Stay Consistent in the Word of God

We are three months into 2026, and distractions still lurk around every corner. In this broken world, so much of creation clamors for our attention, trying to pull our focus away from the Creator. Whether it’s the demands of our earthly jobs, new technologies promising “ease,” or a packed social calendar, we are constantly being pulled in a dozen directions.

Often, the commitment we prioritize the least—the one we push to the bottom of the to-do list—is the one we actually need the most: knowing God intimately. His Word was left to us like love letters from a significant other, written so that we might know Him deeply in every aspect of life. Scripture is critical to living a faithful, impactful life for His Kingdom. Through it, we learn to cherish God more, rely on Him more, and seek Him more. It is the essential foundation for our growth, as Paul reminded Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The Bible doesn’t just prepare us for the day-to-day; it builds us up in righteousness. To help you stay consistent, here are a few fresh tools and formats to breathe new life into your devotional time.

1. Find a Reading Plan

A good plan keeps you disciplined and on track. I’ve recently purchased one by the ESV called the ESV Daily Reading Bible! It’s an excellent help with tremendous prompts which stimulate more reflection on the passages read. The plan is easy to stick to, and even includes options for reading the bible in one or two years. It doesn’t make the reading of scripture feel like an assignment but more like a fun investigation of passages and assists in seeing more of the passage that might be missed. I’m sure there are others that would be great recommendations too which would provide devotional prompts but this is the one I settled upon for 2026! I’ll also link to the navigators reading plan as it is quite popularly recommended too:

Resources to try:

2. Utilize Audio Readings

I find that a lot of my time outside of my home can be used more efficiently and is often wasted. Especially with regards to my exercise and transportation times, which could be used more wisely instead of only limiting them to just those tasks. A friend of mine who was previously a carpenter gave me the suggestion to try listening to the narration of the Bible while doing tedious work. While he was doing sanding work he would play these bible narrations, as the task was repetitive and didn’t require much critical thinking.

I’ve taken his advice and applied it to what I would consider wasted time and made it much more meaningful. Now when I commute to the office and return home I feel like I can meditate on the word as it is narrated to me (either by car via bluetooth or on the train/subway). It gives me a fresh perspective before I walk through the office doors or return home to my wife. It’s also made working out much more edifying—I’m growing physical stamina and spiritual depth at the same time!

Here are some of what I use that have been great Podcast bible narrations (On Youtube and Spotify):

Excellent Audio Resources:

3. Join/Start a Bible Study

Accountability is an excellent tool to read the Bible as it reminds us that this walk in faith is not one we do individually but supported by fellowship. By starting a bible study with friends or other believers you can spur each other to dive deeper into God’s word, which affects your knowledge and the application of His word in your life.

If you’ve ever felt stuck on a difficult passage, you know how helpful it is to have a guide. (And while we now have tools like ChatGPT to help explain context, nothing beats the iron-sharpening-iron of a group discussion!) Teaching others what you’ve learned—and learning from them in return—is where real growth happens.

Here are some of the resources that can set you up to start a study so it’s not too daunting:

Study Resources:

Final Thoughts

Reading the Bible shouldn’t feel like a chore. It is a time to get closer to the person you should love most in this world: your Creator, Savior, and Encourager. Make it your goal to know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit more deeply this year.

I’ll leave you with this promise from Psalm 1:

Psalm 1:1-3“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”