Why does bible reading feel like such a chore??
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I have read the whole King James version three times. I sort of stopped reading it after three times through. Last year I bought an NIV and NKJV. It seems to help to read new translations. New translations are fun. I have almost finished reading the NIV. Another thing that helps is to underline or highlight what you read. This helps if you jump around and do not remember what all you read. I read the whole book of Job today so I know how you feel.
K
Sometimes I feel like that too. It's hard for me as well to just sit down and focus on God's word. I get discouraged sometimes because thoughts cross my mind like, "This is the most important thing you can do for you and everyone around you!". <-- Not sure that's exactly God, if you get what I mean 
I then feel burdened and like I HAVE to do it.
My thoughts (as I too struggle with the same problem):
There are times when we just need to muddle through it whether we feel like it or not. Those times are mostly when we're in distress or a bad situation is about, I think. I'm not exactly sure when those times are, though.
On the other hand, I don't feel like forcing yourself to do it is a good thing, as you may read it just to get it over with. I guess it's about your perspective:
"Oh, all right! God's word!" or "Oh, all right. God's word." If you get excited about it, then I imagine you'll want to do it.
When a farmer goes out to sow seed, he's thinking of the future, as in what that seed is going to turn into. He may not enjoy doing it, but he understands the importance of eating.
However, if he gets excited about the harvest, he'll want to sow those seeds asap and nurture them to the fullest, taking careful time to make sure everything is in check and the seeds will come to fruition in good time.
I guess if we focus on the good that will come out of it, we'll understand the importance and yet feel excited and perhaps even joyful about doing our work. Heck, it might not even seem like work at all
I personally have found that when I'm excited about it, I'm more eager to sit down and delve into the Word.
Keep in mind I haven't put all of this to the test; I've just formulated my thoughts. I hope it helps.
I then feel burdened and like I HAVE to do it. My thoughts (as I too struggle with the same problem):
There are times when we just need to muddle through it whether we feel like it or not. Those times are mostly when we're in distress or a bad situation is about, I think. I'm not exactly sure when those times are, though.
On the other hand, I don't feel like forcing yourself to do it is a good thing, as you may read it just to get it over with. I guess it's about your perspective:
"Oh, all right! God's word!" or "Oh, all right. God's word." If you get excited about it, then I imagine you'll want to do it.
When a farmer goes out to sow seed, he's thinking of the future, as in what that seed is going to turn into. He may not enjoy doing it, but he understands the importance of eating.
However, if he gets excited about the harvest, he'll want to sow those seeds asap and nurture them to the fullest, taking careful time to make sure everything is in check and the seeds will come to fruition in good time.
I guess if we focus on the good that will come out of it, we'll understand the importance and yet feel excited and perhaps even joyful about doing our work. Heck, it might not even seem like work at all
I personally have found that when I'm excited about it, I'm more eager to sit down and delve into the Word.
Keep in mind I haven't put all of this to the test; I've just formulated my thoughts. I hope it helps.
i think it all depends on two things; understanding that version of the Bible and the accuracy of that version. the first Bible version i got was an NIV. i was given it before i became a Christian, so i never read it much. i got a KJV last year and i use that most of the time. i was given an NKJV soon after that. I use that sometimes. i recently borrowed an ESV Anglicized for some evangelism. a lot of people believe that the NIV is not as accurate as the likes of the KJV, NKJV and ESV. i would say that the NIV can give you a better understanding of the Bible, but it lacks the accuracy standards of other Bible versions. i have used an NASB in the past and i'd say that it is accurate. like i mentioned, my primary Bible version is the KJV. it is in old english, but i have studied shakespeare (in school of course) and the language used in his plays and sonnets, so i have experienced words such as 'thou', 'thee' and 'thy'. there are also people who don't prefer the KJV; not because of the old english, but because of words that are expressed as cuss words appear in a few verses of the KJV. this is because the words used were part of everyday conversation in king james' time.
as far as i know, the NLT is alright. i have never used the KJ21 (21st Century King James Version), but i have a feeling that it is accurate. the Good News Bible however, apparently some of the words have been changed which makes it mean something different, so it isn't accurate.
find a Bible version that is easily understood AND accurate and you should be alright.
as far as i know, the NLT is alright. i have never used the KJ21 (21st Century King James Version), but i have a feeling that it is accurate. the Good News Bible however, apparently some of the words have been changed which makes it mean something different, so it isn't accurate.
find a Bible version that is easily understood AND accurate and you should be alright.
