Starting Your Daily Bible Reading Journey: A Grace-Filled Guide for Busy Moms

Hey sweet friends,

Can we have an honest conversation about something that’s been on my heart? I know so many of us want to read our Bibles daily – we know it’s important, we feel that gentle tug in our spirits, and we genuinely desire to grow closer to Jesus. But between the morning rush, work demands, kids’ schedules, and everything else pulling at us, it can feel impossible to find the time.

Maybe you’ve tried before. Maybe you started with grand plans on January 1st, lasted about two weeks, and then felt guilty every time you saw that Bible sitting there unopened. Or perhaps you’ve been wanting to start but feel overwhelmed by where to begin – the Bible is a big book, and it can feel intimidating if you’re not sure how to approach it.

Sister, I’ve been there. I’ve felt the frustration of good intentions that didn’t turn into lasting habits. I’ve experienced the guilt of knowing I “should” be reading more and the confusion of not knowing where to start or how to make it sustainable in the midst of real life.

But I’ve also discovered that God’s grace is bigger than our failed attempts, and He meets us exactly where we are – even if that’s starting over for the tenth time.

Let’s Start with Grace, Not Guilt

Before we talk about any practical strategies, I want you to hear this: God is not disappointed in you if you haven’t been reading your Bible daily. He’s not keeping score or waiting for you to get your act together before He loves you. His love for you is not based on your Bible reading consistency.

The goal of daily Bible reading isn’t to earn God’s approval or check off a spiritual to-do list. It’s about relationship – spending time with the One who loves you most, learning His heart, and allowing His truth to shape your thoughts and perspectives.

Think of it like any relationship that matters to you. You talk to your best friend regularly not because you have to, but because you love her and want to stay connected. That’s the heart behind spending time in God’s Word – it’s about connection, not obligation.

Why Daily Bible Reading Matters (Beyond the “Should”)

When I started approaching Bible reading from a place of love rather than duty, everything changed. Here’s what I’ve discovered about why this practice is so valuable:

It Changes How We Think Our minds are constantly being shaped by something – social media, news, conversations, worries. Daily time in Scripture gives God’s truth a chance to influence our thought patterns. Instead of anxiety being my default, I’m more likely to remember that God is in control. Instead of comparison stealing my joy, I’m reminded of my identity in Christ.

It Provides Perspective for Daily Life When I’m reading regularly, I find myself remembering biblical principles throughout the day. A verse I read in the morning might come to mind when I’m frustrated with my kids, or a passage about forgiveness might help me respond differently to a difficult situation.

It Deepens Our Relationship with God Just like spending time with a friend helps you understand their personality and heart, spending time in God’s Word helps you understand His character. You start to see patterns of His faithfulness, grace, and love throughout Scripture.

It Anchors Us in Truth In a world full of conflicting voices and opinions, the Bible provides a steady foundation of truth. Regular reading helps us distinguish God’s voice from all the other noise.

Starting Small: The 10-Minute Solution

Here’s where so many of us go wrong: we think daily Bible reading has to look like an hour-long quiet time with perfect lighting, complete silence, and a profound spiritual experience every time. That’s just not realistic for most of us in this season of life.

Instead, let’s start with something completely doable: 10 minutes a day.

Why 10 minutes works:

  • It’s not overwhelming
  • You can find 10 minutes even on busy days
  • It’s long enough to read something meaningful
  • It builds the habit without creating stress

When to find your 10 minutes:

  • Before the kids wake up (even if it means setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier)
  • During your lunch break
  • While dinner is in the oven
  • Right before bed as part of your wind-down routine
  • While drinking your morning coffee

The key is picking ONE consistent time and protecting it. Don’t try to be flexible at first – routine creates automaticity.

Where to Start: Choosing Your Reading Plan

One of the biggest barriers to starting is not knowing where to begin. The Bible can feel overwhelming when you’re staring at 66 books and wondering where to jump in.

For Absolute Beginners: Start with the Gospel of John. It’s a beautiful introduction to who Jesus is, written in accessible language with lots of practical teaching. You can read it in about 3-4 weeks at a comfortable pace.

For Those Who Want Structure:

  • The One Year Bible breaks down daily readings to get through the entire Bible in a year
  • She Reads Truth offers beautiful study plans with devotional thoughts
  • YouVersion Bible App has hundreds of reading plans for different topics and timeframes

For Those Who Want to Go Deeper: Pick one book of the Bible and read it slowly, maybe a chapter or even just a few verses each day. Spend time thinking about what you’ve read, looking up cross-references, or reading a commentary.

My Personal Recommendation: Start with Psalms and Proverbs. Psalms speaks to every emotion and life situation you’ll ever face, while Proverbs offers practical wisdom for daily living. You could alternate – read a Psalm one day, a chapter of Proverbs the next.

Creating Your Sacred Space

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect reading nook, but having a designated space can help signal to your brain that it’s time to focus. This could be:

  • A corner of your bedroom with a comfortable chair
  • The kitchen table before anyone else is awake
  • Your car during lunch break
  • Even the bathroom if that’s the only quiet space you can find (no judgment!)

