psalm 119:11)
First, the Bible emphasizes the value of memorization in Bible study. All throughout the Bible, especially in the wisdom books of Psalms and Proverbs, we see a call to hide God’s word in our heart. Psalm 119:11 reads,
I have hidden your word in my heart
Psalm 119:11
that I might not sin against you.
Here the Psalmist tells not only to memorize God’s word, but also why it is so important. That I might not sin against you. We memorize God’s word and hide it in our hearts to prohibit sin arising from our hearts.
When times of temptation come, the Holy Spirit can help us recall the Scripture we’ve memorized and we can turn to God, thus avoiding sinning against him. So like it or not, it would be wise to include memorization in your Bible study routine.
Purusing Vulnerability (Psalm 139:23-24)
The second pillar of Bible study is pursuing vulnerability. By pursuing vulnerability in Bible study, we are allowing ourselves to be exposed to the truth of God’s word. We are approaching God with a heart of humility. Psalm 139 states,
Search me, God, and know my heart;
Psalm 139:23-24
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Vulnerability leads to surrender. Bible study ought to start and end with surrender. Surrender to God, His ways, His thoughts, His will. We can pray and ask God to search our hearts, open our eyes, and lead us in the way everlasting.
Practical Application (Joshua 1:8)
Third, BIble study ought to result in practical application. Bible study does no good if all we do is read it. James writes and encourages Christian’s to be doers of the word and not hearers only. Likewise, we are encouraged and challenged in the book of Joshua to,
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8
Here we are challenged to continually interact with God’s word. Why? So that we may do everything written in it. It does no good to read the constitution or laws of the land and not follow them. That results in getting in trouble.
Likewise, it does no good to read the Bible and not do it. That too, results in getting in trouble. But if we carefully follow God and believe and do what is written in the Bible then life can be a blessing.
Piercing Conviction (Hebrews 4:12)
Fourth, Bible study leads to piercing conviction. God’s word opens our hearts and exposes us to our sinfulness. The author of Hebrews writes,
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
So, Bible study is like an operation. God opens us up through His word and shows us our thoughts, attitudes, and sinfulness. We can hide nothing from God when exposed to the light of His word. Bible study, then, convicts us and shows us where we need to change and grow.
Powerful Transformation (Romans 12:2)
Fifth, Bible study leads to powerful transformation. Not only does Bible study convict us, and result in application, it powerfully transforms us. Consistent and regular Bible study will result in increased Christlikeness. Paul writes in Romans,
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
Knowing God’s will for your life is a direct result of studying the Bible with a transformed mind. The more we study the Bible the more our mind is renewed, the clearer God’s will and direction for our life becomes.
Profound Relationship (Proverbs 2:1-5)
The sixth pillar of daily Bible study is a profound relationship with God. Consistent Bible study fosters a profound relationship with God. The book of Proverbs offers this wisdom,
My son, if you accept my words
Proverbs 2:1-5
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
The basis of a relationship with God is the gospel. The reality that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Our response of awe and wonder, of gratitude and surrender–that is the fear of the Lord.
Bible study leads to understanding the fear of the Lord, which is at the heart of a growing profound relationship with God.
Purposeful Intention (Deuteronomy 11:18-23)
Lastly, daily Bible study ought to be characterized by purposeful intention. Bible study is work, it is a skill, it takes time to develop the habit and desire. But it is worth it. So, we ought to be purposeful and intentional in setting aside time for daily Bible study. God tells the Israelite people to,
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you.
Deuteronomy 11:13-23
In other words, constantly surround yourself with Scripture. God encourages us to surround ourselves with Scripture, to think about everything we do in light of Scripture. Why? So that we can see God at work in our lives. Bible study must be intentional and not haphazard.
What to Include In a Bible Study Routine
Now that we’ve discovered what the Bible says about what Bible study looks like and what it results in. Let’s turn our attention to what ought to be included in a Bible study routine. Some of these we’ve previously mentioned. Others are new.
When I first tried to create a Bible study routine for me, I found a particular book to be extremely helpful. That book was Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney. This book is immensely practical for Christian living and spiritual growth.
Even though this book is about personal spiritual disciplines, it includes many practical disciplines that can be applied to a Bible study routine. So, here are the disciplines that I found helpful from the book,
- Memorization: Memorization is an often overlooked and ignored aspect of Bible study. But as we’ve previously seen, the Bible emphasizes the importance of memorizing God’s word. Memorization supplies spiritual power, strengthens faith, prepares us for witnessing, and stimulates meditation.
