Tips to Help You Slow Down and Read Scripture

Resist the urge to skim and give God's Word your full attention

Truth be told, sometimes I read Scripture like I’m reading an assigned book for school — reading as quickly as I can, trying to cover as much ground as possible while trying to note important details and ideas so I can pass the test. 

The problem with that? Scripture isn’t a textbook we’re reading to pass a test. It’s a story that God has unfolded through each book, revealing his character, his purpose and his plan to redeem a people to himself. It’s a book to be savored and reread, to meditate on and pore over. 

So what steps am I taking to fight the pull of hurrying through God’s Word so I can focus on quality rather than quantity? 

Set aside time in your schedule to read the Bible.

It doesn’t have to be an hour, and you don’t have to get up at 4 a.m., but setting aside a specific time when you can devote all of your focus and attention on reading God’s Word is vital. To really lean in and focus on Scripture, you have to be able to give it all your attention. So choose a time when you won’t be distracted, hurried or pulled in a million different directions. 

Don’t multitask. 

I’ll admit that I’m a big multitasker. I’m always trying to kill two birds with one stone and I'm well-known for reading a book while attempting to watch a TV show. The problem is that when you multitask, you often can’t give either task the attention it deserves. If your goal is to slow down and give Scripture your undivided attention, then give it your undivided attention. Turn off the TV. Don’t listen to music or eat breakfast or attempt to do anything else but engage with God’s Word. Give it your absolute and full attention. 

Keep your reading short. 

Reading Scripture isn’t a race or an assignment. Rather than racing through four chapters so you can check them off the list, read one or two. If you’re following a reading plan, you may need to break up the daily readings into more manageable chunks that work for your attention span, schedule and life. Who cares if it takes you a year-and-a-half to get through a yearly reading plan? The goal is to read and understand so you can apply and live it out. 

Read it aloud or listen. 

Sometimes, when I’m reading the Bible, I just start reading it out loud. I’m sure my dog thinks I’m a little bit crazy, but reading aloud forces you to slow down and think about what you’re reading rather than rushing through. There are plenty of ways to listen to the Bible these days, from YouVersion to Bible Gateway, so if you’d rather listen to someone else read while you read along in your Bible, that is another option.

Meditate on what you’ve read. 

I’ll admit that I don’t always get to do this as much as I’d like, but taking the time to mull over what you’ve read is important. Take a deep breath and let your heart and mind consider what you’ve read. Prayerfully ask God to help you understand and apply what the Spirit has revealed through the Word. Take a few moments to journal about what you’ve learned or record key points you want to remember or ponder more deeply. Rather than seeing your Bible reading time as having a strict beginning and end, journaling can help keep the conversation going, giving you the tools to go back and ponder what you’ve read throughout the day or later on. 

Let us know if these tips are helpful to you as you lean in and commit to giving the Bible your full attention. What tips or processes help you fully focus on Scripture? Share them in the comments!