There isn't one right way to grow in Scripture. Whether you're opening the Bible for the first time, rebuilding a reading rhythm, or ready to study more deeply, we've gathered trusted resources to help you take your next step.
For the person who needs to create sustainable rhythms
Start Here: Psalms + Proverbs
If reading the Bible has started to feel overwhelming, inconsistent, or like one more thing on your to-do list, start small.
The books of Psalms and Proverbs are wonderful places to return to Scripture without committing to a long reading plan. Psalms gives us words for prayer, worship, doubt, gratitude, grief, and hope, while Proverbs offers practical wisdom for walking faithfully with God in everyday life.
Choose one Psalm, a few verses from Proverbs, or even a short passage each day. You don't have to finish a chapter. Instead, slow down when something catches your attention.
As you read, ask: What truth do I want to carry with me today?
Write it down, pray it back to God, or return to it throughout your day.
Want Some Guidance?
If deciding what to read each day feels like another hurdle, choose one of the following reading plans that gives you a passage and a little guidance without requiring a significant time commitment.
Look for resources that keep Scripture itself at the center and help you establish the habit of opening your Bible regularly. The goal isn't to complete as much material as possible—it's to create a rhythm you can return to again and again.
Recommended: 30 Days of Prayer: A Bible Study in Psalms (Proverbs 31 Ministries)
The Proverbs 31 Ministries team invites you to discover what the Psalms teaches us about how we talk to God—and how it's possible to live a life of continuous prayer that's also a profound and life-sustaining relief.
Recommended: In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms by Dane Ortlund
In the Lord I Take Refuge invites readers to experience the Psalms in a new way through heartfelt devotional content written by Dane Ortlund. Each reading is short enough to read in five minutes or less and will encourage believers to thoughtfully ponder and pray through each of the 150 Psalms.
Make It Sustainable
You don't need an hour-long quiet time to meaningfully engage with Scripture.
Start with five or ten minutes. Choose a time and place that naturally fits into your existing day—while you drink your morning coffee, before everyone else wakes up, during your lunch break, or before bed.
Keep your Bible somewhere you'll see it, like your kitchen table. Leave a notebook and pen nearby. If you miss a day, simply open it again tomorrow. Consistency isn't about maintaining a perfect streak. It's about continuing to return.
Need a Bible?
Choose a translation that makes Scripture approachable enough that you'll want to keep reading. We recommend the NIV, ESV, CSB, and NLT translations.
If you enjoy having additional explanation as you read, a Study Bible can also provide helpful historical context, definitions, maps, and notes when you encounter something you don't understand.
You can also read or listen to Scripture for free through the YouVersion Bible App.
One Last Thing
Your time in Scripture doesn't have to be long to be meaningful.
Some days you may read several chapters. Other days, you may sit with a single verse. Both can be valuable.
Release yourself from the pressure to "catch up" or do Bible reading perfectly. Open God's Word, read what you can, and come back again tomorrow.
The ultimate goal isn't to read your Bible more. It's to keep returning to see and know God, the living Word.