Daily Bible Reading: Your Complete Guide
Reading the Bible daily can transform your life — but where do you start? How do you make it stick? And what if you've tried before and failed?
This guide gives you everything you need: a clear plan, practical tips, and a system that actually works. No guilt. No overwhelm. Just a simple path forward.
Ready to start right now? Begin Day 1 of our free reading plan →
Why Daily Bible Reading Matters
Before we dive into the how, let's talk about the why.
Daily Bible reading isn't about checking a religious box. It's about:
- Clarity — Scripture provides wisdom for real-life decisions
- Peace — Starting your day grounded reduces anxiety
- Growth — Consistent exposure to truth changes how you think
- Connection — You're joining millions who've found meaning in these words
Studies show that reading the Bible 4+ times per week is the strongest predictor of spiritual growth — more than church attendance, small groups, or prayer alone.
The key word? Consistent.
How Long Does Daily Bible Reading Take?
Here's what most people don't realize: reading the entire Bible in a year takes just 15-20 minutes per day.
| Reading Pace | Time Per Day | Complete Bible In |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | 15 minutes | 1 year |
| Moderate | 30 minutes | 6 months |
| Intensive | 1 hour | 3 months |
That's less time than scrolling social media. Less than watching a TV episode. Less than your morning commute.
The Bible contains:
- 66 books
- 1,189 chapters
- ~31,000 verses
- ~780,000 words
Divided across 365 days, that's roughly 3-4 chapters daily. Completely doable.
The Best Daily Bible Reading Plan
Not all reading plans are created equal. Here's what to look for:
What Makes a Good Plan
✅ Variety — Mixing Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs keeps it fresh
✅ Manageable portions — 15-20 minutes max, or you'll burn out
✅ Flexibility — Miss a day? Easy to catch up
✅ No guilt — Progress matters more than perfection
Our Recommended Approach: The Blended Plan
Instead of reading Genesis to Revelation straight through (which means weeks in Leviticus), a blended plan gives you variety each day:
Daily Mix:
- Old Testament passage
- New Testament passage
- Psalm or Proverb
This approach means:
- You're never stuck in difficult sections for long
- Each day has variety and balance
- You finish the entire Bible in exactly 365 days
View our complete 365-day reading plan →
How to Start Daily Bible Reading (7 Simple Steps)
Step 1: Pick Your Time
The best time to read the Bible is whenever you'll actually do it. That said, morning readers have the highest success rate.
Popular times:
- ☀️ First thing in the morning (before phone/email)
- ☕ With your morning coffee
- 🍽️ During lunch break
- 🌙 Before bed
Pro tip: Attach it to an existing habit. "After I pour my coffee, I read my Bible."
Step 2: Choose Your Spot
Create a dedicated reading space:
- Comfortable seating
- Good lighting
- Minimal distractions
- Bible and notebook ready
Some people read at the kitchen table. Others in a favorite chair. Find what works for you.
Step 3: Start Small
Don't commit to an hour on day one. Start with 10-15 minutes and build from there.
Week 1: 10 minutes
Week 2-4: 15 minutes
Month 2+: 20 minutes or whatever feels sustainable
Step 4: Use a Reading Plan
Random flipping leads to frustration. A structured plan gives you:
- Clear daily assignments
- Sense of progress
- Accountability
Step 5: Remove Friction
Make it as easy as possible:
- Keep your Bible visible (not buried in a drawer)
- Use the same spot every day
- Set a phone reminder
- Use an app for on-the-go reading
Step 6: Track Your Progress
What gets measured gets done. Track your reading with:
- A simple checklist
- A reading app
- Our free progress tracker (saves automatically in your browser)
Seeing those completed days builds momentum.
Step 7: Give Yourself Grace
Missed a day? A week? A month?
It's okay. The goal isn't perfection — it's progress. Pick up where you left off or start fresh. No judgment.
