One Simple Habit That Changed My Marriage, Motherhood, and Faith
Learn how reading the Bible daily—especially chronologically—can transform your faith, marriage, and motherhood. Simple tips to become a confident Bible reader.
One Habit That Transformed My Life, Marriage & Motherhood
If I encouraged you to pick up just one new habit this year and promised it could transform your motherhood experience, your marriage, and your heart, would you try it?
Reading the Bible daily wasn’t always part of my life. In fact, it used to feel intimidating, overwhelming, and completely out of reach. The one simple habit of reading the Bible chronologically has transformed my heart, my marriage, and my motherhood in ways I never expected.
If you’ve ever wanted to read the Bible but didn’t know where to start, or felt unsure what you’re reading. This post will walk you through exactly how to become a confident Bible reader. Even in the busiest seasons of life.
Why I Stopped Setting New Year’s Resolutions
We become what we do repeatedly. Our habits and daily rhythms compound over time. Each day we are either getting closer or further from our desired future self. Ringing in the new year brings lots of different approaches to accomplishing new goals! Setting resolutions, making an in and outs list, or trying something wild like 75 hard.
I personally gave up trying to set new year resolution’s a few years ago and it was so freeing. As a serious go-getter, I felt really disappointed with myself when I didn’t achieve my goal. To be honest I probably didn’t set a goal with realistic measures of success to start with.
I liked the idea of doing in and out lists. But the truth is…
We Are What We Do Repeatedly
It’s taken years of trial and error to find out what works best for me. But I landed on habits. I freaking love habits. Because, like I said, we are what we do repeatedly! This is an idea I got from the book The Compound Effect. (Add that to your “to be read” list for the year!) (If you’re a Kindle reader, this book is free with Kindle Unlimited!)
Habits are the things we do every day. And we do it to the point where eventually they become habitual and a part of our daily routine. Those habits stack and compound. AND affect the trajectory of our future self.
Each day we are getting closer and closer to our desired future with the small, simple habits we do today! Eventually our habits become our daily routine, which becomes the rhythm to our days on auto pilot!
There are a lot of rhythms I want to share on this space with you over the coming years but…today!
If I could encourage you to pick-up just one new habit this year, and promise you it could transform your motherhood experience, your marriage, and your heart. Would you try it?!
Why Reading the Bible Felt So Intimidating
That habit for me is reading the bible. Honestly, that used to feel like such a daunting task. I’ve read a lot of passages through bible studies, Sundays at church, listening to sermons on long car rides. But my own personal bible reading alone felt very patchy. Just reading a few verses for whatever random passage my devotional suggested I read. (You feel me?!)
Reading the bible all on my own, and actually comprehending it felt like an impossible task up until a few years ago.
My aunt who leads, Women Worship and Work, invited our entire family to join a chronological bible reading group. For the upcoming year, their church was reading the bible in chronological order instead of books like it’s arranged traditionally.
That one invitation and a different way of approaching bible reading have transformed my personal heart, my marriage, & motherhood. And in turn, inspired me to share with you the one habit that’s changed our life for the best!
How Reading the Bible Chronologically Changed Everything
If you’d like to start reading the bible this year, but that feels overwhelming to you! This is the secret sauce to how I approached this daunting task and now feel like a confident Bible reader! I promise if I can do it, you can too!!
How To Read the Bible Chronologically (Step-By-Step)
In this section we will cover:
How to Read the Bible Chronologically
How to actually understand the bible (even the old testament!)
How to insure success in sticking with this habit
How to approach this habit with less pressure, to insure success!
You’re probably thinking… What’s the point of reading the bible chronologically, if I’m going to struggle to understand it in the first place?
(That was so me. So if it’s how you feel, promise me you’ll read the rest of the post in its entirety. Because no matter if you’re reading this in January or May, this can be done!) So let’s start there. How to understand what you’re reading!
The right resources are the key to understanding the bible while reading it on your own.
Follow The Bible Recap Reading Plan (For FREE)
Tara Lee Cobble created a bible reading plan called The Bible Recap. She breaks apart the Bible chronologically so you can read it in a year if you’d like.
Here is what it looks like, so you know you’ve joined the right reading plan! Make sure you select the one that says 365 days 🙂
At the start of each day’s bible reading she has a mini devotional that leads you through prayer.
You then have a chunk of bible reading(maybe 10 minutes a day).
This is what each day’s reading will look like.
And after each day’s reading you can go back to the devotional tab for your day’s reading. There, you will find a video where she explains the context, background knowledge, and connections to other passages in the bible. Her video gives valuable insight that I wouldn’t have known! (She also has the bible recap in podcast form if Podcasting is your jam.)
And my favorite part that helped me comprehend what I was reading is the Bible Project videos. She includes a video where the author illustrates and orally depicts what happens in that specific book. For example, when you start reading Genesis, where creation begins, you would be prompted to watch this video.
