Deal with struggles to read your Bible

Let us be honest with ourselves for a few seconds. When was the last time you read the scripture? Not during a Sunday service or at a wedding. We are talking about sitting down with the Bible and spending some time reading and understanding a portion of it. If you are like many Christians, it has probably been a while and yet a large part of one’s spiritual activity and health depends on how dedicated they are to reading the Holy Book.
In the scriptures, Christians are encouraged to do so in Joshua 1:8 which says: “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. Meditate on it, day and night, so that you may observe and do the things that are written in it…” and in 1Timothy 4:13 which says: “Until I arrive, pay attention to reading…” It is clear therefore that reading the Bible is something you should do religiously. And yet many Christians do not do so. “Either because of the poor reading culture, the difficulties and controversies surrounding the understanding of the text, or just out of lack of willingness, a sizable number of Christians do not actually read the Bible. Even when they do, it is only a few verses. And because they do not, they are kept in ignorance about what should or should not be done in church today,” Francis Z. Kiyaga, a Bible teacher at Anointed Discipleship School Ndejje says.
He adds that dedication to reading the Bible helps us know God’s will and to learn how to conduct ourselves. So what are the ways people can plan and encourage themselves to read God’s word?

Use Bible apps
Just like reading books, novels and different texts world over has been simplified, Bible reading has also been simplified especially with technology. From automatic daily scripture notifications to audio Bible readings, the options are many. Having an app is also convenient. It may be hard for you to carry your Bible everywhere you go, or pull it out in public to start reading. Thus, having your Bible on your mobile gadget so you can access it anytime and anywhere makes it convenient.
“I installed a Bible application on my phone, which gives me a daily reading. The moment I’m connected to the internet, I get a notification giving me a chapter to read. I just click on it, and read. I however won’t say this is easy. Sometimes I’m not in the mood to read, so I just clear the notification. But there are days when I can even read more than five chapters,” Gloria Nantambi, a student at Kyambogo university says.

Have a Bible calendar
If you do not have a plan for how you want to read and study the scriptures, then you will not be inspired to pick your Bible each day as you will not be sure of what to read. Having a structured plan therefore helps. Apostle Paul Galigan of Revival Ministries shares the option of reading the Bible using a calendar. At his church, they came up with a Bible reading calendar, which comes with daily chapters for each day of the month indicated. Better still, the chapters are mixed up to break the monotony that may come with reading the same book. “Did you know that if one reads three to four chapters a day, every day, they will have read the entire Bible at the end of the year?” It doesn’t matter whether one picks the chapters at random, or chronologically. “At the end of the year, if we stick to the reading calendar, we would have gone through the Bible. That’s one way we have encouraged Bible reading,” he says.

Read as a group
Reading the Bible as an individual is the best way to do so because it gives one the liberty to read at their own pace, and allows for time to ponder and study the word, however, it is also the hardest way to read, Kiyaga says. Belonging to a life group or cell can make things easier. Some churches have life groups which are instrumental in nurturing believers. “In our groups for example, we can decide to study the different books in the Bible. That in a way encourages people to read, because the groups have discussions when they gather. Members of a group can also task themselves to read some chapters at leisure, and discussthem when they meet,” Pastor Hellen Mutoni, associate pastor at Liberty Church of Christ Kitende notes. This is enlightening and it enhances one’s commitment to Bible reading.
Bob Bbosa, a born again Christian says, “The first thing I understood was that the Bible has hidden meanings. So, I spare time to study those verses I find it hard to understand and in the end, engage in more Bible reading. I seek to know how the different verses interconnect with the rest in all the 66 books of the Bible to have the same message as a whole,” he says. Some days, however he admits to getting preoccupied with work and in such a case, he listens to recorded sermons.

Fuse it with your daily activities
Frank Busobozi, a Catholic, says, “I take a Bible reading every time I’m going to pray, that is, in the mornings and at night. And because I know I at least won’t sleep before I pray, it serves as a good reminder and a good time to read a few scriptures in the course of the week, before Sunday,” he says.
Robert B. Mutyaba, head of the Bible Reader’s Network, does something similar. “I set aside time, when I’m not tired, and have no distractions. That is 5am. I read the scriptures and keep a journal where I note what chapters I have read, and what I have learnt from them, after which, I take off time to pray. But this takes discipline,” he says. He further points out the importance of social media platforms as avenues to encourage Bible reading. “Social media and technology are with us today and can’t go away. Our role is to harness these, and use them positively for the glory of God. That’s the rationale behind both our Facebook page and WhatsApp group where we use Bible plans to read and discuss issues as a group,” he adds.
Whether you read individually, or as a family, Bible reading will enhance your knowledge about God, take you through history, as well as leave you with amazing stories

Convenience
Whereas it may be hard for you to carry about your bible everywhere you go, or pulling it out in public to start reading (not because it shames) may be inconveniencing. Thus, having your bible on your mobile gadget so you can access it anytime and anywhere.