Five Ways to Keep Going in Your Bible Study

For two summers I babysat my younger cousins who lived across town. They were nine and seven. I was around thirteen or fourteen. Their mom went to work at 7:30 each morning. So instead of my mom getting up early and dragging out my brother and sisters, I rode my bike across town each day. I relished the feeling of freedom, peddling on the backroads. I traveled the same roads each day.

First, I would turn at the fire department and ride back behind the Kroger and Hallmark along the river. Under the bridge and down the alley way to ride straight down the streets, still asleep. One morning I must have been super tired. My eyes are drifting close as peddled through the same route. I suddenly jerked awake and fell forward over my handlebars. I had hit a pole.

A white pole on the side of a street I had passed a million times. Suddenly, I felt the rush of heat from embarrassment. I imagined the little old lady looking out her window with her coffee cup. She might have spewed her coffee right now if she had seen me. The only thing I injured was my pride. I never hit that pole again. And every time I came to it on my route, I would steer clear of that pole. I didn’t want to hit again.

Last month I hit a wall with my Bible study. Friend, let me admit to you: I don’t have it all together. Sometimes the Bible doesn’t hold the mystery and majesty I speak about. God’s Word sometimes doesn’t spark inspiration or encouragement. Comfort isn’t found in the pages, and when I was struggling with some issues in my life, feeling the anxiety creep into my heart at night, I realized Bible study and Bible reading had become a checklist item.

I don’t know if you are like, but the suddenly realization that God wasn’t speaking to me (in my heart) is a little jolting. I feel like I needed to change things up. But sometimes that doesn’t work. So, how do we keep going in Bible study?

Five Ways to Keep Going in Your Bible Study

1. Change your approach. The first step might be to change up how you doing Bible study. I have lots of methods I shared last month. You can find all four in my workbook, 4 Ways to Study the Bible. Download a FREE copy here.

2. Spend some real time in prayer. I get excited to just check things off my list, and the faster I can get them done the better I feel. But prayer isn’t a line on my to-do list. Prayer isn’t something to rush. I’m learning (the hard way) that prayer is a discipline. I have to set a timer and keep my mind focused by listening to music and writing out my prayers. In my Bible Study Packet you will find lots of prayer resources. Download a copy here.

3. Listen to some good sermons. My husband has turned me on to listening to sermons online. You can find a good list here. It has given me a good perspective hearing other men of God teach His Word.

4. Read some different books. Before this month, I can’t tell you the last time I had read a fictional book. On a whim, I picked up a book and read it in two days. Instead of turning on Netflix at night I now pick up my fiction book. I have stopped reading a lot of Christian nonfiction because God’s Word is the voice I want to here, not Beth Moore’s. Not that I don’t love Christian nonfiction (I’ll be sharing some great resources in my newsletter this month), but sometimes I need to let God’s Word be the loudest thing I hear.

5. Get creative. I’m not a artsy person, but I do love Bible journaling. It has been several months since I picked up my paints, stickers, and spent time just mediating on one passage. On the days I take the time to dive into being creative, I find God meets me there.

Friend, God’s Word and Bible study won’t always “feel” good. It might feel a lot like work some days. Its ok. Discipleship does contain the word “discipline.” Let’s not forget discipline takes effort. Sweat and blood and tears will sometimes happen when we are digging deep. As women, our feelings want to be first – but God says “renew your mind.” Let your mind lead and I promise, the feelings will come. From one faulting girl to another remember this truth: keep going. Make the choice, no matter your feelings.

Keep going in your Bible study by downloading the Four Ways to Study the Bible Workbook (plus extras!) Download digital version here.

Welcome to Tuesday Talk!

Please pick ONE social media to follow EACH HOST. Drop your link below!

Link up here:

Loading InLinkz ...

5 Comments

Becky Hastings says:

September 5, 2017 at 7:46 am

I think it’s easy to get set in one way of doing things, and then we can end up frustrated and wondering why it’s not working! I love your encouragement to try new things with Bible Study!
Meghan says:

September 5, 2017 at 10:16 am

These are great ways to get reinspired and/or hear God, Sarah. Thanks for encouraging us along!
Lyli @lylidunbar.com says:

September 5, 2017 at 5:48 pm

Love these tips, Sarah. Sometimes we get into a rut, and it’s good to shake things up a bit. 🙂
Donna Reidland says:

September 7, 2017 at 2:06 am

Thanks for these great suggestions. It is easy to get stuck in one way of doing things or frustrated by what we think we should do, instead of trying some different things. I find that reading a good book or post on prayer or Bible study can be just the motivation I need.
Karen Woodall says:

September 7, 2017 at 3:07 pm

I think all of us have been laying at the bottom of a pole in our Bible study. These are great suggestions for keeping it alive and fresh. I like the journaling idea, but i can’t bring myself to color in my Bible, so I bought a blank journal and sometimes draw or paint a verse and then journal my thoughts under it. i’m not very good at it, but I do find that the creative process does allow me time to think on a passage while I work on the art. Thanks for your post!