Have you ever found yourself lacking motivation to read your Bible? Do you feel like reading God’s Word is more of a chore or obligation than a joy? You’re not alone. Many believers struggle to make Bible reading a consistent habit, much less an enjoyable experience.
In this post, we’ll explore some of the top reasons reading the Bible can start to feel tedious. We’ll also look at practical solutions to help you rediscover the life-giving power of God’s Word. My prayer is that you’ll be refreshed and reinvigorated in your time with Scripture.
Introduction
As Christians, we know reading the Bible should be a vital part of our spiritual growth and connection with God. But sometimes, various factors can suck the joy and eagerness out of our time in the Word.
What are some of the top culprits that can make reading the Bible feel like a chore? Let’s look at a few common ones:
Lack of Understanding
When we don’t understand what we’re reading, it’s easy to quickly lose interest and motivation. The Bible can seem overwhelming with its historical settings, theological concepts, and variety of literary styles. If we’re constantly confused by what we’re reading, reading becomes a frustrating chore rather than a fruitful time with God.
Lack of Application
Another reason reading the Bible can feel tedious is if we’re not actually applying what we’re reading to our lives. If we treat the Bible merely as an intellectual exercise or history book, we’ll miss out on its power to transform our hearts, minds, and actions.
Distractions and Busyness
Let’s be honest – we live in a distraction-filled world with no shortage of things competing for our time and attention. From work pressures to social media to the 24/7 news cycle, keeping our minds focused is no easy feat. When we try to cram devotional time into our already packed schedules, no wonder it can feel like a burden!
Not Seeing Results
Sometimes Bible reading can start to feel pointless if we’re not seeing tangible growth in our walk with God. We might wonder, “Why bother reading if it’s not making a difference in my attitudes and actions?” But spiritual transformation often happens slowly over time. If we lose heart, we’ll miss out on the gradually deepening work God wants to do in us.
Now that we’ve explored some potential reasons reading the Bible can become a joyless chore, let’s look at some tips to rekindle your excitement about spending time in God’s Word!
Tips for Making Bible Reading Life-Giving Again
1. Pray for understanding
Before you begin reading, pray simply and sincerely for God to open your eyes, mind, and heart to understand His word (Psalm 119:18). Put aside distractions and ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide and teacher. God delights to reveal Himself to those who seek Him!
2. Read in community
God designed us for community. Rather than trying to maintain spiritual disciplines alone, try joining a small group Bible study or finding an accountability reading partner. Walking through Scripture with others provides encouragement, insight, and accountability.
3. Change up your reading plan
If your current Bible reading plan feels stale, don’t be afraid to change things up! Try a different Bible translation for fresh wording. Switch from a yearly reading plan to working through one book at a time. If your schedule is overloaded, scale back to smaller, more manageable chunks of time with God.
4. Read with a purpose
Before you read, identify one main purpose for your time in Scripture. For example, read a Psalm as a prayer to start your day. Reflect on how a passage applies to your current life struggles. Or read to simply encounter God and be reminded of His love. Having a focused purpose will help you stay engaged.
5. Use study tools
Don’t be afraid to grab helpful study tools to aid your understanding! Things like a study Bible, commentary, Bible dictionary, or even online resources can provide useful insights. Let these tools supplement (not replace) the inner guidance of the Holy Spirit.
6. Read interactively
Engage with the text by highlighting key verses, writing down questions, looking up cross references, or journaling your prayers and thoughts. Interacting with the passage helps you go deeper in applying it to your life. Treat it as God speaking directly to you!
7. Mix up your methods
Vary your Bible study methods to keep things interesting. Memorize and meditate on Scripture when commuting. Do topical studies on areas where you want to grow. Listen to audio versions when working out or doing chores. Creativity and variety are great antidotes to boredom!
8. Keep digging for treasure
When the Bible feels mundane, remind yourself you have God’s very words before you! Don’t give up mining its inexhaustible riches. God’s truth is powerful whether we feel it or not in the moment. Keep persevering in faith that Scripture will come alive.
9. Remember it’s God’s Word, not yours
This collection of ancient documents is God-breathed, containing the very words and authority of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Approach humbly, trusting Scripture to transform you instead of trying to interpret it based on your own assumptions. Yield to what God is saying rather than trying to make it say what you want.
10. Talk to God about it
Finally, bring your Bible frustrations and concerns to God in prayer! He knows our struggles intimately and cares about us growing in our knowledge and love of Him. Ask Him for a renewed passion for His living Word. Believe He will answer your sincere prayers to revive your heart.
Key Takeaways:
- Common reasons Bible reading can feel tedious include lack of understanding, lack of application, busyness and distractions, and not seeing results in our walk with God.
- Helpful solutions include praying for understanding, reading in community, changing up your reading plan, having a focused purpose, using study tools, reading interactively, mixing up your methods, keeping at it, remembering Scripture’s divine origins, and bringing concerns to God in prayer.
- With God’s help through His Spirit, we can rekindle our awe and passion for His powerful, transformative Word that will equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Conclusion
What encouragement can you take from this look at reasons and solutions when reading the Bible feels like a chore? I hope it inspires you to try some new practical approaches to reengage with Scripture and experience its life-changing significance.
While reading the Bible can sometimes be a struggle, remember that even during hands-on training the disciples didn’t understand everything about following Jesus. But He graciously opened their minds to comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). As you seek God’s help through prayer and dig deeper into His Word, you’ll grow in wisdom and find His amazing love and power at work in your life. So don’t lose heart! God is eager to reveal Himself to you through His Word. Step out in faith and enjoy the blessing and adventure of getting to know Him more.
