Why You Should Make Sure Your Bible Study Doesn’t Become a Habit!

Positive habits are a good thing, right? Surprisingly, researchers discovered that as soon as you start any kind of habitual activity, like making your morning omelet or folding the laundry, your brain goes into “sleep mode,” and brain activity actually slows down.

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How can this research help us with our daily Bible reading? We want to create habits with our spiritual disciplines, but we also want to make sure they don’t become just habits. Make time for a spiritual check-in—by yourself or as an exercise for your small group–and find out if your daily Bible readings are still keeping you engaged. You may find one of these tips is just what you needed to revive your daily Bible reading habit.

1. Draw It Out: Most people are visual learners so how about drawing your Bible study instead? Take a Bible verse from our 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge (or any verse or passage of your choice) and simply draw what you think it looks like. You may be surprised at the results
2. Pick a Different Location: Researchers found that the best time to break a habit is when you’re on vacation. The reason? The old cues and patterns are no longer there, and new behaviors can be formed. For your next Bible study, choose a place that’s a little out of your comfort zone. If you normally read the Bible at home, try the park or a coffee shop.
3. Pick a Different Time: If changing up where you do your Bible study isn’t an option, try changing up when you do your Bible study. If you usually do your Bible study at the end of the day, do your Bible reading at your lunch break. If you’re a morning person, try your Bible study after dinner. Little things can make an impact.
4. A Study on Thanks: Do a Bible Study just on gratitude. Pick a passage or parable on gratitude, such the “Parable of the Two Debtors” in Luke 17:36-50 or the “Parable of the Talents” in Matthew 25:14-30. Read through the Bible verses and think about how grateful you are with the things God has given you. Write them down and if they include any particular people, you can always thank them personally for what they do for you.
5. Create a Psalm: Choose from one of the many timeless themes from the Psalms. For instance, you can focus on the Psalms on finding rest and peace in God’s care: (Psalms 16, 23, 46 and more) or those requesting God’s deliverance during hardship (Psalms 3-5, 13, 16, and more) Read through them and notice what words or ideas connect with you most. Then, write your own psalm of finding comfort in God. Try to write free-form: just let the words flow and see what happens.
This post is a part of Rose’s 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge, an interactive and easy-to-follow plan to get you started on a lifelong habit of daily Bible reading. FREE 2015 Bible Reading Plan included. To join our 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge, simply respond “I join!” subscribe to the blog, and share this post to invite (and challenge) your friends, family, and church to join! Also, don’t forget to enter our photo contest sweepstakes to win a fantastic Bible study tool!

What are your thoughts on our list? Do you have methods that are helpful for your Bible study? Please share your comments below.

 

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