by That Proverbs Mamma Imagine a life without anxiety, worry, loneliness and fear. Imagine knowing you are loved and that you can overcome any obstacle. Imagine letting go of bitterness and unforgiveness and trading them for peace and joy. Reading the Bible every day has the ability to transform your life. Find out how.
Here are a few reasons why reading the Bible every day is a great thing to pursue as a Christian:
God is a multifaceted person! The Bible is a collection of stories where we can learn more about who God is. We learn that he is loving, merciful, holy, powerful and faithful. Learning about who God is will help you when you encounter trials in your daily life. You will be able to recall to mind that God is loving and faithful and find peace as you trust that he has a plan for you.
By spending time every day reading God’s Word, you slowly become more like him. You align your mind with the ways of God and your heart with the things that are important to him. You learn to let go of your grudges and love your enemies. For me, it feels like water washing over my mind and heart. God’s Word cleans away the impurities that make us fallible humans.
I don’t know about you, but I am very aware of my flaws. The Bible has countless stories of others who have lived before us. None of them was perfect and they all made mistakes. There is a misconception in our society that Christians need to be perfect and this is not true. David committed adultery, Peter disowned Jesus, Elijah was depressed, Rahab was a prostitute. As we read about the heroes of the Bible, we come to see that God can use broken people – people just like us.
Let’s get started!
There is something powerful about reading the stories in the Bible where God does miraculous things over and over. We see him creating the Earth with the words of his mouth. We see him sending a powerful flood that covered even Mt Everest. We see him working good in Josephs’s life despite the abuse he perpetually experiences. We see God parting the Red Sea to deliver the Israelites. We see a teenager who slaughters a giant with a slingshot. We see cities crumble at the sound of a trumpet.
There are countless miracles in the Bible. We see what God is capable of, both mercifully and also in his wrath, such as with Sodom and Gomorrah.
Reading through the Bible every day will give you a healthy fear of the Lord and all that he is capable of. You will see that when God is on your side, nothing else stands a chance. Anxieties will cease because if God is for you, nothing can be against you. As you read the stories over and over again, you will see that faithfulness is in the character of God. He is faithful by nature. He always keeps his promises. He can be trusted. You can have confidence in the Lord.
Reading the Bible every day has the power to eliminate your fear and anxiety. Get to know your God and see if every other challenge doesn’t shrink in his shadow.
If you’re looking to get a deeper understanding of the stories of the Bible, I recommend these resources linked below. Some of the links are affiliate links which means that if you purchase through my link, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep this website running. Here are the resources I recommend for gaining a deeper understanding of the Biblical context when you are reading the Bible every day.
How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour (Kindle Edition) by Gordon D. Fee and, Douglas Stuart
This book will give you an overview of each book of the Bible and help you to understand the context of what you are reading. We used it at Bible College and I highly recommend it.
The Bible Project Website & Online Resources
The Bible Project – Videos and Resources Page
The Bible Project – Downloadable Study Notes
(For those wanting a deeper background knowledge and closer study of the original languages).
All of their resources are free and really in-depth. Definitely worth checking out.
One of the ways I describe the Bible is that it is like having water washing over you. As you read Scripture, little things will stand out to you. You will see the planks in your own eye and the bitter roots you have hidden in your heart. As you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will convict you of things in your life that are not helpful or godly. This is your chance to let those things go. You can repent of them, ask God for forgiveness and surrender those things to him. You don’t have to keep carrying hurt, envy or unforgiveness. He will give you the strength to let go of the things that hurt you. He will give you the courage to keep on loving in the midst of uncertainty.
God will help you to see the areas of your life where you might be proud. Listen to the conviction and humble yourself before the Lord. Learn to be more like Jesus, who was the ultimate example of humility (Philippians 2).
If you read a little at a time, slowly God will work those weeds out of your heart and mind and you will become more like him. I notice if I go long periods without reading my Bible, there are more weeds. It takes time to pull those weeds up because I have let them take root and shape the way I see the world. If you read your Bible little bit by little every day, you are bringing your heart before God when the thoughts are only seeds. They won’t have had a chance to take root in your heart and it will be easier to give up.
Here are some Christian resources that will encourage you to grow spiritually. One is a book and the other is a journal to record what you are learning about God.
The Well-Watered Woman: Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith by Gretchen Saffles
My Bible Study Journal: A Creative Christian Workbook: A Simple Guide To Journaling Scripture by Lettering Design Co.
What happens when you read the Bible? This is a culmination of the last two points. When you understand God’s faithfulness and that he is on your side, you can be released from anxiety.
Jesus said he came to give us a peace that the world cannot give.
Jesus calmed the storm.
Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us freedom.
Jesus said:
”I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus
When we realise all these things, the burdens of life no longer weigh us down.
Can you imagine a life where you feel calmer, more peaceful and free of the expectations of those around you? That is what God has to offer us when we come to know him through His Word.
The secret is to make Bible reading a daily habit.
I’m a firm believer that we make time for the things that matter to us. Show me how you spend your time and I’ll show you what you value. It can be easy to believe that we don’t have time to sit down and read our Bible without distractions but I’m pretty sure our time graphs on social media would argue otherwise. I like to live by the mantra, ‘I can’t check my messages on my phone until I’ve read my Bible today’. Whether it’s early morning, afternoon or in your lunch break, do what works for you but make sure you make time to read the Bible each day so that you can get to know God more and grow in your faith.
I double dare you to give it a try and you let me know if you don’t feel more calm and peaceful as a result!
Atomic Habits by James Clear
This isn’t a Christian book but it is so inspirational for developing good habits. If developing a regular habit of reading your Bible is important to you, this book will definitely give you some tools.
