By: Kevin Carson & Howard Eyrich
January 9, 2026
Introduction
Whether you have just become a follower of Christ or have been one for many years, establishing a daily habit of reading the Bible is great medicine for the soul and the means of living effectively in daily life. At the anticipation of a New Year, or after a particularly inspiring sermon, Sunday School lesson, or Christian book, we often think about ways to grow spiritual well-being, strengthen our walk with Christ, and determine to live purposefully.
Life is often frustrating, and disappointments are frequent bitter pills of living on planet earth. An ever-growing fear (reverence) of the Lord is not only the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7) but the source of developing wisdom (Prov. 4:1-5:2).
Hence, one of the most powerful habits an individual can cultivate is daily Bible reading. There are 929 chapters in the Bible. If we divide that by 365, it yields reading four chapters a day to complete reading the entire Bible in a year. This simple discipline can transform our lives. Even the slowest reader can accomplish this goal. If you are a follower of Christ, you have been encouraged to read your Bible; however, it is so easy to neglect. Perhaps this list of benefits will motivate you. Here are some helpful hints to keep you motivated.
Buy a new Bible (a cheap hardback will do) with a wide margin. As you read, jot notes in the margins of things that surprise you or inspire you. You might also jot down questions and use them when you have some spare time to search for answers.
Logged it for later
Keep a notebook (about the same size as the Bible) and jot down lessons you learn as you read. You could begin with the two questions: 1) What are the implications for my thinking? 2) What are the implications for my behavior? For example, when you get to Jeremiah chapter one and read his objections to God’s call upon his life, you might write a note: Yes, Moses had similar excuses in Exodus 3. And then, ask yourself the question, “Lord, is that not what I do every time you nudge me to speak for you with my colleagues?”
Dedicate a spot
Choose a place in your home, office, or shop (perhaps for some men it might be their pickup truck at lunch break) where you will read. Keep your Bible and notebook there.
Share your excitement about something you saw in your reading with your spouse, your child, your roommate, or your friend. (I am reminded of the account that occurs in three of the Gospels (Mark 1:40-45; Matt. 8:1-4; Luke 9:12-15).[1]
Verbalize thanks to the Lord when you finish reading.
Don’t hesitate to reiterate what you learned. In other words, turn your reading into a conversation with your Lord.
Considering These Benefits
God’s Word provides, through reading and studying, key benefits for our walk with God. Through daily Scripture intake, God uses His Word by His Spirit to form Christlike character, equip us for life and ministry, and sustain us with wisdom, holiness, and comfort. These benefits begin in our heart and mind (root), shape our life for God’s glory (fruit), and sustain our long-term walk with God (endurance).
1. Deepens Our Relationship with God
The Bible is God’s Word written to us—a personal, loving message from the Creator. When we read Scripture, we’re spending time with God, learning His heart, and understanding His ways. Just as relationships grow through communication, our relationship with God will flourish as we listen to Him through His Word. The psalmist says it so well as he contemplates reading and meditating on God’s Word: “You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth” (Ps. 119:151). Think of the pattern observed in many of the Psalms that reflect a conversation with God.
2. Provides Guidance and Wisdom
Life is full of decisions, challenges, and uncertainties. The Bible offers timeless wisdom (Proverbs and James are rich in wisdom-giving statements, and Jesus’ parables bubble with wisdom) for every situation we face. Again, we turn to the psalmist: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). By reading daily, we allow God’s Word to guide our steps and shape our choices.
3. Strengthens Our Faith
Romans 10:17 reminds us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Daily reading builds our faith as we see God’s promises, His faithfulness throughout history and to His people, especially, and His power at work in the lives of His people. One very dramatic example is found in 2 Kings 19:14-19. Judah is faced with impossible odds. King Hezekiah presented the threats of the foreign king to the Lord in the temple and prayed for deliverance. In 19:35, that prayer was answered when 185,000 Assyrian troops woke up dead. Hezekiah’s prayer was consistent with God’s Word. Hence, by knowing His Word, we can pray effectively, asking within His will. Or, as Jesus put it, “If you ask anything in my name…. (John 14:13-17).
4. Equips Us for Special Battles
The Bible describes itself as the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17), a vital tool for standing firm against temptation and spiritual attacks. By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we are able to arm ourselves with truth (we will be able to think and reason accurately) and wisdom to resist the enemy and stay focused on Christ (1 Pet. 5:6-8). Again, the psalmist declares, “Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies” (Ps. 119:157).
5. Renews Our Minds
In a world full of distractions and negativity, the Bible has the power to renew our minds and transform our thinking. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). Paul also speaks to this matter in Ephesians four where he describes God’s work in our lives at salvation (put off the old man, begin the renewal in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man—that renewing is accomplished by the Spirit using the Word). Daily reading helps us focus on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy, thereby renewing our minds and filling our hearts with God’s peace and joy, even in the darkest moments of grief. A great example is Mary and Martha at the death of Lazarus. In this real-life incident, Jesus gives us the overall, long-range perspective for every believer (John 11:38-44).
