Want to make certain you NEVER read your Bible? If so, do each of the five things listed in this post. BUT, if you’d like to make Bible-reading a habit in 2017, you might want to steer clear of these things.

One benefit of not growing up in the church is that you don’t know anything about the Bible. I know that sounds awful, but hang with me for a minute.

When we first started going to church when I was a teenager, we felt stupid. It wasn’t the church’s fault. Once you’ve been around Christians for very long, you don’t even realize how much “Christianese” you use.

Words like baptism, confession, and communion were normal to them, but foreign to us.

Because of how dumb we felt, we took action. We began meeting with the senior minister at church and digging into our Bibles at home.

Before long, I read through the entire Bible. Then, a few years later, I did it again. I longed for the Word of God. Thirsted for it.

Sometimes I miss those days, because the truth is, my longing to learn isn’t near as strong today as it was back then.

In the last few years, I’ve learned several things NOT to do when it comes to reading your Bible. Here are a few ways to guarantee you never read it.

5 Ways to Guarantee You Never Read Your Bible:

1. Assume you know enough already.

After all, Christianity isn’t about how much you know anyway, so why bother, right?

2. Leave your Bible at church, in your car, or under a pile of mail.

I know, I know. Your Bible is on your phone so you don’t really need a print version anymore.

But, there’s still something to be said about holding God’s Word in your hands and underlining the verses that speak to you.

3. Finish your “to-do” list first.

Because really, is that list ever going to be complete?

4. Wait until the timing is perfect-when you’re not tired, not stressed, and have nothing else to do.

Again, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the timing isn’t going to be perfect. EVER.

5. Only read it if you have an intense desire for the Word.

That’s somewhere in the Bible isn’t it, right next to the verse about only giving if you have a surplus in your checking account?

So yeah, this list is a little bit sarcastic. But it’s also true. If we wait until we have a surplus of time or a strong desire to read or whatever else we’re waiting for…we’re not ever going to make it happen.

Or at least, I won’t.

Sometimes, the best way to get into the Word of God is just to sit down and do it. Put aside the excuses and open it up.

What about you? What keeps you from reading your Bible?

Last week,  I shared a post called How to Find Time for God in the New Year. Make sure and check out that post for more tips on making faith a priority in your life this year.