I am not telling you not to struggle. I am not telling you to fake it and make it look easy. I am telling you to run to God every day.
Wake up. Brush teeth. Drink coffee. Get dressed. Go to work. Sound familiar? Most of us have some variation of this morning routine that we use to start our day. I remember watching my mom wake up at five o’clock in the morning when I was little so that she would have time to get me and my sister ready, get herself ready, make her coffee, and read her Bible. Watching her do this ingrained in me the importance of starting your day in the Word and with prayer. However, not everyone finds this kind of early-morning discipline easy to enact. With that said, what are some ways that we can be motivated to stick to our Bible reading plan this coming year?
1. Remember the Peace
My personal morning routine includes taking a little pill that ensures my body releases the appropriate amount of endorphins throughout the day. However, I have found that on mornings when I am sure to read my Bible and talk to Jesus, my mind is even more peaceful throughout the day.
Now, I am not saying that if you read your Bible like you planned to then you will have the best year yet. But I am saying that if you are lacking motivation to read your Bible, remember the pace that you so desperately crave. And remember God’s promise to "keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on [Him]..." (Isaiah 26:3)
2. Have a Dedicated Routine
It is so easy to tell yourself that when you wake up in the morning (or before you go to bed at night) you are going to read your Bible. However, when the alarm clock goes off or the exhaustion of the day settles in, it is very easy to say, “Maybe tomorrow.”
Reading the Word is not something that your flesh desires. Because of this, you have to have an actual, dedicated, consistent routine with steps to keep yourself accountable. Maybe you wake up, use your favorite skin care product, make a cup of coffee, sit in your favorite chair, and then read. Perhaps this routine gives you the chance to wake up and feel refreshed, ready to soak in Scripture. There are even Bible reading plans you can gain access to that will help guide you through the Bible if you feel no morning or evening routine will get you out of your Bible-reading rut!
One of my favorite things to do is to make my green juice before I sit down and read. When I have that drink in hand and I’m sitting in the recliner, just me in the living room, my body and mind know that now is a time of peace and a time to spend with Jesus. Make reading a habit by discipline, not an option because you haven't established a dedicated plan.
3. Be Honest with Yourself and God
I remember seeing the title of this article and thinking, “I have a hard time following my Bible reading plan, how can I tell others how to follow their own”? But that’s the thing, friend—I am not telling you not to struggle. I am not telling you to fake it and make it look easy. I am telling you to run to God every day. Don’t listen to your flesh. And I, out of everyone, can tell you that God will be there with open arms, ready to hear from you and talk to you.
4. Have an Accountability Partner
Accountability is a hard discipline to master. That is why it is so important to have someone who you can trust knows the Lord and who you can talk to when you are struggling to read your Bible. You don’t necessarily have to check in every day or tell them all the details of your plan either.
I remember when I was very into going to the gym. I really wanted to be one of those girls who could wake up at five o’clock, go to the gym, go to class, and then go on about her day. But when that alarm clock went off before the sun had even had time to rise, all I wanted to do was stay in bed. However, I had a friend who would go with me. So when the five o’clock alarm went off, I had to get up. I couldn’t let my friend show up at the gym at 5:30 am and I stayed in bed. She was expecting me.
So, if you are struggling with motivation to read your Bible, you could have an accountability partner who you check in with every day and tell them what you read. You can even go through a Bible reading plan together.
And remember, just like I had an appointment with my friend at the gym, you have an appointment with God. Just as I would wake up and think “I have to meet someone. They are expecting me,” you can walk up and say, “I have to go meet God. He’s expecting me.”
5. Put Your Phone Down
Oftentimes, I use my phone to read the Bible. And that is a great tool that we are blessed to have. However, if you truly want to be disciplined and stick with a reading plan, the phone needs to be put away.
Think about it: you are on your phone and reading through the Bible when you get a text. Odds are, you immediately want to respond to that text. Then, before you know it, you have responded to the text, checked Instagram and Facebook, and looked at the weather. Now, you have to get up and go to work without spending any true time with God.
I know it’s hard in the world we live in to step away from your phone because it's often tied to all of your social circles, work schedules, and, well, your entire life. But just sit the phone facedown and away from you. I am not saying to turn it off, especially if there could be some kind of emergency. But don’t make it so accessible and distracting.
6. Be Present in Your Role
There are so many different roles that one person can play. You can be a student, parent, spouse, caregiver, employee, etc. When you spend time with God, though, and you are reading the Bible, I encourage you to simply be a child of God. Allow yourself to put all your other roles and responsibilities to the side, even if it is just long enough to read one verse. The most important role you will ever fulfill is that of a child of God, so give yourself time to ensure that you fulfill it well.
7. Ask God for Help
There are so many different ways that you could motivate yourself. But at the end of the day, you are an imperfect human. You will never be able to perfectly stick to a routine or perfectly follow Jesus. That’s why the biggest motivation that you can obtain doesn’t come from you.
Friend, tell God that you desire to spend more time with Him. Tell Him that you are struggling to find motivation and to stick with a plan. Ask God for motivation and help to map a healthy, consistent routine. And then trust that He will meet you there.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Digitalskillet
Olivia Lauren is a graduate student passionate about Scripture, particularly the Book of Romans showcasing God's grace. Outside her studies, she enjoys teaching her dog new tricks and finding quicker ways to silence the smoke alarm after trying a new recipe.
