How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day? Best Guide

I remember a time a few years ago when I wanted to get serious about my spiritual life. For instance, I saw people on social media with nice journals and Bibles. They talked about their “hour of power” with God each morning, and consequently, I felt a lot of pressure. I thought, “I need to do that!” So, I set my alarm an hour early. The first day was great. My big plan failed in less than a week. As a result, I felt like a failure. It left me with a simple question I was scared to ask: how long should i read the bible per day?

Does that sound like you? Maybe you felt pressure to read three chapters a day. Or perhaps you tried to read the whole Bible in a year. We see these big goals and think that is the “right” way. When we cannot do it, we then think the problem is us. We think we are not good enough. This struggle is at the heart of figuring out how long should I read the bible per day.

But I want to share a lesson I learned. Asking “how long” is the wrong question. In fact, there is no magic number. God is not timing you with a stopwatch. The goal is not to check a box. Instead, the goal is to connect with God, who loves you. Like any friendship, it is about quality, not how much time. Five good minutes are better than one long hour of not paying attention. This guide is a friendly chat to help you find a rhythm that works for you. So, let’s lose the guilt and the stopwatch. Let’s find a good way to read the Bible each day.

How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day? Finding What Works for You

A big trap is thinking one size fits all. Your life is not like anyone else’s. For example, a single mom with two jobs has less free time than a retired person. So, the first step is to be real and kind to yourself. God knows your life. He also knows your schedule and your energy. He is not asking for a huge effort that makes you tired. Instead, He is asking you to talk with him each day. That talk can look different in different times of your life.

How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day? Starting with 5 Minutes

Let’s start with a small number: five minutes. I know, it sounds too small to matter, right? I used to think so, too. But I talked to a wise friend named Sarah. She had been a missionary for 20 years. I told her I could not find time. She smiled and said, “Honey, can you give God five minutes?” She told me to try for just five minutes every day for a month. There was no pressure to do more.

So I tried it. Some days, for instance, I would just read one Psalm. Other days, I read a few lines from the book of Proverbs. It was amazing. Because the goal was so small, I actually did it every day. This built a good habit. Those five minutes, furthermore, became an anchor for my day. It was a small way to turn to God before my day got busy.

If you are new to this, or if you are very busy, the 5-minute reset is a great gift to yourself. Do not think it is too small to work.

Growing to a 15-Minute Deeper Dive into Scripture

After a while, you may have more time. You may also want to go a little deeper. Fifteen minutes is a great amount of time. You can learn more without feeling rushed. This is a good time to try a simple study method, which helps bring quality to the question of how long should I read the bible per day.

Using the S.O.A.P. Method

One of my favorite methods is the S.O.A.P. method. It is a simple Bible guide that gives your reading a focus.

• S – Scripture: First, read a short part of the Bible. It can be one chapter or just a few lines.
• O – Observation: Then, ask, “What does this part say?” Look for facts and key words. Just see what is there.
• A – Application: After that, ask, “How can I use this in my life?” Is there a rule to follow or a promise to trust? This makes it personal.
• P – Prayer: Finally, end by praying about what you read. You can thank God for what you learned.

You can do all of this in 15 minutes. It turns reading into a talk with God. If you want to learn more about this method, the Navigators group has a great guide on their site. You can find it here: SOAP Bible Study Method.

Committing to a 30-Minute Bible Study Session

Some seasons of life give you more time. You may want to dig in deep. A 30-minute study time can be very good for this. You should not feel like you have to do this every day. Perhaps you can do it once or twice a week.

With 30 minutes, you can do the S.O.A.P. method with more detail. You can also use other tools.

• Use a Study Bible: For instance, a good study Bible has notes at the bottom of the page. The notes explain the history. They tell you what hard words mean. They also point to other parts of the Bible that are alike.
• Journal Your Thoughts: You can also spend more time writing down your thoughts, questions, and prayers. This can help you learn on a much deeper level.
• Look at Other Verses: When your Bible points to another verse, take time to read it. This will help you see how the parts of the Bible connect.