- Meditation: Meditation is an inherently Biblical practice. Whitney writes in his book,
“The kind of meditation encouraged in the Bible differs from other kinds of meditation in several ways. While some advocated a kind of meditation in which you do your best to empty your mind, Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God and His truth.”
Lectio Divina is a great way to begin learning to meditate on God’s word. Check out this article for more on Lectio Divina, what it is and how it differs from regular meditation practices. - Application: This is another part of Bible study that has already been discussed. Application is one of the most important parts of Bible study. We ought to always seek for ways to put into practice what we are learning from God’s word.
- Prayer: Prayer is another practice that we ought to seriously consider implementing in our Bible study routine. Prayer is communicating with God. It’s listening to Him and talking to Him. Prayer makes Bible study personal. It fosters intimacy with God and provides guidance for life.
- Worship: Whitney defines worship as, “the God-centered focus and response of the soul; it is being preoccupied with God.” Daily Bible study is an act of worship. We can sing and listen to songs and hymns during our Bible study routine if we desire.
- Fasting: Jesus taught and practiced fasting. Whitney defines fasting as, “a believer’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.” It also possible to fast from other things such as TV, a sport or hobby, etc. Fating must be done for a purpose, otherwise it has no spiritual value.
- Silence and Solitude: Silence and solitude is another often overlooked discipline that can be valuable in a Bible study routine. It creates a time to follow Jesus’ example, to pray, rest, and be spiritually restored.
- Journaling: Journals provide a way for you to record how God works in your life. You may want to include the following in your journal: daily events, personal relationships, insights into Scripture, sermon notes, prayer requests, etc. Over time you can look back and see how you’ve grown.
While these are all good practices that you may want to consider in creating a Bible study routine. The most important part is actually studying the Bible. So, choose a Bible study method that you want to learn and focus on.
Choosing A Bible Study Method
There is no one right way to study the Bible. There are many different Biblical Bible study methods that help you experience the Bible in a way that leads you closer to God. Here are the three that I focus on at this site:
SOAP Bible Study Method
The SOAP Bible Study Method is a method of Bible study that is simple and practical. It encourages spiritual growth, making sure you not only learn the Bible but live it as well. Wondering what SOAP stands for? Well, wonder no more. SOAP stands for:
- Scripture
- Observation
- Application
- Prayer
These four simple steps means that this Bible study method is perfect for just about anyone, especially beginners. It’s not time consuming or so in-depth that you’ll get confused. And can easily be done within 30 minutes to an hour.
You can learn more about the SOAP Bible study method here. This article will walk you through the SOAP Bible study method step by step with an example so you know exactly what to do. It even offers free worksheets at the end that you can print off and use on your own.
Inductive Bible Study Method
The inductive Bible study method is a method that seeks to understand the Bible in its original context, find meaning, and carry that meaning into every day life today. The Inductive Bible Study method answers three big questions:
1. What does the text say?
2. What does the text mean?
3. How do I apply what I’ve learned?
In order to answer these questions the inductive Bible study method takes an in-depth look at a particular passage of Scripture. Thus, you spend time looking at different versions, making observations, and exploring the history, culture, and literary structure of a passage.
You can learn more about the Inductive Bible study method here. This article walks you through the Inductive Bible study method step by step and gives you an example to follow along. It even offers free worksheets at the end that you can print off and use for yourself.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is an ancient method of studying the Bible that seeks to bring you closer to God by a prayerful reading of Scriptures. There are four steps to Lectio Divina:
- · Lectio (Read)
- · Meditatio (Meditate)
- · Oratio (Speak/Pray)
- · Contemplatio (Rest)
Though this method was originally developed by Catholic monks, it is not just for them. Lectio Divina can be used by anyone who longs for a personal, unique, and intimate time with the Lord.
This more meditative approach to studying Scripture is perfect for quiet times or morning/evening devotionals. And can be a supplement to more in-depth studies.
You can learn more about Lectio Divina here. This article explains Lectio Divina step by step and walks you through an example, so you know exactly how to do it. It even offers free worksheets at the end for you to print off and use on your own.