The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8AM (Kindle Edition) by Hal Elrod
This Book is all about helping you create your ultimate morning routine to start the day off right.
It is highly recommended by so many successful people. If developing a morning routine is something you struggle with or you want to make it more effective, this is the book for you.
Did you know that we can actually hear God’s voice? It is incredible. The best way to learn to hear God’s leading is by getting to know his Word.
There is this great quote that I love:
“If you want to hear God speak, read your Bible. If you want to hear God speak audibly, read your Bible out loud.”
(Justin Peters)
Unfortunately, we often have automated lies that we tell ourselves. We think, ‘I’m not good enough’, ‘I’ll never amount to anything, ‘I’m not loveable’, ‘I’ll always be alone’…. And we hold on to them. Reading the Bible every day counteracts those lies and reminds you of the truth. If you read it enough, you begin to believe it.
In fact, if you find verses that really resonate with you, I encourage you to start a little notebook and write those verses down. You could write down the lie and then write down the truth that trumps that lie.
God loves you and he has a plan for your life. You will truly come to appreciate this as you read the Bible more.
The Bible Handbook Hardcover by The Daily Grace Co.
The books listed above and below look very similar but have different content. To buy these directly from their website, it is unaffordable to get them shipped to Australia. I didn’t realise they were available on Amazon in Australia but they are! I’m so excited to share these resources with you! They have so many beautiful resources and Bible studies. I highly recommend that you check them out!
The Theology Handbook Hardcover by The Daily Grace Co.
This would be my most simple and yet most profound point. Yesterday I was speaking with someone that I met and we were talking about faith. She told me why she chose to walk away from church and I told her why I hold on to my faith. At its rawest, I really do feel that when I hit rock bottom, God is there.
I have a loving family, (although they live 12 hours away). I have some great friends (who also live across the country). I have an incredible husband (but let’s be real- what man really understands the female mind?).
In isolation, with a newborn in my arms, God was there. When my village disintegrated, God was there to give me the wisdom and the strength to raise my baby on my own.
When I moved states in the middle of a lockdown, God was there. It’s been over a year and I can count my friends on one hand. It’s been pretty freaking lonely. I’ve battled chronic pain and stressful jobs, daycare bugs and feelings of rejection. And in the ugliness, crying in pain in the middle of the night? God was there.
I can’t explain it, but that’s why I have faith. That’s why I read my Bible. That’s the only reason I have hope that life can get better. God is the only one who really understands what I am experiencing. He is in the mud with me. And I know, even when I feel like giving up, I can get through this because the God who created the universe is on my side.
Can I encourage you, read your Bible? You may not read it every single day and that’s okay. But try. There is no greater peace than getting to know your creator and learning that he is madly in love with you as his child.
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible.
This Bible is an absolute favourite. What’s not to love about this gorgeous artwork on the cover?
These are some gorgeous Bible highlighters for Bible journaling. If you are looking for a more extensive list of pens and highlighters, I have a whole post about Bible Highlighters that you can read. Here are two Pastel Highlighters for Bible journaling.
Pastel Bible Highlighters in Australia:
Primrosia 24 Pastel Dual Tip Marker
Pastel Bible Highlighters in the United States and Other Countries
Tombow Pastel Dual Brush Pen Art Markers
You can see a more extensive list of Bible highlighters and markers here.
We have established that it is a good idea to read the Bible. But how do you know how much of the Bible you should read each day? I would suggest at least one chapter. If you are reading the Bible for the first time, I was suggest one chapter from Matthew and one Psalm which is like a poem or a song.
My best advice is to find a good reading plan. You can google ‘monthly reading plan’ or you can find one on the YouVersion Bible App. They have topical reading plans where you can read about different things. I do think the most helpful thing to do is read through a book and not just one verse here and one verse there.
If you would like to read the entire Bible over a year, I have a fantastic reading plan in my shop which tells you what to read each day to get through the whole Bible in a year. It’s not a lot and it gives you a short reading of 2-4 different sections each day. They are pretty printable bookmarks with little checkboxes for you to mark off the readings as you go. If you would like to learn more about how people read the entire Bible in one year, I have an article with more information.
Whilst the other products in this post are ones that I love and recommend, these are resources that I have made! I’m passionate about inspiring people to read their Bibles. Here are two printable bookmarks that I hope will get you excited about spending more time with God.
Bible In A Year Reading Plan – Neutral Boho – Printable Bookmark Bundle
Bible Highlighter Color Code – Printable PDF – Instant Download
Taking the time to develop a daily Bible reading habit will radically transform your life. By doing this, you will get to know God and learn to trust him with all of the things in your life that make you anxious. You will become more kind and humble and be freed from bitterness and unforgiveness. God’s word will help you to be more calm, peaceful and full of joy. You will learn to hear God’s voice and his direction for your life. Finally, reading the Bible every day will help you to establish a deep relationship with your creator and give you the assurance that you are never alone. God is with you in whatever battles you may face. And with God on your side? You cannot fail.
I hope this has encouraged you to get more consistent with reading your Bible and I pray that God will radically transform your life as you get to know him more.
Are you ready to discover how to determine right from wrong as a believer? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the beautiful journey of honoring God’s standards and making ethical choices in our daily lives.
“The world has enough women who know how to do their hair. It needs women who know how to do hard and holy things.” – Ann Voskamp
From my humble and regretful experience, I would like to explain why I stopped watching Bridgerton, and why it’s something you should consider too.
If you’re reading this, you may be feeling a tug on your heart to become a Christian influencer, but you might also be hesitant due to the fear of what others might think. I want to assure you that you’re not alone in this struggle, and I want to offer you hope and encouragement through the truth of God’s Word.
