It’s officially summertime. School’s out. Things get a little quieter around the office. Construction is everywhere. And, of course, stores have already run out of sunscreen!
Whether it’s because the days are longer or it’s just really hot, the summer months tend to cause us to slow down. To take life a little bit easier, at least to a degree. But in our slowing down, as routines shift a little, sometimes the regular habits that we’ve developed fall by the wayside.
Our time in Scripture is not immune to this. Vacations, house guests, VBS programs, and the desire to get an extra hour’s sleep every once in a while, throw us off routine. We miss a day here and there. That turns into a week. Then two. And before we know it, we’re feeling (needlessly) guilty about how far we’ve gotten from our reading plan.
What can we do to avoid, or break, the summer reading slump? How can we make sure we’re still investing time in our reading and study of Scripture?
Try listening to Scripture
Admittedly, listening is not the same as reading text. But even so, audio Bibles are a tremendous help at any time of year, but especially during the summer months. They invite flexibility in where and how we engage with Scripture. Whether we’re out for a hike, on the road for a family vacation, or cutting the grass, we can experience the Word spoken.
There are plenty of outstanding audio editions of most of the major English translations, but one of most unique is The Word of Promise Audio Bible. This audio Bible is a faithful rendition of the NKJV edition of the Bible performed by a star-studded cast and featuring motion picture sound effects and a captivating original score. Another option is Johnny Cash Reads the Complete New Testament, which offers a faithful reading of the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation in the incomparable voice of the “Man in Black.”
Try a Bible with a special focus
Another approach can be to switch up the Bible you’re reading. Perhaps a devotional Bible, a daily reading edition, or one with special features to enhance your engagement. One edition is Spurgeon and the Psalms, which features short devotional length excerpts from The Treasury of David for all 150 psalms. Another option is The Prayer Bible, which offers specific prompts to guide you in praying through every chapter of the Bible. A final choice is the Everyday Bible, which divides the Scriptures into dated daily readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament.
Give yourself grace and start reading
The final recommendation is really an encouragement: just start reading. I know, you probably wanted to get through the Bible in full this year (at least that’s where you started on New Year’s Day). But let’s be honest: that goal probably fell by the wayside in February. And that’s okay. So don’t sweat the plan, and don’t sit in any kind of self-imposed guilt. Those will keep you from reading at all. Instead, grab your Bible, pick any book—maybe Philippians or Proverbs—and start reading. You’ll be glad you did.
Aaron Armstrong
Aaron Armstrong is a Marketing Director with Thomas Nelson Bibles. He is also the author of multiple books, documentaries, and Bible studies, including I’m a Christian—Now What?: A Guide to Your New Life with Christ. A Canadian living in the United States, Aaron serves at his local church as a small group leader and as a part of its preaching team. He loves to write, especially to help people grow as followers of Jesus. To learn more, visit aaronarmstrong.co.
