6 Bible Reading Tips When You're Away from Home

Three square meals a day is the typical regimen for the human body, but while traveling, even that can be hard. In the same way, finding time to read the Bible can prove challenging, but it is easier when a defined schedule is in place. Make it a non-negotiable to have a set time to read the Word during the day. This could be the first few minutes before getting out of bed, even before brushing your teeth, or before falling asleep. Remember that although reading one or several chapters a day is excellent, taking time to meditate upon even a single verse can have a deep impact. 

As Joshua 1:8 shares, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Make it a non-negotiable that you have a set schedule for this, even more than brushing your teeth! Also consider staying in one book of the Bible over hopping around, this can help even with starting a fresh month. If the date on the calendar correlates with the chapter number, it will be easier to know where you are and to stay consistent with each day in the Word.

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The modern age has developed many new ways to get into God’s Word. For auditory learners, listening to the Bible can be a great way to receive nourishment for the day. It is also Biblical, for Romans 10:17 shares, “ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” 

Many Bible apps have audio options, and apps like the Hallow App will also read prayers to guide you. 

What is key is that you tune into what is being read and not let your thoughts wander; keep your focus on what is being read in Scripture. Many audio Bibles also have various translations available, so consider trying a new translation you have not discovered before. The phrasing or way something is translated may speak to your spirit in a fresh, new way that inspires you. 

Similarly, many podcasts also offer Scripture reading daily or covering a specific story in Scripture to provide you with a new take on a well-known story or set of verses. Please be careful to do your research so that the host or guest is consistent in rooting themselves in truth. Trying out new forms through audio can provide an exciting new way to absorb Scripture.

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Accountability with another person can prove incredibly beneficial when seeking to achieve a goal. If traveling or out of town, consider connecting with a fellow believer for your scripture reading. Perhaps creating a group text with a verse to meditate on with believers of the same sex, or checking in and studying the verse with a spouse or loved one. 

Matthew 18:20 shares, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

There is something very profound when believers gather together to study the Word and to pray together, and it helps that you both are accountable to each other and God for consistency. If you do not have someone to collaborate with in your study, ask the Lord to highlight someone dependable whom He would desire you to connect with. 

Collaboration also has the gift of seeing other takeaways and highlights from what the Holy Spirit is speaking to the other person, and vice versa. This gathering of believers fosters fellowship and the heart of the church. You might be surprised by what God can do by collaborating in reading Scripture.

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Another way to remain consistent even while traveling or away from home is to adopt the 5/5/5 plan. This is five minutes in the Bible, five minutes in worship, and five minutes in prayer. This flow does not take a significant amount of time, but it sets the day or ends the day off in such a manner that connects the soul with the Lord through indwelling in the Word, rejoicing in worship, and communion through prayer. This is a relationship; check in with the Lord, even when time is scarce.

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If you find yourself without a physical Bible or access to a digital format of the Word, that does not mean you don’t have the opportunity to spend time in scripture. 

Deuteronomy 11:18 shares, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” 

Even if the scriptures you have memorized or know in full are ones that you’d often see on a coffee mug, recall and recite them in your heart, just because a scripture is commonly known does not mean that it holds any less value or worth, if anything the repetition is significant that it is something worth remembering. Even writing out these verses on a notes app or a piece of paper in front of you can help your heart ponder and praise Him; there is great value in these things. 

While imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II, Corrie Ten Boom would write scriptures down in the shoes of those who needed encouragement. These fragments of hope were a balm in a time of severe need, and they were poured out from what was engraved upon her heart in scripture. We can take inspiration from Corrie Ten Boom in our lives by memorizing scripture to pull from our hearts and minds, regardless of whether we have a physical copy.

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Devotionals are another way to stay rooted in the Word daily. It is wise to be discerning when choosing the right devotional, for you want one that abides in Scripture, not opinion or fluffy sayings. When you find a Biblically rooted devotional, remember that God can use those things to explain or provide deeper understanding of His Word, which may speak to the exact situation you are facing that day. 

Devotionals can also utilize a theme or topic, such as trusting God, overcoming fear, or processing through particular seasons that bring together a myriad of verses you might not have considered together. This helps provide a fuller and denser scripture experience through the prayerful work of an author and the Holy Spirit to bring forward scripture in a very specific way. 

Many themed studies incorporate direct scripture, centralized books of the Bible, or break scripture down into root translations. Devotionals and studies can assist in keeping consistent with your daily Word. Remember what matters most is not just checking off something on your “to-do” list, but connecting with the Lord for your portion each and every day from Him.

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