In the busy seasons of life, days can blur between school and work, home and church. We can get so caught up in the struggle and stress to be in all places at once that we bury precious priorities under growing demands. Our quiet time in the Word might get chaotic, inconsistent, or worse, cease to exist. Without God’s Word, life can be confusing with many options and few wise answers.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:25-27‬ ‭NIV

Crossing off a list of chores isn’t going to give us the kind of perpetual peace like time in God’s Word can. So how can we be consistent with the kind of wisdom we need in our lives each day? Train your mind and your time like an athlete. Here are a few ideas to help you remain relentless in reading the Bible.

Pray for the desire of your heart to change. It takes a change of heart for any discipline to stick. Just because we know we should do something doesn’t mean the discipline to follow through comes naturally. A change inside our heart will help what happens on the outside.

Why do you want to read the Bible every day? Make up your mind about the benefits of starting the day in God’s Word. When we are faithful with our time and make a daily commitment to seek Him early, God will do the work and make a way for everything in your day.

Make it a non-negotiable part of your day. Just like an athlete prepares for race day, we must protect this time to practice and work out our faith in God’s Word every day.

Set your alarm and schedule time with God. You might write your commitment in the calendar to protect this time from “urgent” requests. Wake earlier than the rest of your household to ensure there are no distractions. Consistency creates a habit. Over time, this time with the Lord will become a non-negotiable part of your day.

Use your phone. Download the YouVersion Bible App on your digital device so the Word is always with you. Whether you’re waiting in a doctor’s office or waiting on a friend, you can make the most of your time in the Word. You might put your device on airplane mode while reading to avoid distracting alerts.

Subscribe to a reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App. The Bible app allows you to set a daily reminder for your Bible Plan commitment.

Connect with others. Find a friend to connect with you in the app and discuss the day’s devotional together. Get a group of friends to subscribe to the same reading plan and comment using Plans with Friends to create a community of reading accountability.

Start small, simple, and doable. A runner doesn’t run 20 miles on the first day of training. They start with small goals. As stamina grows, so does the workout. Starting with a lofty reading goal may lead to burnout or feeling like a failure when you’re short on time.

Focus on a few verses a day to keep your reading manageable with the time you set aside. You might find yourself learning more when you read less.

The book of Proverbs has 31 bitesize chapters, convenient for reading one a day. Look at the calendar and read the chapter that corresponds with the date (ie: On October 23rd you would read chapter 23 in Proverbs).

Set mini goals like memorization. Learning to memorize scripture will help you dive into the Word. The ultimate goal is to have God’s Word engraved in your heart when the Bible isn’t handy. Pick a new memory verse every 30 days.

Listen to the Bible on the go. A day might come when you find it hard to read God’s Word. Try the audio feature in the Bible app and listen to scripture while you’re driving in traffic or out for a walk.

Make reading the Bible a family practice. Subscribe to a Bible Plan the entire family can share together. Discuss the devotional during dinner or over dessert. Choose the Bible App for Kids or pick up a few bible stories that can be shared at bedtime.

Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Deuteronomy 11:18-19 MSG

It takes discipline to grow spiritually. That discipline will lead to delight in what we are doing, and delight will always guide us into an increased desire. When we stay committed to reading God’s Word daily, our delight for the Bible grows, and we find ourselves enjoying the discovery of wisdom in God’s Word.

There will be days when we fail to read even a verse, and that’s okay. The goal is not to check a box or cross off a list of activities that might be considered religious. We want to sincerely create a habit of being in His Word because we love God and truly believe His way is the only way to live our best life.

Reading and believing with you.