You sit down to read your Bible, wondering what God is even trying to say to you these days. Maybe it’s been a week or two—or five—since you’ve picked it up. Maybe it’s your first time. Or maybe you read it every day, but lately it feels dry and boring. So you flip to a random page, land on something in Leviticus about sheep, and think, What in the world does this have to do with my life right now? Girl, I’ve been there. I used to flip through my Bible hoping God would drop an answer right onto the page. And while that can happen, the Bible is so much bigger and better than that.

Learning to spend time with God and read His Word grows deep roots in your soul. And those roots? They steady you when life feels shaky, bring peace when anxiety shows up, and speak truth when lies try to take over. So if not the “random pointing method”, where do you even begin? And how do you actually read the Bible? I’ve got you!

Step One | Set Up the Vibes

This step is tailored to YOU! Make yourself a fun drink (hot chocolate with marshmallows or a cozy tea). Then find a comfy, quiet spot in your house, like your favorite chair in your room or out on your back porch. You can light a candle, grab a blanket, or anything else that fits your vibe. If you want, play some worship music in the background (Spotify has great “chill worship” playlists). Create a space that brings you joy, because reading God’s Word is like having a heart-to-heart with a bestie.

*If you don’t have time or a space for this, that’s okay—God meets you anywhere. If you don’t own a Bible, many churches would love to give you one for free!

Step Two | A Starting Point

Once you’re set up, it’s time to start reading…but where? You can totally start from the beginning in Genesis (and one day you should!), but it’s easy to fade out in the genealogies. So, I have a few other suggestions:

• The Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all accounts of Jesus’ life. Open these to see how Jesus treated people who were different from him, friends with him, or straight up mean to him. This is your best roadmap on how to live like Christ!

• Proverbs. It has 31 chapters, so you could read one proverb every day for a month. This is God’s wisdom book. If you want to know how to make a smart choice, or are looking for some good advice, start here!

• The Psalms. These songs and prayers run the full range of emotions and can probably relate to any feeling you’ve experienced. Bad day? Anxious or afraid? Turn to the Psalms!

Step Three | Your Quick “How-To” Guide

You’ve chosen a book of the Bible…now, how do you read it?

• Say a quick prayer asking God to be with you and teach you something new.

• Read the chapter or section straight through once. Reading it out loud or listening to it can also help.

• Look over what you read, asking: “What is this teaching me about God and His character?” The Bible is first and foremost a book about God, so we want to learn about Him.

• Then apply it to yourself by asking: “How does this help teach me?”. Not everything will apply in every season of your life, so if there isn’t a connection, be okay with knowing you learned something about God’s character! That’s good! That grows your love and admiration for Him!

*Bonus: Use colored highlighters and highlight a favorite verse or something you learned about God. Get creative! Color-code it. Doodle notes or verses in the margins.

Step Four | Make It Stick

Now that you’ve read and reflected, let’s make it stick! This is optional, but worth it! Choose a verse you liked from the passage and post it on your mirror, your locker, or make it your screensaver. By doing this, you are helping yourself memorize the verse! You’ll be able to call this verse back to mind when you need it.

A Note for when it feels hard:

Some days it will be hard to read your Bible. You might get distracted. You may feel bored or confused. This is actually a good thing! You are putting in the work to get to know God, even when it’s hard.

Learning happens on the other side of the struggle. Flowers bloom on the other side of the roots. Keep showing up, even in small ways. God loves your heart and wants to teach you more about Him!

Putting in all of this work matters because the Bible is God-breathed—these are His words to you. His Word brings peace when anxiety creeps in and speaks truth into places that whisper, you’re not enough.

Over time, His Word grows deep and steady roots in your heart—roots of truth, identity, and confidence. And when those roots are strong, something beautiful begins to bloom. You don’t have to rush it or be perfect. Just keep showing up. God is growing something beautiful in you, even when you can’t see it yet. Example from Psalm 139:14: God creates wonderful things, therefore I am wonderfully made!