1 Invest in a visually appealing, pretty Bible, or purchase a dust jacket that you like and inspires you

Why is that important? I want you to get over the feeling that the Bible is an outdated, dusty book. Make ‘a’ book your book. I don’t like books that look unused. A book can have traces and the Bible in particular should become one book. For example, my Bible has a sturdy leather cover with a feel.

2 Choose a translation that is right for you

There are many translations, but which one is right for you? Even if it is tempting at first glance to buy a Bible in a colloquial translation (yes, they exist, as well as Bibles in dialect!), that wasn’t so much for me because I wanted to stay as close to the original text as possible. It reads a bit bumpy, especially at the beginning, because you’re simply not used to reading these types of old texts anymore, but you need to get used to it too I like the Schlachter or Elberfelder translation, for example.

3 Use a Bible reading plan

Bible reading plans help you stick to the reading plan you have set, especially at the beginning. For example, if you want to read through the playfully way for a year, the plan will help you stick to the necessary chapters every day. I did this for the first, 2 years and it was very quantity helpful. Of course, it’s not about the quantity of reading, but about the content, but this motivated me a lot during reading times when the content became ‘dry’, such as in the seemingly endless lists of names in the Old Testament

4 That brings us to the next point: persevere

To this day I don’t fully understand why some passages were so important to God that he listed them in such detail. Name registers are ‘not easy to read’. But since it is part of the content, I see these sections as a kind of meditation. My mind is focused on reading and I trust that part to focus my thoughts in the morning too – and it works. The quiet reading time prepares me for the day ahead and even name registers help me practice concentration. Perhaps we need this more than ever, because how often do you just keep peeling it like something?

5 Create your ritual

Everything is easier if it is always practiced at the same time and in the same place. For example, I always read before breakfast and before I pick up my cell phone. It’s the first thing that pops my head in the morning. Of course, you can create your ritual, for example on the way to example or after example during a digestive break. A special reading place, for example, an armchair with a side table, where the book is always ready – and the coffee can be put down – helps enormously. Let your family know that this ritual is important to you, they will get used to the fact that these 20 minutes are yours.

6 Choose a study topic

You can start by choosing a topic (health, faith, family, self-confidence, business, finances, relationships…) and assign a specific color to this topic. For example, I’m currently studying the topic of joy and using a yellow marker for it. At the end of the year, you will have a quick overview when you leaf through your Bible. Of course, this method is even more efficient in a Bible app, but I just like the good old book. Imagine doing this for 3 years on 3 different topics. Your insider knowledge in a certain area strengthens you immensely.

7 Invite God to interpret the Word correctly for you

Before I begin reading, I pray briefly and ask God to help me understand the passage correctly. You can’t understand many things rationally and need help from the ‘author’. Like an onion, passages can have multiple meanings, be understood superficially, or have a deeper core. I have read the Bible dozens of times now and keep discovering new content. Crazy, right?

Be kind to yourself if you take involuntary breaks or don’t keep up with your reading schedule. But stick with the ritual that will strengthen you.