N
Why do you feel Bible Study isn't reading His Word? I rarely just and read the Bible, I almost always have pen and paper handy, or at least a highlighter. I consider that study. Because I don't just read, I read a passage, reread it, read what came before and after. Then something strikes a cord and I look up a word and go to the other verses that coincide. I use a NIV Study Bible so there's lots of explanations and references. I will find, at times, that I've read entire pages without writing something down, which I used to think meant I was finding anything meaningful enough but now I feel it means I'm that involved in His Word.
N
I felt the same way! I loved being in church and going to our Bible studies, but i could never just sit and read the Bible. My pastor talked to me about it and told me that I should pray about it and start by reading the Gospels. I loved God with all my heart but every time i would start reading Genesis, I would get really bored really fast. It wasn't good; then i decided to dedicate some time to reading the Bible (started in John). I had questions that I needed to find for myself so i wrote out the questions on my note book for church notes, got my Bible and what helped me out alot was I used a Bible concordance. I found myself reading for hours and finding out so much about God and what he did all the small thing I had no idea about because i never read The Bible that much. I was really happy after reading to because it helps your spiritual life. Maybe wrighting out questions you have will open up the Bible to you in a different way. Or maybe you can read the Bible with a friend/family member and make it a daily thing, if you read His word he will help you and it will no longer fill like another chore.
God Bless You!!
God Bless You!!
I have come to find that that only happens to me when am really tired or like trying to read the bible coz its part of my schedule or forcing myself to read a certain number of passages or something. But if you just decide to read the bible diligently and patiently and seek to understand each verse, the bible will be a sweet song to your soul everyday. God bless
I know how that feels sometimes. Yes, I understand they are the words of God, but I'm sorry they just aren't that captivating.
Especially Psalms. People LOVE the book of Psalms. It has no appeal to me. I'm not the emotional singing type. My type of books? Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Romans. Those kinds of books that go for the mind. I like reading those. Luke also appeals to me, given his more detailed, I guess you could say intellectual approach to Jesus.
Especially Psalms. People LOVE the book of Psalms. It has no appeal to me. I'm not the emotional singing type. My type of books? Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Romans. Those kinds of books that go for the mind. I like reading those. Luke also appeals to me, given his more detailed, I guess you could say intellectual approach to Jesus.
R
Sometimes I find that it helps to research something specific. Like take a popular verse that everybody knows and use that as a starting point. Use the interwebs to learn everything you can about the book it comes from, like the author, the history of the time... context and stuff. Then start reading the book. If you have a Bible with cross references, look them up! If any strike you as especially interesting for whatever reason, start reading that,too.
Personally, I love reading the Bible, but it's probably because I enjoy the investigation and information gathering as much as the spiritual enrichment. There are a lot of things we say, as Christians, without really thinking about it. There are verses and ideas we have on the tips of our tongues and written on the backs of our hands that we don't give much thought to. We take it for granted that we just 'know' it.
I don't want any thoughtless ideas rattling around in my brain. I don't want there to be a single part of Christian ideology or Biblical belief that was simply handed to me and I accepted without contemplating it. These are huge, heavy things and if you are going to say you are someone who 1. Knows it 2. Understands it 3. Believes it 4. Applies it, then you better really know and understand it so you can truly believe it and apply it.
Personally, I love reading the Bible, but it's probably because I enjoy the investigation and information gathering as much as the spiritual enrichment. There are a lot of things we say, as Christians, without really thinking about it. There are verses and ideas we have on the tips of our tongues and written on the backs of our hands that we don't give much thought to. We take it for granted that we just 'know' it.
