5 Tips for Finding Time to Read Your Bible
Finding time to read your Bible each morning can be a struggle. That’s why these 5 tips will help you get your routine in order.
Finding time to read your Bible each morning can be a struggle. I understand that tension so well. Before the coffee is brewed, before the house wakes up, before the texts and notifications start rolling in—there is a quiet invitation waiting for you.
The day will demand your attention. Your husband may need something. Children will wake up. Messages will ding. News will scroll. And if we aren’t intentional, Jesus gets the leftovers.
But sweet friend, He deserves our first.
Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)
“Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.”
Hiding God’s Word in your heart doesn’t happen accidentally. It happens because you decide that finding time with Him matters more than the noise.
Over the years—through homeschooling days, busy seasons with little ones underfoot, and now quieter mornings in a different stage of life—I’ve learned that “finding time” is really about creating rhythms.
Here are five practical tips that have helped me protect my quiet time and start my day grounded in truth.
1. Decide on 5 Non-Negotiables Each Morning
One of the most helpful things I’ve ever done is choose five things I do in the same order every single morning. It removes decision fatigue and keeps me from wandering into distractions.
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For me, it looks something like this:
- Get up immediately when my alarm goes off.
- Brush my teeth and wash my face.
- Stretch or move for about 15 minutes.
- Make my coffee.
- Sit down with my Bible.
That simple structure has changed everything.
When you have babies or young children, you might need to adapt this for nap time or even read your Bible aloud while little ones play nearby. There were seasons when I read Scripture with toddlers climbing in my lap. It wasn’t perfect—but it was real.
The key is consistency. When your quiet time becomes part of your rhythm instead of something you “try to squeeze in,” you stop constantly negotiating with yourself.
Finding time becomes less about squeezing and more about structuring.
When your quiet time feels flat… when your prayers feel like they’re hitting the ceiling… when your journaling page feels empty instead of alive… this video is for you.
2. Put Your Phone on “Do Not Disturb”
This one is big.
Put your phone on Do Not Disturb until after your quiet time.
Do not scroll through Facebook in bed before reaching for your Bible. Just saying.
Social media has a gravitational pull. It promises quick connection, quick information, quick entertainment—but it rarely gives peace. Once you start scrolling, it’s hard to stop.
When your phone is silent and face down, your heart is quieter too.
There is something deeply grounding about opening a physical Bible. Turning real pages. Underlining with a pen. Writing in the margins. It engages your heart and mind differently from tapping a screen.
If you must use a device, consider airplane mode. Protect your first moments of the day. They shape your thoughts more than you realize.
3. Wake Up Your Body So Your Spirit Can Engage
It surprised me how much brushing my teeth and washing my face immediately helped my focus.
If I tried to read my Bible half-asleep, I would reread the same verse three times and still not absorb it. But when I woke up my body first, my mind followed.
A simple 15-minute workout or stretching time can do wonders. It doesn’t need to be intense. Just enough to get your blood flowing.
When you feel alert, you’re more attentive.
God deserves your presence, not your leftovers. When we take a few minutes to prepare ourselves physically, it becomes easier to show up spiritually.
And no—this isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention.
4. Minimize Distractions Intentionally
Distractions don’t remove themselves. We remove them.
Choose a specific spot for your quiet time if possible. A chair by the window. A corner of your kitchen table. A small basket with your Bible, journal, and pen ready to go.
Make it easy to say yes.
I personally love reading from a real Bible instead of a device. There is something about underlining, circling words, and writing notes in the margins that anchors the truth in my heart.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
When you open your Bible, you aren’t reading ordinary words. You are opening the inspired truth. Living truth. Words that shape your thinking and gently correct your heart.
That deserves your full attention.
If your mind wanders, gently bring it back. If children interrupt, respond with grace and return when you can. This is not about achieving the perfect quiet time. It’s about meeting with a very real God who delights in your desire to be with Him.
5. Tuck a Verse Into Your Heart for the Day
Reading is wonderful. But hiding God’s Word in your heart changes everything.
You need truth ready when impatience rises. When discouragement creeps in. When comparison whispers. When anxiety starts knocking.
- Write one verse in a journal.
- Copy it onto an index card.
- Slip it into your pocket.
- Tape it to your kitchen cabinet.
Carry it with you.
When I was in the thick of motherhood—homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, refereeing sibling conflicts—I often whispered Scripture under my breath. Those verses steadied me. They reminded me of who I belonged to.
Finding time in the morning equips you for everything that follows.
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When Finding Time Feels Impossible
There will be seasons when this feels hard. Exhaustion. Night feedings. Illness. Emotional overwhelm. Busy schedules.
In those moments, remember: God is not keeping score. He is inviting you into a relationship.
Even five faithful minutes are better than none.
- Open to one Psalm.
- Read one paragraph.
- Write one sentence prayer.
God is real—and He wants to go with you into your day.
You are not checking a box. You are meeting with the God of the universe.
Why This Matters So Much
Your quiet time sets the tone for everything.
- It softens your responses.
- It steadies your emotions.
- It reminds you of the truth before the world tells you something else.
When you choose to find time for God, you are choosing alignment over chaos.
You are choosing eternal perspective over daily drama.
You are choosing to anchor your heart before the winds pick up.
And over time, those small daily decisions shape your entire life.
A Gentle Challenge
Tomorrow morning, choose one of these five tips and put it into practice.
- Set your phone aside.
- Brush your teeth and wake up fully.
- Open your Bible before opening an app.
- Write one verse.
- Hide it in your heart.
Start small—but start.
My hope and prayer are that opening your Bible and making time for Jesus will draw you into His presence each day. Removing distractions and preparing your heart will help you stay alert and ready to meet with Him.
Finding time isn’t about having extra hours.
It’s about deciding Who matters most.
And He is always waiting.
Study the Bible – Bible Reading Plan
The Study the Bible, Bible Reading Plan is designed to help you meet with Jesus in His Word—without pressure, perfection, or overwhelm.
There are 28 Days for getting into God’s word through Scripture writing and journaling. You will love drawing closer to Jesus this month!
Reading commentary on Gods Word in place of Gods Word.
I find that when I start to “color” in my Bible, I wanna finish a coloring page I started days ago and not reading my Bible at all.
Hi Stella! Those two things could really distract you from reading the Bible. Not that they are ‘bad’ things to do at all. How would it work if you did your coloring page after reading your Bible? Your transparency is so sweet!