Studying the Bible Is a Lifelong Commitment

As each new year begins, many of us take stock of our lives. We reflect on our habits, make resolutions, and consider how we want to grow. But some years demand deeper reflection than others.

When the world faced unprecedented challenges, many of us found our routines shaken. The usual rhythms of church, work, and gatherings were interrupted. Some grew spiritually stronger, finding more time for prayer and study. Others drifted, caught up in distractions, entertainment, or the weight of uncertainty.

Yet throughout it all, one thing remained constant: God’s Word. We were not locked out from Scripture. No law prevented us from reading the Bible or approaching the throne of grace in prayer. The real question is: How did we use that time?

A Fresh Start in the Word

Whether the past year deepened or weakened your faith, this new year offers another opportunity. The best habit you can cultivate in this season is immersing yourself in Scripture. If you are looking for one spiritual discipline to prioritize, let it be hearing God’s voice in His Word.

Scripture is the foundation of our faith, the source of wisdom, and the wellspring of joy. Other spiritual habits prayer, worship, obedience are shaped by how well we know and understand the Bible.

And here’s the perspective that can transform your approach to the Word: The Bible is a lifelong project.

Learning to Read the Bible for Yourself

Many Christians feel intimidated by the Bible. They rely on devotionals, sermons, and study guides to interpret Scripture for them. While these resources are valuable, nothing can replace the discipline of reading and meditating on the Bible for yourself.

This means carving out time, eliminating distractions, and engaging deeply with the text. A hurried, five-minute skim through a chapter is not enough. Our modern habits of scrolling and swiping through content have trained us to consume information quickly, but Scripture calls for a different kind of reading slow, deliberate, and reflective.

Psalm 1 tells us that the blessed man is the one who “meditates day and night” on God’s law. True spiritual transformation happens when we linger over Scripture, allowing it to sink into our hearts.

A Lifetime of Growth

What if you committed to reading the Bible not just for a year but for a lifetime?

Consider this: It is often said that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. If you read Scripture for 30 minutes a day, it would take about 50 years to reach that mark. That is the length of an average adult’s spiritual journey from early adulthood to old age.

God did not give us a short, simple book. He gave us a rich, layered collection of 66 books, covering history, poetry, prophecy, and theology. It is large enough to challenge us for a lifetime and yet accessible enough to be read and understood by a child.

The depth of Scripture ensures that we will never fully master it. But as we immerse ourselves in it year after year, the real goal is not that we master the Bible but that the Bible masters us.

Why First Readings Matter

You may think that reading a passage once or twice won’t make much of a difference. But every time you engage with Scripture, you are laying a foundation. The first time you read a passage, you may grasp only a surface-level meaning. But as you return to it year after year, the words take on new depth.

Paul tells Timothy that Scripture is “able to make you wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). Even on the first reading, the Word of God has the power to convict, encourage, and transform. And over time, as we read, reread, and meditate on Scripture, its riches unfold before us.

The Bible Is Full of Hidden Treasures

One of the greatest joys of reading the Bible repeatedly is discovering new connections.

For example, when reading through 1 Peter while preparing a sermon on Psalm 34, I was struck by the connections between the two. Not only does Peter quote Psalm 34 directly (1 Peter 3:10–12), but the themes of suffering, righteousness, and God’s faithfulness weave through both texts.

These insights don’t happen in a single reading. They come from spending years in Scripture, allowing it to shape your thinking and reveal its patterns over time.

Growing in the Word Over a Lifetime

Unlike athletics, where people often peak in their twenties, our understanding of Scripture deepens as we age. Bible study is more like preaching or singing where skill, wisdom, and clarity mature over the decades.

I know an elderly man who has been reading the Bible daily for 50 years. His mind is sharp, his soul is steeped in Scripture, and his words reflect the depth of someone who has walked with God for a lifetime.

Let’s not just read the Bible for a year. Let’s commit to a lifetime of study, meditation, and discovery. The best time to start is today. The riches of God’s Word will continue unfolding year after year, but only if we take the first step now. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.