My Jedi Mind Trick for Reading the Bible EVERY Day

You will read your Bible every day. (waves hand in front of your face)

That’s what you pictured when you read the title, isn’t it? Well, that doesn’t work!!! 🙂

The real mind trick is something I’ve been doing since the start of the year, and it has made a significant difference in how frequently I sit down to read my Bible. It’s easy and simple and only requires that you do one thing: keep a to-do list (that’s not the mind trick, by the way).

If you’re like me, you can’t function without a to-do list. Even if it’s just a few things jotted down on paper in the morning, I have to see a plan written somewhere. And, at the end of the day, I like to know that I was productive. Just looking at a list full of checked off “to-dos” seriously makes me happy.

There are two things to change about your to-do list that will help you be diligent about Bible reading:

1.) Placement

2.) Wording

First things first…Where does Bible reading rank on your list?

I have been using Whitney English’s Day Designer all year (big shout out to Whitney!), and besides loving the entire planner, one of my favorite features is the “Today’s Top Three” box at the top of the daily page. That’s where you put the most important things you need to attend to that day, and for all of 2015, I have put reading my Bible on that list. ‘Cause if I want to make it happen every day, my to-do list has to say that it’s a priority! You could do this without a Day Designer, of course, you just have to prioritize whatever list you write.

The second and more “tricky” thing, is what you actually call your “Read the Bible, pray, meditate, and journal Time.”

For most of my life, I referred to this as my “devotions” or “quiet time.” At the beginning of the year, I realized that those names didn’t mean a whole lot to me. I used them because that’s what everyone else called them. And if I skipped my “quiet time,” it didn’t seem like a super big deal. I was the one at a loss, right? I didn’t get time to be quiet. Oh well. And “devotions”? Let’s be honest, I stopped thinking about what that actually means a long time ago.

But, when I started calling it my “Time of Thanks,” my perspective changed. It was no longer something I was getting for myself (although it’s still the most beneficial thing you could do with your time), it was my opportunity during the day to kneel and thank, express gratitude and soak up my Lord’s presence. I changed what I called it and in so doing, I changed the way I thought about it.

After utilizing this little psychological trick, I began focusing on the purpose of that time in a way that made me feel disappointed in myself if I didn’t allow for it in my day. “That was my special focused time to thank God for everything He’s done for me, and I missed it!” Suddenly I became far more diligent about my “Time of Thanks.” Granted, I still miss a day here and there, and so will everyone. You’re not going to hell for that. But, just by tweaking the way I wrote my to-do list, it became harder for me to forget.

Eventually, whatever name you choose will get stale. You’ll stop thinking about the words and just equate it with “that time when you read your Bible.” When that happens, change the name again. I can already tell I need to do it. I’ve been thinking about referring to it as “Time On My Knees.” I’ll let you know how that works.

So, basically be intentional with the importance you place on Bible reading time each day, but also, refresh your understanding of what you’re actually doing. And let me know if this helps you! It’s made a drastic difference for me!

Do you have any special tricks for making sure you read your Bible every day? What would you call your Bible time? Let me know in the comments!

–Song