What Should I Read When I Haven’t Read My Bible in a While?

Aug 19
4 min read

Has it been a while since you spent time reading your Bible? Life can get busy, and routines often change. Maybe you’ve faced a challenging season, or Bible reading kept slipping further down your list of priorities.

After a while, getting started again can feel tougher than it should, because now you’re trying to decide where to read, how much to read, and whether you need a plan to get back on track.

God’s Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path in life. It’s sacred and reading it daily helps you connect with the Lord, gain a deeper understanding of who He is, know what He wants for your life, and find spiritual strength to live each day as His witness. Getting back into the Word doesn’t have to be difficult—just open your Bible, start with a verse or passage, and begin reading again. You can rebuild your routine step by step.

I used to feel unsure about where to start when I hadn’t read my Bible in a while, so I’d like to share a few passages that I think can help make your time in God’s Word meaningful today.

Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Psalm 23 is only six verses, which makes it a good passage to read when you're getting back into your Bible.
David describes the Lord as his shepherd, the Lord who leads, provides, restores, stays near in dark valleys, and cares for His own.
Instead of rushing through this familiar psalm, read all six verses and pay attention to what David says about God. Look at what the Shepherd does and how David responds to His care.
Remember, a short passage can give you plenty to think about when you take the time to actually read what's there.

Matthew 6:25-34

When worry is taking up your attention, read this passage.

I love how Jesus speaks directly about worry in this part of the Sermon on the Mount. If He takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, you can trust the Father's care and seek God's kingdom first instead of allowing your mind to become occupied with everything happening in your life.

Read the entire section rather than pulling out only one familiar verse.
Take notice to what Jesus says about the Father, what He tells His followers to seek, and His instruction concerning tomorrow.
Remember Bible reading gives us an opportunity to turn our attention away from everything demanding it and listen again to what Jesus taught.

John 15:1–11

If your heart needs to draw close to Jesus again, open your Bible to John 15.

Jesus used the picture of a vine and branches to teach His disciples about abiding in Him.
A branch can't produce fruit by separating itself from the vine, and Jesus makes it clear that His followers need to remain connected to Him.

If your Bible has been sitting unopened for a while, John 15 is a passage to guide you back to time with Jesus, without using it as a reason to beat yourself up. Let these words remind you of how much you need Christ in your daily life.

Our relationship with God needs more than an occasional thought about Him. We need to stay close to Him, and spending time in His Word is one of the ways we continue learning His voice, His ways, and truth.

Luke 15:11–24

Don’t hesitate to return to Bible lessons on restoration.

The account commonly called the parable of the prodigal son tells of a son who,

Left his father's house, wasted what he had been given, and eventually came to himself in a place he never expected to be.
He chose to go back home, feeling he no longer deserved to be called a son.
One of the most unforgettable moments in the passage is the father’s reaction. Spotting his son from far away, he was filled with compassion, ran to meet him, and welcomed him with open arms.

Sometimes guilt can be a reason you’ve stayed away from your Bible. But with an open mind, you’ll see in this passage that Jesus is revealing something powerful about God’s heart for those who come back to Him.

Philippians 4:4–9

If you're needing something to carry into your real day.

Philippians 4:4–9 gives several truths that you can think on after closing your Bible. Paul talks about prayer, being thankful, experiencing God’s peace, keeping our thoughts on the right things, and living out what we’ve learned.

Read the passage once and you might even choose one verse to write down and come back to later in the day. This is one of the ways reading your Bible can start becoming part of everyday life again.

You read God's Word, think about what you've read, then carry His truth with you beyond the time you spent with your Bible open.

Don't Wait to Start Reading Again

Sometimes when I’ve missed a few days of reading, I feel like I need to make up for the time I lost. You might have felt this way too, but there’s no need to read five chapters in one night or set up an intense routine before starting again. Just open your Bible and read something today.

Then come back to your Bible tomorrow!

If having a little direction would help you stay consistent, Read With Us at Bible Time for Busy Women. Join women reading the Bible together and making God's Word part of their everyday lives—one verse, one community, every week.