Last week I shared with you the one reason you need to read the Bible – to claim God’s promise of an abundant life. Most of us agree that Jesus came to earth to give us eternal life, the first part of John 10:10b that says, “I came that they may have life”. But it’s the second part of that verse that we doubt – the part that reads, “and have it abundantly.”

Jesus came to earth so that we can experience abundant life NOW! We experience abundant life through a relationship with Him, by knowing His character, and understanding there is a bigger, eternal story He is writing.

But reading the Bible is intimidating. There’s no doubt. It’s long. The words are hard to understand. There’s different translations. It’s written in different literary genres. And where do you even start? To say, “just read your Bible”, is like saying to a baby just get up and walk.

Back when I was in college, there were very few resources to teach me how to read my Bible. We didn’t have the internet. We didn’t even have a computer. Gasp! I know! And, to my knowledge, we didn’t have Christian bookstores.

Now there are almost too many resources. You can definitely find all the help you want with reading the Bible. But even though it may be easier, it’s still not easy. However, that’s still not a reason not to do it. Here’s a few steps to help you get started.

How to start reading the Bible:

1. Remember, there are no rules. If you tend to be a perfectionist like me, the enemy will get you here by trying to shame you for missing a day or not reading enough. Don’t listen. Your desire to know God is what matters.

2. Download YouVersion on your phone. This is a Bible app. Of course you can use a hardcopy of the Bible, but the reason I like YouVersion is that unlike my big, bulky Bible (which I still love, by the way), my phone is always with me. So there’s no excuses, and I can read a few verses even while waiting in line.

3. Choose a reading plan and start small. This is another reason I like YouVersion. There are hundreds of reading plans and devotionals of varying lengths and styles and types for you to choose from. It answers the question “Where do I start?”. There are yearly reading plans and then there are some as short as a few days to a week. I recommend you start small. This way you will feel successful and motivated to read more!

And I recommend you start here at She Reads Truth! She Reads Truth is a community of women who are committed to reading the Bible together. You can find all the details and how to connect with YouVersion here.

A few other good plans for starting: 60 to Start, Bible Introduction, and Psalms and Proverbs in 31 Days.

4. Choose a Bible translation. I can’t tell you which Bible translation to choose, but I want you to choose one that will encourage you to continue reading your Bible! I like the English Standard Version (ESV) because it’s closer in translation to the original text without being the King James Version. I also read the New International Version often. I sometimes read the New Living Translation or The Message because they’re easy to read. The Message is written in a conversational, devotional-type format.

5. Set up reminders on YouVersion. You can set up email, text, or push notifications to remind you to read your Bible reading for the day. You can even get the reading delivered to your inbox! Do this because it will help to hold you accountable!

6. Make a commitment. Make a commitment to finish the reading plan that you start. Even if you don’t like it or don’t understand it, just be adamant about reaching the finish line!

Reading the Bible is one of those things that the more you do it the easier it will become and the more you will want to do it. There are no rules. Start small, reading a little each day, and go from there. What’s important is that you read!

 Talk to me! What’s your biggest frustration with reading the Bible?