I don't want any thoughtless ideas rattling around in my brain. I don't want there to be a single part of Christian ideology or Biblical belief that was simply handed to me and I accepted without contemplating it. These are huge, heavy things and if you are going to say you are someone who 1. Knows it 2. Understands it 3. Believes it 4. Applies it, then you better really know and understand it so you can truly believe it and apply it.
i think it all depends on two things; understanding that version of the Bible and the accuracy of that version. the first Bible version i got was an NIV. i was given it before i became a Christian, so i never read it much. i got a KJV last year and i use that most of the time. i was given an NKJV soon after that. I use that sometimes. i recently borrowed an ESV Anglicized for some evangelism. a lot of people believe that the NIV is not as accurate as the likes of the KJV, NKJV and ESV. i would say that the NIV can give you a better understanding of the Bible, but it lacks the accuracy standards of other Bible versions. i have used an NASB in the past and i'd say that it is accurate. like i mentioned, my primary Bible version is the KJV. it is in old english, but i have studied shakespeare (in school of course) and the language used in his plays and sonnets, so i have experienced words such as 'thou', 'thee' and 'thy'. there are also people who don't prefer the KJV; not because of the old english, but because of words that are expressed as cuss words appear in a few verses of the KJV. this is because the words used were part of everyday conversation in king james' time.
as far as i know, the NLT is alright. i have never used the KJ21 (21st Century King James Version), but i have a feeling that it is accurate. the Good News Bible however, apparently some of the words have been changed which makes it mean something different, so it isn't accurate.
find a Bible version that is easily understood AND accurate and you should be alright.
as far as i know, the NLT is alright. i have never used the KJ21 (21st Century King James Version), but i have a feeling that it is accurate. the Good News Bible however, apparently some of the words have been changed which makes it mean something different, so it isn't accurate.
find a Bible version that is easily understood AND accurate and you should be alright.
C
NIV IS A HORRIBLE TRANSLATION!!!!!! They took so much out of it and put what they wanted in it!!!! They even took the virgin birth out!!! If you do not believe in the virgin birth then you are no Christian!!! They purposly changed things in it!!! Yes reading KJV is hard but it is the purest version we have!!! The NIV even admits they do not specify in their version what they took out/put in/CHANGED becuase they thought something else would be less offensive to the people!!!!
How do you read the Bible?
I remember thinking how did anyone sit and read through that amount of pages, it seemed just like you said a "chore"...
I tried to read the Bible by skipping from one part to the next attempting to make myself understand.
Then it came to me to read it like any other book front to back Old and New, that is when it became the most powerful incredible, informative book.
I was completely Amazed what I found...
It was only when I read and listened to what the Holy spirit was teaching me that I was drawn to continue through.
I remember thinking how did anyone sit and read through that amount of pages, it seemed just like you said a "chore"...
I tried to read the Bible by skipping from one part to the next attempting to make myself understand.
Then it came to me to read it like any other book front to back Old and New, that is when it became the most powerful incredible, informative book.
I was completely Amazed what I found...
It was only when I read and listened to what the Holy spirit was teaching me that I was drawn to continue through.
Satan does "NOT" want us in the Word! He will distract you, coddle you to sleep, and flood your mind with ideas when we sit down to read and study the Word of God. A solution I have found, Read it to him! Read it aloud and just keep on going. He will eventually leave you alone and you will be the better for it. Jesus quoted it to him!
C
You could buy the action bible, it basically comic bible. Very interesting like maybe 18 or 20 bucks.
Then you could also buy the audio dramatic bible, where it has actual sound effects and every as if you were there in the bible, it's called the word of promise but if you look it up it is a bible that has different cast and everything.
This helps but I bet it's not the only answers
Then you could also buy the audio dramatic bible, where it has actual sound effects and every as if you were there in the bible, it's called the word of promise but if you look it up it is a bible that has different cast and everything.
This helps but I bet it's not the only answers