At the beginning of this year, I found myself in a rut. My quiet time felt stale, like munching on an old bag of chips. They are still my favorite chips, but the flavor is less vibrant, the crunch diminished. I eat them because, why not? Yet stale chips hardly satisfy.

I found myself reading my Bible because I’m supposed to, but all the while I wondered, “Isn’t God’s Word meant to be alive and active (Hebrews 4:12)? Isn’t it meant to be sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103)?” 

I realized that I had let my quiet time become so routine, it was a chore to accomplish, a box to check. Not an invitation to sit at the feet of Jesus. I was missing something. Maybe you feel that way too? No matter how long you’ve been following Jesus, perhaps your time with Him has become so methodical, you rarely look forward to it? You may be tempted to skip it altogether or view it as a task to accomplish so you can go about your day. 

Let’s see our time reading God’s Word as a conversation—a time to meet with our Creator and Savior, our Father and our Friend.

Sometimes even the phrase quiet time makes us cringe. So, first, we need to change our perspective. Let’s see our time reading God’s Word as a conversation—a time to meet with our Creator and Savior, our Father and our Friend. Maybe you like to meet your friends for lunch or go on a walk with them. Let’s start there.  Let’s begin to view our time with God as a way to connect with Him. And then, once we establish a meeting time or place, we can play with the method of connection. Let’s find a fresh way to talk with God or read His Word that will make your quiet time feel fresh, help you engage deeper with Scripture and spend time that brings joy to both you and the Lord. 

Below are 5 ways to help you bring new life into your quiet time.

1. Mix up your method of study. 

If your routine has become monotonous, try a different way of studying your Bible. Choose a chapter or passage to read every day for a week. Use the following prompts to dig deeper into Scripture and reflect on what God is teaching you. 

● Inductive Bible Study Method

This method encourages you to pause and slow down Scripture reading. Many times, we read a verse or passage and skip straight to assessing how it applies to our lives. This method prompts you to read a passage and write down your Observations. Answer questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how. Write down anything that confuses you or questions you might have. Then, do a little research to determine the Interpretation of the passage. Look up the passage through an online commentary or Study Bible to answer your questions, learn about the original audience, and determine what the author wanted to convey. Finally, consider how this Scripture applies to you personally and reflect on what God is revealing to you as you study. 

● Write a H.E.A.R. Journal

The H.E.A.R. Journal is a simple, yet effective way to help you meditate on God’s Word. When the tendency is to read a few verses, close your Bible and move about your day, this is a great option! Choose your Bible passage, grab a pen and a notebook and follow the prompts:

H – Highlight
Write down the verse that stands out to you in a given passage. 

E – Explain 
Research the verse or passage in an online commentary or Study Bible and explain what’s happening in this verse or passage. Who is the intended audience? What were their struggles? Who is the author? What was the author or original audience experiencing? 

A – Application
What do you need to do in light of this Scripture? Are there any changes you need to make in your life? Are there any conversations you need to have? Is there anything you need to repent from? 

R – Response 
Write out a prayer to God responding to this verse or passage of Scripture. 

2. Read the same passage in different translations

Perhaps Scripture will come alive when you read the same words in a different translation. New phrases might jump out at you or you may get clarification on a passage that felt confusing. 

ESV and CBS translations are considered very close to the original Greek and Hebrew, but can sometimes feel clunky and unclear. Download a Bible App to easily read the same chapter or passage in different versions. Consider this arrangement as an example: 

• Monday – English Standard Version (ESV)
• Tuesday – New International Version (NIV)
• Wednesday – New Living Translation (NLT)
• Thursday – Common Standard Bible (CSB)
• Friday – Easy Reader Version (ERV)

3. Do the opposite of what you usually do. 

What if you can breathe fresh air into a stale quiet time, by leaning into a different expression of worship? If your time with the Lord tends to be more charismatic, memorize a psalm or liturgical prayer. If you naturally lean toward liturgy, include singing your praises to the Lord by listening to a worship song before you begin reading Scripture.

If you love to study and find yourself reading your Bible but spending little time in prayer, shift your emphasis. Spend a more significant amount of time talking with the Lord, writing down your prayers, or simply being quiet and allowing God to speak to you. 

Challenging ourselves to try a different spiritual discipline may bring more joy than we anticipate. It could also help us know God deeper or experience Him differently. 

Sometimes our routines become so habitual it shifts into a chore without us even realizing it. Challenging ourselves to try a different spiritual discipline may bring more joy than we anticipate. It could also help us know God deeper or experience Him differently. 

4. Use your gifts and passions to connect with God. 

God created you to love what you love and excel in your passions. We spend a lot of time considering how we can use our gifts to serve the Lord, but why not view them as a way to deepen our relationship with the Lord?

Here are a few examples: 

If you love to write, write down what you learn. Grab a journal or open a word doc and write down (or type) your prayers, questions, or revelations. Write out the Scriptures that speak to you and what you believe God is revealing to you through that verse or passage. 

If you are artistic, turn on a worship song and paint or draw as a response to honor God. Read a poetic or descriptive passage and let your creativity lead you to reflect on God’s Word and worship Him through your art. 

If you enjoy the outdoors and feel a deeper sense of connection to the Lord while in nature, then take your time with Him outside. Go for a walk, turn on your Bible app, and allow a narrator to read to you. Reflect on God’s power and goodness, His creativity and majesty, His generosity and love as you sit on a park bench or your back patio. 

God enjoys you and wants you to enjoy your time with Him. He can speak to you no matter where you are, the challenge is whether or not you’re in a position to hear Him.

God enjoys you and wants you to enjoy your time with Him. He can speak to you no matter where you are, the challenge is whether or not you’re in a position to hear Him.

5. Read Scripture Alongside a Verse-by-Verse Commentary.

Personally, this addition has been a breath of fresh air in my own time with the Lord. 

Reading Scripture alongside a verse-by-verse commentary will undoubtedly help you understand a familiar passage in a deeper way. You’ll begin to make connections you’ve never made before, be challenged to read cross-references in other parts of your Bible, and learn biblical history that will certainly bring many “ah-ha” moments. If you’re looking for a way to shift your reading of Scripture from stale and neutral to invigorating and vibrant, you won’t be disappointed by adding a commentary to your study. 

May we echo the psalmist as we renew our commitment to love God’s Word and enjoy our time with the Lord:

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ (‭ESV‬‬)