I’ve been a believer in Jesus for 51 years. From early on, I developed the habit of spending daily time in God’s Word and prayer. It’s a rhythm I rarely miss—not because I’m hyper-disciplined or especially godly, but because I feel a deep, daily need to reset my mind and heart toward heaven.
A Soul-Shaping Routine
My quiet time isn’t fancy or complex. I begin by asking God to teach me and change me through his Word. Then I read—a few chapters from the New Testament and several from the Old—slowly working my way through the entire Bible.
Along the way, I jot thoughts, prayers, and insights in the margins of my Bible with my beloved MICRON 01 pen. My family jokes about how protective I am of these pens (they write tiny and don’t bleed through the paper)—and yes, I keep a stash in our safe.
After reading, I often journal a prayer based on what convicted or encouraged me most that day. A few times a week, I also review memory verses I’ve written on 3×5 cards. I finish with a closing prayer, often using the structure of the Lord’s Prayer: Praise, Request, Admit, Yield.
Scripture Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential
I’ve used devotionals here and there, but they’ve never replaced my time in Scripture. If anything, they’re a supplement. The daily discipline of consistently and prayerfully reading through the Bible has truly been transformative over the years.
Meditating on God’s Word every day corrects my thinking, convicts my heart, and shapes my theology. It’s the plumb line for what I believe, how I live, and the gospel I preach.
God’s Word has been my:
Anchor in the storm.
Compass in confusion.
Light in the dark.
Feast in the famine.
Smile in the trial.
The Word That Found Me Under the Sink
As a scared little boy raised in a violent urban neighborhood by a single, shame-ridden mom, my escape was under the kitchen sink—with a flashlight and a Bible.
I couldn’t always understand the King James language, but I knew the answers to life’s problems were in that book.
And I still believe it today.
So let me ask you:
What’s your habit when it comes to spending time in God’s Word?
If you don’t have a daily routine, start one. Pick a time and stick with it—mornings work well for me. If you do have a routine, double down on it.
And never let a devotional book replace your time in Scripture. Supplement, yes. Replace, no.
Simple Rhythms—And a Warning
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you through his Word. Write down what you learn. Let God reshape your thinking and your heart—one passage at a time.
I hope this encourages and equips you to make reading the Bible a priority in your daily life.
Oh, and one last thing—don’t touch my pens.
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps. 119:105).
This article originally appeared on gregstier.org and is reposted here by permission.