Again, this is not the daily rule. This is for days when you have the time and want to learn more.

How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day? Strategies to Maximize Your Time

The number of minutes you spend is not as key as the quality of those minutes. So, how do we make our time better, if it is 5 minutes or 30? The answer to “how long should I read the bible per day” is often linked to how you read it.

How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day When Using a Reading Plan?

One of the hard parts of daily reading is choosing what to read. You sit down, open your Bible, and then waste time trying to pick a spot. A reading Bible plan, however, solves this problem. It removes the hard choice.

There are many free Bible reading plans. They come in all shapes and sizes.

• Topic Plans: These plans focus on one topic, like hope, worry, or grace. They give you a verse on that topic each day.
• Book Plans: These plans walk you through one book of the Bible at a time. This is a great way to learn the context.
• Whole-Bible Plans: These are long-term plans. Specifically, they take you through the whole Bible in one, two, or three years.

The best place to find a reading plan is the YouVersion Bible App. It is a free app with many plans on every topic. Indeed, a good plan is a huge help for being steady.

Meditating on a Single Verse for Daily Bible Engagement

Sometimes, the best way to read the Bible is to not read much at all. There is an old way called “lectio divina.” It is about thinking on just one verse or a short line.

I tried this a few months ago when I had a hard work week. For example, I took one verse, Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” I wrote it on a sticky note and put it on my computer. That was my “reading” for the day. All day, whenever I felt stressed, I would look at that note. Then I would repeat the line to myself. I did not learn a lot of new facts that day. But the truth of that one verse went deep into my heart. It certainly changed how I saw my day.

Your Bible reading for the day could be to pick one verse in the morning. Then, let it be your anchor all day long.

Listening to an Audio Bible to Fit Scripture in Your Day

Let’s be real. For many of us, finding a quiet time to sit and read is not easy. This is where audio Bibles can help. They are a great tool for our busy lives.

You can listen to the Bible when you:

• Drive to work
• Do the dishes or laundry
• Go for a walk or a run
• Get ready in the morning

This changes the question from “How long should I sit and read?” to “Where can I fit God’s word in my day?” For instance, you may find you can listen for 20 minutes on your drive. That is 20 minutes of the Bible you would not have heard. Most Bible apps, like YouVersion, have great audio versions. Also, for a fun audio and video time, check out The Bible Project. They have videos and podcasts that explain the Bible in a fun way.

Handling Missed Days in Your Bible Reading Routine

No matter what plan you pick, you will eventually miss a day. Life happens. For example, you will sleep too late. A child will get sick. Or you will just forget. In the past, this would stop me. I would miss one day and then feel bad. The guilt, consequently, made it hard to start again the next day. It was a bad cycle.

The most key thing to recall is grace. This is not a test. God’s love for you does not change if you read your Bible or not. The goal isn’t a perfect streak; it’s a persistent heart that keeps coming back. This is more important than worrying about how long should I read the bible per day.

If you miss a day, or even a week, do not try to “catch up.” That just adds more stress. Just start with today’s reading. Let yesterday be gone. God’s grace is new each morning. That, of course, includes the grace to just start again.

Final Thoughts on Your Personal Bible Reading Journey

We have looked at many ideas, from a 5-minute reset to a 30-minute study. It might still feel like a lot of choices. So, let me end with one simple, free truth. The best answer to “how long should I read the bible per day” is this: the amount of time that helps you connect with God in a way that you can keep doing.

That’s it. For you, right now, that might be five minutes with a Psalm. For your friend, on the other hand, it might be 30 minutes of deep study. Both are good. Both are of value. So, take the stress off. Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you find a pace that works for you. And then, just take the first small step. You may be surprised at how a few steady minutes a day can change everything.

FAQ – How Long Should I Read the Bible Per Day