Do you ever get into a rut and experience the Bible-reading blahs? Sometimes my time in the word can feel as routine as running the dishwasher and as uninspiring as an ordinary weeknight meal. We want our moments with God to be rewarding and rich but often they can feel stale and stagnant. What can we do to shake things up with our quiet time and restore us to a sweet soul-satisfying communion with Him?

1. Go to the throne before your phone. If you reach for your phone the minute you get out of bed (guilty) maybe it’s time to make a shift. Give God your first morning moments by committing the day to Him in prayer and reading a passage of scripture before jumping on social media or messages. My connection with God feels fresher and more fulfilling when it’s first on the agenda. Like walking through new untouched snow, my mind and heart receive His words with greater clarity when outside influences are not yet present. I find keeping my phone out of reach to remove distractions helpful. Keep a tablet handy to jot down things that come to mind, like items you need from the store and the doctor’s appointment you need to schedule. Random thoughts that lead us to our phones can hijack our quiet time. Remember, our phone is not our lifeline, Jesus is!

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” Psalm 119: 37.

2. Start with prayer. Sometimes I can rush into my quiet time like I do a household chore…eager to get it done and checked off my list. While God honors the commitment to meet with Him, He wants our hearts to be connected to Him. This can only happen when we start by asking the Holy Spirit to be in our presence, guiding, teaching, and drawing us nearer to God. Remember friend, we desperately need Him whether we think we do or not! Some days we know we need to be in His presence, but other days we think we’ve got things handled and under control. Starting our quiet time with prayer invites Him to be sovereign in our hearts and lets us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10: 22)
3. Switch the Bible track you’re on. My husband is a total read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year kind of guy. This never gets old to him, so he faithfully does it every year. Bravo for him. Why switch what isn’t broken? On the other hand, I have to mix things up. I love being in an inductive study requiring homework and cross-referencing scripture. When the study ends, I move into a lighter regime of reading a book of the Bible I haven’t covered in a while. Maybe I’ll mix in a devotional on some days (there are many good ones out there) and write down any verses that pop out that I’d like to do a deeper dive into. Just switching what you’re doing and even changing locations in your home for your quiet time can make a difference. Making small adjustments can help us overcome our Bible-reading blues and turn our blahs into beautiful fellowship with the Lord.

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes. I will not forget your word.” Psalm 119: 15-16