We've all been there — we struggle to find time to read the Bible. Maybe we don't even struggle with finding time, but we find it hard to have the energy or motivation to read the Bible.
If you are in a place such as this today, know that you are not alone, and most Christians have also been in your spot before.
I, too, have been in this spot, and it is a spot that can be hard to climb out of. The good news is that God can help you get out of this rut, and there are also many resources that can help you.
Here are five resources for Christians struggling to read the Bible.
1. InTouch Ministries
One resource for Christians struggling to read the Bible is InTouch Ministries. This ministry was originally started by Dr. Charles Stanley. Dr. Stanley passed away earlier this year, yet his impact and ministry live on.
InTouch gives out free devotionals that you can sign up for on their website. These are absolutely free, and they contain a wealth of information. InTouch devotionals are great for new believers or for individuals who are struggling to read their Bible.
InTouch devotionals contain a Bible passage at the top of each devotional and then a short devotional. While it is not a lot of Bible reading, it is a great way to get your toes wet.
By starting to read small passages that are connected to the devotional, you will be able to connect more to the passage as well as you will become more interested in reading the Bible.
For many people, just sitting down with the Bible sounds like an unreasonable task; however, if you break your Bible reading up into small passages tied together with a devotional, you will be able to get spiritual nourishment every day. InTouch Ministries makes this possible and it can help get your day started off on the right foot.
2. Christian Podcasts
A second resource for Christians struggling to read the Bible is Christian podcasts. There are so many great podcasts out there that you should try. Some specifically talk about different stories of the Bible, whereas others talk about how to apply the Bible to your life.
A few great podcasts are InTouch Ministries, Timothy Keller's podcast, David Platt's podcast, and Voice of the Martyrs. These are all great Christian podcasts that can help you be more motivated to read the Bible.
Through the concepts that they talk about, you will be more interested in reading the Bible on your own or studying further.
For many podcasts, such as Timothy Keller's podcast, he reads direct Bible passages out loud, which can help us hear the Bible even if we are not directly reading it.
This can be very helpful for many people, especially if they don't enjoy reading in general or find it hard to concentrate.
3. Audio Bibles
This leads us to our third resource, which is audio Bibles. Audio Bibles are great for people who are struggling to read the Bible. Maybe sitting down with your Bible is too much to ask right now, or you are always on the go.
Just because you are busy doesn't mean you don't have time for the Bible. Try an audio Bible, and you can listen to it while you walk, run, or drive your car.
It is fully portable, and you can take it wherever you go. Even if you don't go anywhere and just prefer to listen than to read, this is a great resource.
There are many audio Bibles that you can download, including Bible Gateway. It has a feature where full books of the Bible can be read out loud to you. If you are someone who finds it hard to read the Bible, the audio Bible might be the perfect fit for you.
All of us have days after work when our eyes are drained, and we might not feel up to looking at more printed words.
The audio Bible provides us with the beautiful Word of God in a way that can give our eyes a rest while at the same time giving our entire souls rest and nourishment.
4. A Christian Friend Who Is Passionate about the Bible
A fourth resource for the person struggling with reading the Bible is a Christian friend who is passionate about the Bible. My sister is very passionate about the Bible, and it gives me motivation to read my Bible every day too.
Through having detailed conversations about various Bible passages, we read, we are able to learn more about the Bible through each other. It is amazing how much you can learn just from someone else's perspective.
Maybe you don't have a friend who is passionate about the Bible to help you read the Bible more, and that's okay. Try to be this person for someone else and start training yourself to read the Bible each day.
Remind yourself that reading the Bible is a privilege and something that many people across the world don't have the opportunity to do so. Being able to read the Bible and share our faith with others is a beautiful thing that we must not overlook.
By developing a genuine love and desire to read the Bible in your own life, you will be able to help others in the future cultivate the same love for the Word.
5. The Bible App
A fifth resource for those struggling to read the Bible is the Bible App. The Bible App is an app you can download on your phone that gives you full access to the Bible, different versions, videos, and devotionals.
There is also an option for the Bible passages to be read out loud to you, which can also be helpful. When you explore the Bible App, you might be surprised at how many good resources you will find.
While there probably will be some devotionals you don't agree with, you can still appreciate the Bible App and how it can be a great resource to help you start reading the Bible again.
Reading the Bible might be difficult at times, but it should never feel like a chore. If it feels like a chore, it is probably because it is something you don't want to do.
God doesn't want you to feel this way about His Word. If you are reading the Bible out of obligation or because you feel like you "have to," recheck your motivation and ensure your heart is in the right place.
If you have placed faith in Jesus, you should want to grow in your relationship with God and this means through Bible reading, application, and prayer.
The Bible is a beautiful gift from the Lord, and we should treat it as such. It contains the very words of God, and it has everything we need to live a life of holiness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We can all fall into the trap of running out of time; however, we need to be intentional about reading the Bible each day.
Hopefully, after you include at least one of these resources in your daily life, you will find that it is not as difficult to read the Bible each day. It will no longer be a chore but rather something you look forward to each day.
For further reading:
25 Bible Study Books and Resources for Beginners
What Is the Best Way to Study the Bible?
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