1. Just start. You can do this. There’s no pressure. Working with a reading plan means you only need to put aside a few minutes a day and go one day at a time. If you don’t remember to get to it on a particular day, don’t beat yourself up! Simply try and catch up when you have some more time.

2. Pray! Read with a conscious reliance on the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of the Bible in the first place. He will make the scriptures come to life.

3. Listen as well as read. Make use of the audio options on your device’s Bible app. This way you can listen to the reading of the day in the car on the way to work. Reading is often better as you are more engaged but if you’re falling behind, this is a great option! Sometimes you will even hear things that you can miss when you are reading and vice-versa.

4. It doesn’t have to feel amazing every time. Sometimes we think that if we didn’t ‘feel anything’ we didn’t really do anything. Reading the Bible is about a deep and slow transformation. It’s not always a time of unbelievable revelation. Every time we read God is speaking to us.

5. Find a regular place and time. Mornings might work better for you. Or perhaps a lunch break. Or perhaps in the evenings after the kids are put to bed. Use the reminder notification function of your Bible app to help you remember the regular time you have chosen. Home might be easier or the office might be easier. Even at the office or at home, pick a regular spot – a specific chair or something along those lines. We are creatures of habit. Having a dedicated place and time helps to make it easier to get it done. 

6. Journal. As you go through the Bible, take some time to jot down your thoughts. You’ll be amazed when you read back on these thoughts! Journalling helps to inspire us along the way.