Obstacles to Reading the Bible and Ways to Overcome Them

Reading can be difficult for people, but the good news is that the Bible is different from reading other books. Something very special occurs when we reach out to God by reading His words to us. While many books are helpful, the Bible can literally change your life.

God wants you to be successful in your reading and your understanding of what you read. When you start to feel overwhelmed by how much there is to read, ask God to help you to focus on what He wants to say to you rather than on how much there is to read.

Remember, you are not reading the entire Bible in a few weeks. You are committing to reading just one chapter each day, and when you have finished you will have accomplished an important goal—maybe one you never thought possible: you will have read through the Bible. Even more importantly, your reading will help you to know God better.

While the Bible is historically accurate, it also contains universal themes which are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. It is truly amazing to see how the topics contained in the Bible are exceptionally applicable to our lives today.

The only way to verify the Bible’s relevancy to your life is to read it. We suggest reading the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible to see the many ways God's word applies to the circumstances of your life.

Reading a daily devotional is terrific! We, at Word Way, do the same.

But reading through the entire Bible is different than reading selected, small portions of it. When you make a commitment to read all of Scripture, you will be surprised at how much of it you have never heard before and how significant these unknown portions are. As your knowledge of all that is contained in Scripture expands, you will come to know God in an even more meaningful way.

Hearing selected Bible passages from time to time is entirely different from reading and studying the entire Bible. When you make a commitment to read all of Scripture, you will be surprised at how much of it you have never heard before and how significant these unknown portions are.

The only way to verify the Bible's importance to your life is to read it. We suggest reading the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible to see what you are missing!

This is a difficult situation because we often want to please those who care about us. Nevertheless, there are times when we realize that it is important for us to do something that others might not understand. If you are sensing a desire to read through the Bible, it is because God has something vital and life-changing to show you in His words found there.

This may be true, or you may be surprised that it turns out not to be the case at all. It may even be that some of the people you anticipate ridiculing you are looking for some of the very answers found in the Bible without realizing where these answers are found.

Nevertheless, there are times when we realize that it is important for us to do something that others might not understand. If you are sensing a desire to read through the Bible, it is because God has something vital and life-changing to show you in His words found there. Do not let your fear of being ridiculed keep you from reading something which can be so profoundly significant to your life and the lives of others.

This Bible Reading Program is a great way to plunge in and learn more about both! We believe that, if you commit to reading through the Bible with Word Way, you will look back in 3 ¼ years and be amazed at what you have learned and how your life has changed.

This may be the number one obstacle to attempting to read through the Bible.

The Word Way program is designed so that busy people can accomplish the important goals of reading the entire Bible and applying what they read to their everyday lives. But these goals cannot be accomplished without deliberately setting aside time to read and reflect on what has been read. If time constraints are a concern for you, it is important to ask God to help you pick a good time and place to read and to be dedicated to keeping that time with God.

We have found that most readers who are serious about learning about what God has to say to them through the Bible are able to carve enough time from their schedules to read one chapter each day and the Bible Reading Program is set up on this schedule. For readers who simply cannot read each day, it is often possible to set aside time each week to catch up on the seven chapters assigned for that week.

Making time with God a priority in your life will be something you never regret. If time constraint is an issue for you, pray for the determination to read a chapter a day or seven chapters each week in the Bible.

Stressful life circumstances certainly make consistent reading more difficult, but it is probably during these times that we most need the wisdom, guidance, and comfort that come through reading the Bible.

God’s words to us can truly make a difference when our lives feel out of control. Ask God to help you to read the Bible, to settle your mind so that you can understand what He wants you to know, and to guide you through your circumstances.

Not understanding what you are reading is often due to the Bible translation being used. Some translations are much harder to understand than others. One of the reasons Word Way recommends the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible is that it is a Bible which is easy to understand and has notes to help you apply what you read to your own life situations.

If you've tried reading the Bible before and felt lost, try reading the New Living Translation Life Application Bible. Before you begin reading, ask God to help you to understand what you read. And if you find there are still things which are confusing to you, email us at contact@thewordway.com, and together we will try to clear up those things which are puzzling.

Reading can be difficult for people, but the good news is that the Bible is different from reading other books. Something very special occurs when we reach out to God by reading His words to us. While many books are helpful, the Bible can literally change your life.

God wants you to be successful in your reading and your understanding of what you read. When you find you are losing interest or your mind wanders during reading, ask God to help you to concentrate and to comprehend what you are reading.

If outside sources are the cause of difficulty in concentration, try to find a place and a time to read where you will not be distracted, and ask for God's help in determining what these are.

The audio version of the New Living Translation Bible may be ideal for you. Unfortunately, the Life Application Notes associated with this Bible are not available on audio, but you will still have the incredible benefit of hearing the complete Bible.

The e-reader version of the New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Bible may be ideal for you. It is available for download on many bookseller websites. Using the bookmark feature on your e-reader makes moving between Bible chapters and books as easy as using a physical Bible.