My Daily Bible Reading Routine

I try to start each day with Bible reading. I wake up, pour a cup of coffee, feed my dogs and then sit down to read my Bible. I find that it is easier to “count it all joy” as James says, going through my day when I start my day with my Bible. I like to think of it as starting a conversation with God that lasts all day long. But that first connection in the morning is when I align myself with Him, and set the tone for the day.

So What Does it Look Like?

When I read, I have my Bible, my journal, my pens, and my calendar. My calendar has my daily Bible reading plan marked in it, but it is also a place where I can brain dump any things that need to get done that day so they don’t distract me from my reading. It helps keep me focused on what I am doing in that moment.

I use Sharpie Pens in my Bible, and Pilot G-2 05 in my journal. I know, I know, that’s a complicated system. But it works for me. I find that the Sharpie Pens don’t bleed through the pages of my Bible, even though the pages are thin, and they come in lots of colors so I can use my color code for Bible marking easily.

My journal, I simply pick out a spiral bound one that I like, usually from Target, and my Bible I am using the She Reads Truth CSB.

Okay, so I sit down at my desk, open my calendar to see what I will be reading. Then I open my journal and write the reference to that passage of scripture at the top. Sometimes I write out a little prayer to ask God to help me understand what I am about to read, and sometimes I just pray it in my head. Then I open my Bible and start reading.

Here is the point where I realize I am not wearing my glasses so I have to go find my glasses and come back to my desk (this happens at least 5 days per week).

As I am reading I am looking for characteristics of God. I want to know who God is. After all, the Bible is a book about Him! So I will note any characteristics of God in purple. I will take notes in my journal about things I may have questions about, or things I don’t understand. After I finish the passage that I have set out to read, I begin my prayer time. I use this prayer guide in my prayer time, and I usually start off my prayer praising God for the characteristic about Himself that He showed me that day. Sometimes it is a characteristic that I have known about for years, but He just reminded me that He is still the same. Sometimes, it is something I had never had the words for, or even something I never knew. Each day I thank Him for who He is, and who He is in my life.

So there you have it. That is my Bible reading routine. What about you? How do you read the Bible?