It’s summer break! If you’re like me, that means your schedule and routines are completely out of the ordinary right now. When the kids are home, the grandkids are visiting, or vacations are happening, I know it’s hard to find the time to open our Bibles. 

So, here are 3 ideas to encourage you to stay in the Word, while still embracing the flexibility of the season. Choose one of these ideas or let each one help you at different points this summer!

1. Read Small Segments Well

Set yourself up for success this summer. Don’t commit to an 8-week Bible study or attempt an intense study like the book of Revelation if you know you don’t have time for it and won’t finish. We can accept that Bible reading times may be shorter in the summer, and yet still experience quality time in the Word. To do this: Have a pre-determined plan for what you’re going to read (don’t spend half your time deciding what to read), read shorter, easy to digest sections, and commit to meditating on (thinking about) them for longer periods of time. Good options for a summer reading plan might include reading the same Psalm every day for a week or a short New Testament book like Philippians or James over a one-month period. At the end of the summer, I’d rather say I know a few Psalms really well instead of having to admit I quit halfway through my study of Revelation.

2. Read Together

If you’re short on alone time this summer, it might be a great opportunity to invite people into your Bible reading patterns. Sure, this might slow you down (but that isn’t a bad thing). And if you’re reading with kids, it will inevitably involve a lot of questions and bunny trails, but also a lot of fun. Just do your best to keep kids on track and enjoy finding answers together. Summer is an ideal time to model what it means to make the Bible a priority.  Consider using Kevin DeYoung’s The Biggest Story Bible Storybook for younger to middle grades. For older kids, think about taking one night a week to discuss what everyone is reading over dinner or dessert. Or simply listen to the Bible app together while you’re in the car or making dinner. Don’t worry about making it something “official” or rigid. Simply focus on showing those around you how to love Scripture in a way that seems natural and easy for you. 

3. Read to Pray It

I love to dig in and study the Bible. But when we read the Bible to pray it, we focus on the text in a different way. We still need to understand it in context, so we don’t misinterpret it, but we aren’t studying to fill out workbook questions or to gather all the historical details. We are simply using the inspired authors’ words to praise, petition, and repent. If you’re new to this idea, don’t know where to start, or want a re-fresher, this is a helpful article.

If you want to dive in deeper, this book is a perfect 30-day companion to help you pray Scripture:

Handbook for Praying Scripture by William Varner

Let’s be creative and adaptable to what summer brings, and I pray that no matter what our daily Bible reading looks like, our hearts can say:

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day,” (Ps. 119:97 NIV).

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A look into the weekly newsletter…

What I’m Loving This Week

I love the Mr. Bible pens my daughter picked out on Amazon—they don’t bleed through my ESV Study Bible pages!

A Prayer for This Week

1 Thess. 2:8 (NIV) “…So we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”  

Lord, help us to follow Paul’s example and give ourselves wisely, sacrificially, and wholeheartedly to the people and work you’ve called us to this week.

Inspiration for This Week

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!—  

He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!—

He set you there.

Whate’er your place, it is

Not yours alone, but His

Who set you there. 

–John Oxenham

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