I look forward to these videos each time, because it sets the stage for understanding what’s to come!
Use A Chronological Bible (Optional)
Now that you have the tools to understand what you read. Here is the best way I’ve found to follow along for free!
Download the bible app. YouVerison is my favorite.
Go to plans on the bottom tool bar and search The Bible Recap. Select the one that says “The Bible Recap With Tara Lee Cobble” 365 days.
Select start plan.
Once you’ve selected to start the plan you can follow one daily under “my plans.”
If you prefer to have a hard copy of the passages, and want them already in order. Here is the chronological bible that matches her created resources(the free digital plan, and video explaining it to you!)
How to Stick With Daily Bible Reading
Habit Stacking for Bible Reading
The easiest way I’ve found to successfully start a new habit and keep it is to habit stack. Take something you’re already doing daily, and pair that with your new habit!
For example, every day we take showers. No one thinks “OH I have to take a shower.” It’s just something you do on autopilot.
In the beginning before my husband and I got in the habit of laying in bed and reading together. When my husband hopped in the shower I would start the audio for the daily reading. I’d read along while he listened while he showered. Eventually this became a habit for months before reading the bible before bed became the norm for us!
Reading the Bible at the Same Time Each Day
Maybe for you that looks like listening to your daily reading while you make morning coffee and kids lunches. Or you listen to the recap part on your way to work each day.
Another helpful tip is to start doing this habit at the same time each day. You’ll find what works best for you!
Take the Pressure Off!
Take off the pressure to read the entire thing in one year. Yes I know it says read the bible in 365 days on the cover but let’s be real here. What’s your goal for starting this new habit? Is it to achieve reading the bible in a year? Or to become a confident bible reader? To better understand God’s design for your life? Gain peace in your day? All of these can be achieved with this habit!!
Whether or not you do it all in a year.
You don’t have to finish every day’s reading in its entirety, Do what you can! Those little wins of reading a few chapters a day add up!
BUT! If it helps, I personally approach this habit with the main goal of better understanding the bible. No timeline. As a Bible believing Christian, I read the bible so I can best defend and share the word of God. Through my actions, the way I raise my children, and how I show up in my marriage & to the world.
I don’t approach this Bible reading to check a box or just passively listen to say I’ve read the Bible in a year. My husband and I listen/read to what we can each day. Even if that’s just 2 of the 5 daily chapters.
How Reading the Bible Strengthened My Marriage
Like any other goal, it’s best achieved with accountability and ease of implementation.
Reading the Bible With Your Husband
If you are married, I highly recommend asking your husband to join you in this new habit. Reading the bible together will strengthen your marriage more than I can explain. God is the foundation of marriage. Not only did he meld your souls into one on your wedding day in the first place. Your relationship with God is the only one that’s supposed to be over your marriage!
Spiritual Leadership in the Home
I can only be a testament to the power of this through sharing my own family’s evolution. My family went from reading the bible sporadically, and listening random sermons series. To my husband leading our family each night in prayer over our son and myself. Curling up each night, and before sexy time, reading the bible together!
This has become an intimate part of our relationship as we both grow and learn more each day. It leads to thought-provoking conversations about how God designed us and intends for us to guide our family. This one habit has softened my heart, helped me understand God’s design and heart, and deepened my personal relationship with God. Transformed my husband into the best leader for our family, and exponentially changed our families spiritual trajectory for the best.
Reading the Bible If You’re Single or a Busy Mom
If you’re not married yet. There is no better time to start this habit!! Amazing marriages don’t just arrive. They start at the foundation, You and your future partners heart, and personal relationships with God. Learning to live life by his design is so freeing. We have such an intentional, loving God. Who seeks you. 🖤
I encourage you to invite a close friend or family member to join you on this reading journey! Have someone to talk to after reading or listening to the daily reading/podcast, and help hold each other accountable!
Want to Read the Bible With Other Women?
Women Worship and Work is an organization of women that read the bible each year together. If you want a group of women to read and discuss the Bible virtually this is for you! Here is their blog if you want to connect with them!
Final Encouragement for Becoming a Confident Bible Reader
I’m far from perfect, but each day I gain a little more insight, and understand the Bible that much more. It’s the ONE habit that I’ve picked up that has truly transformed my life, marriage & motherhood.
I pray this post was extremely helpful and was an encouragement to you! Full of practical tips to become a confident Bible reader this year!
Please share this post with the person you want to join you in your Bible reading!
Mama to this precious boy & the Author behind the First Time Mama Blog. My purpose? To help new Mamas enter motherhood with confidence and thrive in this beautiful new season of life!
I was previously known on my corner of the internet as the “oils girl.” If you’re wondering, yep, still use them every single day! This is my favorite brand! (My link saves you 10% off with code SHAREYL at checkout)
Honestly, I packed mine for our in-between move and regret it. I miss this more than I thought I would.
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