It can be easy to fall into a rut during your daily Bible study. If you have fallen into a rut, don’t let it discourage you. Instead of allowing it to discourage you, use it as an opportunity to regenerate your time with God. Here are five ways to refresh your Bible study time.
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The first way to refresh your Bible study time is to switch up the time of day you read the Bible. If you normally do your Bible study at night, consider changing things up and reading in the morning. In the same way, if you normally do your Bible study in the morning, switch it up and do your Bible study in the afternoon or evening. Sometimes switching up your Bible study time can refresh your conversation with God and make studying more exciting simply because you've changed up the monotony of your routine.
I used to do Bible study at nighttime, but years ago I switched up to doing my Bible study in the morning and it really helped me stay better focused. I was able to focus rather than dozing off, and I could apply what I learned throughout my day. I encourage you to switch up the time of your Bible study and see if it refreshes your time with the Lord.
The second way to refresh your Bible study time is to listen to an audio recording of the Bible. In our daily lives, it can be hard to have time to sit down and focus on reading the Bible. It is great that we now have access to audio recordings of the Bible at places like BibleGateway.com. Since audio recordings are portable, you can listen to them when you're driving, when you're walking, or when you’re on the go. Listening to an audio recording of the Bible will refresh your Bible study time and cause you to think more about God during your everyday life.
Listening to an audio recording of the Bible is also helpful when you don’t feel like reading after a long day at school or work. This method of Bible study also engages a different sensory group in your body, allowing you to hear God's Word. This method will likely extend your Bible study time too because you will be listening to the Bible while you're driving, walking, or doing another activity on the go.
A third way to refresh your Bible study time is to go to a different location while studying the Word. I recommend going somewhere you can have privacy and talk to God alone, such as in a garden, a park, or a back porch. Going outside in God’s creation can help refresh your mind and allow you to focus on God without the distractions of other people talking, the beeping of your phone, or the email notifications rushing through your computer.
There is something refreshing about being alone with God in nature, just talking with Him and reading the Bible. If you are experiencing nice weather today, I encourage you to take your Bible study outdoors and refresh your Bible study time in God’s beautiful creation. I will warn you, though, that once you take your Bible study time outdoors, it might be hard to bring your Bible study time back indoors when it is too hot or too cold. Nonetheless, try it at least once and see what you think!
A fourth way to refresh your Bible study time is to include a worship song either at the beginning or end of your Bible study time. I don’t know about you, but I love listening to worship music. Something about worship music makes me feel calm and serene. If you want to refresh your Bible study time, think of a worship song to include in your study routine. It can be a song you know by heart or it could be a song you’ve never heard before. What matters is that it is a worship song that will point you back to Jesus.
Some song recommendations in your Bible study time could be “A Street Called Mercy” by Hillsong United, “Sinking Deep” by Hillsong Young and Free, or “To Live Is Christ” by Sidewalk Prophets. Each of these songs brings my heart joy and solace. By including a worship song at the beginning or end of your Bible study (or even while you're reading if that doesn't distract you), you will instill the message of the day's Scripture in your heart. You could even get creative in including a worship song by selecting a song that goes with the theme of your Bible study time, such as which book or passage of the Bible you are reading for the day.
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A fifth way to refresh your Bible study time is to sing the Psalms. Similar to many people, my favorite Old Testament book is the Book of Psalms. The psalmist writes with complete vulnerability, honesty, and openness that it is hard not to relate to. The Psalms were originally written to be sung; however, they are not commonly sung today in the church. Even though Psalms are not sung in the church, you can sing them in your own Bible study time. It might feel awkward at first, but the longer you sing them, the more you will find that they help bring joy to your soul.
Singing abilities do not matter—all that matters is a heart devoted to God. If you want to refresh your Bible study time, consider singing the Psalms or even praying the Psalms. Whatever you feel more comfortable with is completely fine. Singing or praying the Psalms will open your Bible study time with the vulnerability of David.
The ways of refreshing your Bible study are not limited to the ideas listed here. You can invent your own unique ideas of how to refresh your study time. It is common to fall into a rut when you are doing your Bible study time in the same way each day. Many individuals feel they have to do their Bible study time the same way every day or it is not “right.” This is not true because you can refresh your Bible study by changing things up with nature, music, and more so that your heart can find a refreshed focus.
Unfortunately, many individuals give up reading the Bible or give up their Bible study time because it gets too boring or tiresome. If you refresh your Bible study time by trying different things, you will be less likely to turn Bible study time into a mandated chore. Bible study time should be a part of your day you eagerly look forward to. It should not be something that you begrudgingly do every day. Bible study time should bring joy into your heart because you are communing with God, telling God your worries and concerns, and you are reading the Word of God. If you have grown tired of your Bible study time, try to switch it up and refresh your routine so it's something you love and look forward to each day.