Benefits of a Bible Study Routine
Consistent and daily Bible study has numerous personal and spiritual benefits. These include,
Spiritual Growth
Regular Bible study contributes to spiritual maturity. We’ve already seen and discussed how Bible study ought to lead to powerful transformation in our lives.
A recent study showed that faith integration has a positive impact on the personal faith of students. How much more so would faith integration through consistent Bible study have on our personal faith in everyday life? A lot.
The more we read the Bible, the more opportunity we are giving the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to transform us and make us more like Christ.
Understanding Scipture
Daily Bible study helps deepen our understanding of the Bible and its principles. We become familiar with the Bible stories and ways in which God works in life.
For example, say you decide that you want to read the book of Ezekiel. You read the first chapter of Ezekiel where he discusses His vision of God with wheels full of eyes, angels with multiple heads and wings, and you stop.
This a pretty complex passage. But consistent Bible study can help you understand it. You can read it multiple times, meditate on it, and read where it (or similar events) are mentioned in the Bible. This helps you shed light on and better understand what Ezekiel’s vision meant.
God was putting His glory and sovereignty on display. He wanted Ezekiel to know that He is God and that He is in control. Why? Because He was going to give Ezekiel a hard message to tell the people.
Personal Connection with God
Daily Bible study fosters a closer relationship with God. It leads to a profound relationship with Him. The more we read the Bible the more familiar we become with God’s character and how He works in the world.
This helps us see how He relates to us today. Because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
For example, honestly, there are times where I don’t want to read the Bible because I’m struggling with some doubt or poor attitude. It’s always in those moments that I pick up the Bible to read, and God leads me to a verse or passage that addresses my concern or attitude.
Personal and consistent Bible study will lead to an increase in experiencing God’s presence during BIble study and throughout the day.
Tips for Establishing a Bible Study Routine
Here are some practical tips for establishing a Bible study routine:
- Set Realistic Goals: Consistency is more important than intensity. So, strive to set achievable study goals. Even if that if as little as 10 minutes a day. Start somewhere and build consistency, then grow it.
- Choose a Specific Time: You don’t need to set a specific time to study like 7:30-8:00. But try to create a common routine. For example, get up, take a shower, read the Bible, eat breakfast.
- Select a Comfortable Location: Choose a place where you can be alone and uninterrupted. This way you can focus on God and His word. This may be a comfy chair, a back porch, or a corner in your room. For me, it’s my bed.
- Utilize Study Tools: If you want to go more in-depth, or answer difficult questions, then use Bible study resources. Things like commentaries, dictionaries, etc. will help you go deeper in the study. Though, if you are just starting out studying the Bible as an individual, then I’d recommend getting a study Bible, as it can help you go more in-depth without investing in a ton of different resources.
- Incorporate Prayer: Prayer is vital to studying the Bible. Ask God to speak to you and help you understand and apply His word to your life. God hears and answers our prayers. Ask God to help you understand and apply what you’ve learned. Thank Him for His word. Take a moment to also listen to what God may be putting on your heart.
- Be Consistent: Studies show that it takes an average of 59 days for a habit to become automatic. So, try and do a little bit every day.
- Choose what Works for You: We listed a bunch of different ways that we can interact and experience God’s word above. Feel free to explore those and choose which ones work for you at this moment in time and come back to review your routine to see what you can add or adapt given your new situations and place in your walk with God.
Tips for Reading the Bible Every Day
- Use an easy to read translation: Please pick a translation of the Bible that is easy to read. It’s no fun reading a textbook everyday. So, don’t make Bible reading more challenging by picking a translation you don’t understand. Start with a translation like the New Living Translation or New International Version or check out these other easy to read translations.
- Start Small: No one says you have to read the entire Bible every day. I’m not even sure that’s possible. But a little here and a little there will add up quickly. God can still use one chapter or five verses to change your life.
- Use a Devotional: A Devotional will typically have one verse, a story or commentary relating to lessons from that verse. A great devotional is the New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.
- Use a Bible App: The YouVersion Bible app has hundreds of devotionals and studies that take as little as five minutes a day. Another great app is First 5 from Proverbs 31.
- Persevere: Pray for perseverance. I’ll be honest. I’m still not where I read the Bible every single day. But where I am now is better than I was a few years ago. The point is not to stress if you miss a day. Progress is progress.