What you need:

  • Your Bible (physical or on your phone/tablet)
  • Maybe a notebook and pen for jotting down thoughts
  • A cup of coffee or tea if that helps you focus
  • Good lighting

What you don’t need:

  • Perfect silence (God can speak even with background noise)
  • An hour of uninterrupted time
  • Profound insights every single day
  • Fancy study materials

Practical Strategies That Actually Work

The 2-Minute Rule On days when 10 minutes feels impossible, commit to just 2 minutes. Read one verse, one paragraph, or one short passage. The goal is consistency, not perfection. Often, those 2 minutes will naturally extend to longer, but even if they don’t, you’ve kept the habit alive.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

  • Download a Bible app so you can read anywhere
  • Set a daily reminder on your phone
  • Use audio Bibles while doing dishes or driving
  • Follow Bible reading accounts on social media for daily encouragement

Prepare for Obstacles You will miss days. Your routine will get disrupted. Kids will get sick, work will get crazy, life will happen. Plan for this by:

  • Not trying to “catch up” if you miss a day – just start again where you left off
  • Having a backup plan (audio Bible in the car, verse of the day on your phone)
  • Remembering that grace covers our inconsistencies

Make It Enjoyable

  • Choose a Bible translation you can understand (NIV, NLT, ESV are all good options)
  • Try different formats – maybe a study Bible, a journal Bible, or even a Bible app with different reading plans
  • Read aloud sometimes – there’s something powerful about hearing God’s Word
  • Don’t feel like you have to understand everything perfectly

What to Do with What You Read

You don’t need to have a theological degree to benefit from Bible reading. Here are simple ways to engage with what you’re reading:

Ask Simple Questions:

  • What does this passage tell me about God’s character?
  • Is there a promise I can hold onto?
  • Is there something I should do differently?
  • What encouragement do I find here?

Look for Practical Application:

  • How can I apply this to my relationships?
  • What does this teach me about handling stress or worry?
  • How does this change my perspective on my current situation?

Pray Through What You’ve Read: Turn your reading into conversation with God. Thank Him for something you learned, ask Him to help you apply a truth, or simply tell Him how the passage made you feel.

Don’t Pressure Yourself for Deep Insights: Some days, the simple reminder that “God loves me” is exactly what you need. Not every reading session has to produce profound revelations.

When Life Gets in the Way

Let’s be real – there will be seasons when daily Bible reading feels extra challenging:

With Young Children:

  • Read while they eat breakfast
  • Use naptime or quiet time
  • Keep a small Bible in your diaper bag for waiting rooms
  • Listen to audio Bible while pushing the stroller

During Busy Work Seasons:

  • Read during your commute (audio Bible)
  • Use your lunch break
  • Read one verse and meditate on it throughout the day
  • Try a Bible app with short daily devotionals

When You’re Discouraged:

  • Remember that God meets you in every attempt, even imperfect ones
  • Start with encouraging books like Psalms or Philippians
  • Read verses about God’s love and faithfulness
  • Join a Bible reading group for accountability and encouragement

Building the Habit That Sticks

Start Small: Begin with 5-10 minutes rather than ambitious hour-long sessions

Be Consistent: Same time, same place when possible

Stack the Habit: Attach Bible reading to something you already do daily (morning coffee, evening routine)

Track Your Progress: Use a simple calendar check-mark system

Give Yourself Grace: When you miss a day, don’t give up – just start again tomorrow

Find Community: Share your goal with a friend or join a Bible reading group

The Seasons and Rhythms of Bible Reading

Your Bible reading practice will look different in different seasons of life, and that’s okay:

Survival Seasons: When you’re dealing with newborns, illness, major life changes, even reading one verse a day counts

Growth Seasons: When life is more stable, you might read longer passages or use study guides

Deep Dive Seasons: Occasionally, you might feel called to intensive study of a particular book or topic

All of these are valid and valuable. God meets us in every season.

What About When It Feels Dry or Boring?

Sometimes the Bible can feel dry or hard to understand, and that’s normal. Here are some thoughts for those seasons:

  • Try a different translation
  • Read a different book of the Bible
  • Use a study Bible with explanatory notes
  • Listen to it instead of reading it
  • Remember that not every reading session will feel emotionally fulfilling
  • Keep going anyway – faithfulness in the mundane is where character is built

The Heart Behind the Habit

At the end of the day, daily Bible reading isn’t about perfection or checking off a spiritual duty. It’s about positioning ourselves to hear from God, to be shaped by His truth, and to grow in relationship with Him.

Some days you’ll read and feel deeply moved. Other days, it might feel routine or even difficult. Both are normal and valuable. The goal is simply showing up consistently and allowing God to work in and through that faithfulness.

Your Next Step

If you’re ready to start (or restart) a daily Bible reading habit, here’s what I’d encourage you to do this week:

  1. Choose your time: Pick a specific 10-minute window that you can reasonably protect most days
  2. Choose your place: Designate where you’ll read
  3. Choose your starting point: I recommend the Gospel of John or Psalms if you’re not sure
  4. Set a simple reminder: Phone alarm, sticky note, whatever works
  5. Start tomorrow: Don’t wait for Monday or next month – just begin

Remember, sweet friend, this isn’t about adding another burden to your already full life. It’s about making space for the One who loves you most to speak into your days, your worries, your joys, and your ordinary moments.

God is so patient with our stumbling attempts to grow closer to Him. He celebrates every small step, every imperfect effort, every time we choose to open His Word even when we don’t feel like it.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to be consistent from day one. You just have to start.

What’s one small step you can take this week toward spending time in God’s Word? I’d love to hear about your journey and cheer you on.

Here’s to growing closer to Jesus, one day at a time, Mish


P.S. If you start a reading plan and it’s not working for you, don’t feel guilty about switching to something else. The goal is connecting with God, not completing a program. Find what works for your heart and your schedule.

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