6. Encourages Obedience and Growth
Reading God’s Word daily reminds us of His commands and encourages us to live in obedience. James 1:22 challenges us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” As we apply what we read, we’ll grow in Christlikeness and experience the joy of living in alignment with God’s will (cf. Col 1:9-11). Here, we might consider the life of the Apostle Paul. He was a man who was all about himself and making a name for himself. But when he was encountered by Jesus, his life became all about being like Jesus, serving Jesus, and growing in Christlikeness.
Paul calls on all Christ followers to grow, something we have come to call spiritual growth. In 1 Corinthians 3, he admonishes those who have stayed infants in Christ, because they had not grown. The author of Hebrews echoes Paul, lamenting that the mature in Christ and His teachings still need milk, not solid food. Colossians 1:1-12 particularly speaks of knowing Christ, as well as Ephesians 3:19, where we are to know Christ and His love, which surpasses understanding.
7. Fosters a Habit of Consistency
Daily Bible reading helps establish a consistent rhythm in our lives. Starting or ending our day in God’s Word creates a foundation for other spiritual disciplines. Our prayers will be more in line with God’s revealed will, our worship will be more in tune with God’s prescription, we will become more knowledgeable of the character of God, and our meditation will be enriched by seeing principles useful for daily living and ministering. The Word of God helps keep our lives in proper order and perspective—only through knowledge provided by the Designer can we possibly achieve these goals, which changes us (Ps. 119:9-16, 97-112).
8. Nourishes Our Souls
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). In another place Jesus tells us that He is the other necessity of life, the living waters (John 7:37-39), and the Psalmist pictures himself as panting like a deer for the streams of this water (Ps. 42:1). Just as our bodies need daily nourishment of food and water, our souls need the life-giving truths of Scripture to thrive. The psalmist proclaims, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction” (Ps. 119:92).
9. Prepares Us to Encourage Others
As we read and grow in God’s Word, absorbing it into our souls, we’ll find ourselves better equipped to make split-second decisions when necessary, to recognize the ploys of the Devil (it helps us think soberly and be on guard—1 Pet. 5:8-9), encourage, counsel, and share truth with those around us. Whether it’s a friend in need or a stranger seeking hope, Scripture gives us the tools to point others to Christ and away from sin (1 Thess. 4:3-8). The all-sufficient Word of God provides us the wisdom we need to help others in their pressure-filled circumstances (2 Pet. 1:3-10). The Word provides the wisdom we need: “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130).
10. Reminds Us of God’s Faithfulness and Presence
Each time we open the Bible, we’re reminded of God’s character, God’s promises, and God’s unchanging faithfulness. When we read the Gospels, we see these same realities in the incarnate Christ displayed in relationships, under pressure, and in serving those around Him. This daily reminder helps us face life’s challenges with confidence, to live incarnately, knowing that God is in us, with us, and for us. God’s Word is His voice by His Spirit speaking in our ear amid the cacophony of life, and in it we are reminded of His presence (Matt. 28:20; Ps. 119:151; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
11. Guards Our Hearts against Sin
Once again, we turn to the Psalmist who specifically says speaking to the Lord, “Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I man no sin against you” (119:11). In another Psalm, David observed, “The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip” (37:31). Again, David speaks to do God’s will because the law of God is in the heart (40:8).
12. Equips Us to Give an Answer for the Faith
The Apostle Peter gives us yet another reason when he instructs believers to always be ready to explain the hope they have in Christ and frames how we should do so (1 Pet. 3:15; see also Acts 22:1; 2 Tim. 2:24-25). The daily reading of God’s Word bolsters our faith with reasons to believe and, in turn, grows our repertoire of answers.
13. Sustains the Soul with God’s Comfort
God is our source of comfort. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, assures them that though he is writing from prison, he is rich in comfort in his relationship with God (2 Cor. 1:3-4). The Psalmist speaks in a similar manner (119:49-50). The daily input from Word keeps the comfort thermostat set high.
The Baker’s Dozen Benefits Blesses You and Others
Taken together, these thirteen benefits remind us that daily Bible reading is far more than a spiritual habit or a box to be checked. Instead, it is the ordinary means by which God serves His people. As we read His Word daily, He deepens our relationship with Him, guides our steps, strengthens our faith, guards our hearts from sin, equips us to serve others, and sustains us with comfort in our affliction. As we return to Scripture day after day, we are not simply gaining information; instead, we are being formed, protected, and nourished by the living God. In a world full of confusion, temptation, and suffering, there is no substitute for regularly taking in the Word of life.
Questions for Reflection
Which of the thirteen benefits of daily Bible reading most stood out to you, and why does it resonate with your current season of life?
In what ways do you currently turn to other voices (social media, news, personal feelings, or others’ opinions) instead of God’s Word for guidance or comfort?
What simple, realistic plan could help you cultivate a sustainable habit of daily Bible reading?
Editor’s Note: Today’s blog is a pre-copy of a forthcoming pamphlet by Howard Eyrich, which started as a blog by Kevin Carson at www.kevincarson.com.
[1] The account in Mark is likely different than the one in the other two Gospels. However, all three accounts illustrate that when Jesus does something in our lives, we are excited to tell others. This, in turn, motivates us to return to the Word.