Sample Bible Study Routines
Now, that we have a thorough idea of what to include in creating a Bible study routine, let’s look at some samples that you can use for inspiration in creating your own Bible study routine.
Morning Routine
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM – 6:05 AM | Prayer | Brief prayer for guidance and gratitude. |
| 6:05 AM – 6:20 AM | Bible Study | Focus on a specific passage or theme for study. |
| 6:20 AM – 6:25 AM | Memorization | Review and memorize a selected Bible verse. |
| 6:25 AM – 6:30 AM | Meditation | Reflect on the studied passage. |
| 6:30 AM – 6:35 AM | Application | Consider practical applications for your life. |
| 6:35 AM – 6:45 AM | Worship | Engage in worship through songs or reflection. |
| 6:45 AM – 7:00 AM | Journaling | Record thoughts and prayers in a journal. |
Lunch Break Routine
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM | Prayer | Take a moment for gratitude and seeking guidance. |
| 12:15 PM – 12:30 PM | Silence and Solitude | Find a quiet space for reflection and inner stillness. |
| 12:30 PM – 12:45 PM | Bible Study Snippet | Read a short Bible passage or devotional during lunch. |
| 12:45 PM – 1:00 PM | Memorization Review | Reinforce the memorized verse from the morning. |
Evening Routine
| Time | Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 PM – 8:15 PM | Prayer | Conclude the day with prayer, reflecting on blessings. |
| 8:15 PM – 8:30 PM | Bible Study Recap | Review the morning’s study or continue with a new passage. |
| 8:30 PM – 8:45 PM | Worship | Engage in worship through music, prayer, or reflection. |
| 8:45 PM – 9:00 PM | Journaling | Reflect on the day, jot down any additional insights. |
Weekly Routine
When I first started trying to create my own Bible study routine I wanted to do all of these disciplines and practices, so I split them up into a week long study of a passage. This is what it looked like:
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Read Chapter one time Pray |
| Monday | Read Chapter three times Pray |
| Tuesday | Outline Chapter Background Information |
| Wednesday | Pick Key Verse to Memorize Memorize Verse |
| Thursday | Meditate Pray |
| Friday | Apply memorized verse Lessons from Chapter |
| Saturday | Journal Pray |
Remember these are just samples, so feel free to adjust the times and routine based on your circumstances and preferences. Do what ensures your spiritual growth and connection to God and His word. Consistency is key.
Overcoming Challenges to a Bible Study Routine
Creating a new habit, especially a Bible study routine, is not easy. Not only is forming a new habit challenging, but the Devil will try to stop you as well. So, here are some tips for overcoming two common challenges to establishing a Bible study routine.
Busy Schedules
Life is busy, and when you want to do something good and beneficial, it just seems to get busier. So, here are some tips for those with busy schedules,
- Prioritize and Plan: Identify the most critical activities in your day and allocate time for Bible study accordingly. Treat it as a non-negotiable appointment.
- Break it Down: If finding extended periods is challenging, break your study into smaller sessions throughout the day. Even 10-15 minutes can make a significant impact over time.
- Utilize Idle Time: Turn commuting, waiting, or other idle moments into opportunities for brief Bible reading or listening to audio versions.
- Reflect on Priorities: Consider the importance of spiritual growth in your life. Acknowledge that investing time in Bible study contributes to your overall well-being.
- Evaluate Time Usage: Assess how time is spent on other activities. Recognizing the
Lack of Motivation
This is another common challenge when it comes to studying and reading the Bible. It’s the one I struggle with most. So, here are some tips I’ve learned that help me stay motivated when reading God’s word.
- Set Personal Goals: Establish achievable and specific goals for your study. This could include finishing a book, memorizing verses, or understanding a particular theme.
- Diversify Approaches: Mix up your study routine with various resources such as commentaries, devotionals, or engaging with different translations to keep things fresh and interesting.
- Start Small: Begin with a manageable study time, and gradually increase it as the habit forms. Consistency is more important than the duration of each session.
- Establish a Routine: Designate a specific time and place for your daily study. Having a routine makes it easier to integrate Bible study into your daily life.
- Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate small victories. Recognizing the positive impact of consistent study can fuel motivation and reinforce the habit over time.
Additional Resources
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Here is a complete list of the resources and tools referenced in this article.
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney
- Youversion Bible App
- First 5 App
- New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
Check out other great Bible study resources at the Bible study Bookshelf.