Daily Bible Reading Schedule (Sample Week)
Here's what a typical week looks like with our blended reading plan:
| Day | Old Testament | New Testament | Wisdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Genesis 1-2 | Matthew 1 | Psalm 1 |
| Tue | Genesis 3-4 | Matthew 2 | Psalm 2 |
| Wed | Genesis 5-7 | Matthew 3 | Psalm 3 |
| Thu | Genesis 8-10 | Matthew 4 | Psalm 4 |
| Fri | Genesis 11-13 | Matthew 5 | Psalm 5 |
| Sat | Genesis 14-16 | Matthew 6 | Psalm 6 |
| Sun | Genesis 17-18 | Matthew 7 | Psalm 7 |
Time commitment: 15-20 minutes per day
Weekly total: ~2 hours
See the complete 365-day schedule →
Best Bible Translation for Daily Reading
Which translation should you use? Here are the top choices:
| Translation | Best For | Reading Level |
|---|---|---|
| NIV | Balance of accuracy and readability | 7th grade |
| ESV | Word-for-word accuracy | 10th grade |
| NLT | Easy understanding | 6th grade |
| NASB | Deep study | 11th grade |
| KJV | Traditional language | 12th grade |
Our recommendation: Start with NIV or NLT for daily reading. You can always dig deeper with ESV or NASB later.
Full translation comparison guide →
Daily Bible Reading Tips from Experienced Readers
We asked people who've maintained daily reading habits for years. Here's their advice:
"Don't break the chain"
"I mark an X on my calendar every day I read. Seeing that chain of X's motivates me to keep going." — Sarah, 5 years of daily reading
"Pair it with something you love"
"I read my Bible with my morning coffee. Now I can't imagine one without the other." — Marcus, 3 years of daily reading
"Audio counts"
"On busy days, I listen to the Bible during my commute. It still counts!" — Jennifer, 7 years of daily reading
"Tell someone"
"I text my friend when I complete my reading. Accountability changes everything." — David, 2 years of daily reading
"Start before you feel ready"
"I waited years to start because I didn't feel 'spiritual' enough. Just start. You'll grow as you go." — Rachel, 4 years of daily reading
Common Daily Bible Reading Questions
What if I miss a day?
Don't try to "catch up" by reading double the next day — that leads to burnout. Either:
- Skip the missed day and continue forward
- Read the missed portion later when you have extra time
- Use our flexible plan that lets you pick any day
Should I read in order or jump around?
For beginners, a structured plan beats random reading. Once you've read through once, you can explore more freely.
How do I understand difficult passages?
- Read the surrounding context
- Check a study Bible's footnotes
- Look up a commentary online
- Ask someone at your church
- Don't let one confusing verse stop your progress
Is listening to the Bible as good as reading?
Yes! Audio Bible is legitimate reading. Many people alternate between reading and listening based on their schedule.
What if I'm not getting anything out of it?
Some days will feel dry. That's normal. Consistency matters more than feelings. The impact often shows up later, not in the moment.
Start Your Daily Bible Reading Today
You've read this far — that means you're serious about building this habit.
Here's your next step:
Start Day 1 of our free reading plan →
It takes 15 minutes. No signup required. Your progress saves automatically.
Or if you want to see the full picture first:
View the complete 365-day plan →
Free Tools for Daily Bible Reading
BibleMate App
Take your reading plan anywhere with our free mobile app:
- Daily reading notifications
- Offline access
- Progress tracking
- Clean, distraction-free reading
Coming soon to iOS and Android.
Online Reading Plan
Read directly on this website:
- No account needed
- Progress saved in your browser
- Works on any device
- Start reading now →
You Can Do This
Reading the Bible daily isn't about being perfect. It's about showing up, one day at a time.
Thousands of people have completed our reading plan. Some missed days. Some took longer than a year. But they finished.
You can too.
Questions about daily Bible reading? We'd love to help. Download the BibleMate app or explore our reading guides for more tips.