How To Start Reading the Bibe and Establish A Daily Quiet Time with God

June 2026 • Denise Finochiaro

How To Start Reading Your Bible

WHAT IS A QUIET TIME & WHY DO I NEED IT?

The maple tree is prized for its cool summer shade, its beautiful woodgrain, its red fall foliage, and its delightful sap. It has weathered many storms by sending its roots deep. The maple spends its days absorbing nutrients from the earth and the sun, and drinking moisture from God's bounty.
The cold winter nights are essential for the tree to be able to produce its sweet syrup in the Spring. The colder winter, the greater the sap production. But the cold winter night doesn't hurt the maple because it has stored God's nutrients in its trunk.

We could learn a lesson from the maple. We live such shallow lives, indulging our flesh but neglecting our spiritual needs. Then we wonder why our leaves are sparse, our woodgrain is blemished, our foliage is faded, and our sap is bittersweet.
God said, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13.  Just as the maple drinks the moisture that God provides, so do we need to drink from God's fountains of living waters in His Word instead of looking to the world to quench our thirst.
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4. God' has given us His Word in the Scriptures. How different our lives would be if we would take time to feed on the Spiritual nutrients there!

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

A daily Quiet Time with God helps us achieve the purpose and serenity we all look for. Just as we need nutrients from food for our physical bodies each day, we need nourishment of God's Word for our emotional and spiritual needs. We need to send our roots deep into His precepts in order to weather our storms. We need His guidance and wisdom for our cold winter nights.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE A QUIET TIME?

To establish your Quiet Time, determine what part of your day is best to set aside for spending time with Him. Many people find that the best time is early in the morning, before the household is stirring. This starts the day with Him, and gives Him an opportunity to provide reinforcements for the day. Others find the best time to be at night right before bed. This allows opportunity to review the day with God and plan for tomorrow with Him.

Some people spend a portion of their lunch hour alone with God. Young mothers often snatch the time while their children are napping. People who commute for long distances to work often use this time to pray and listen to an audiocassette of Scripture. The disadvantages of this method are the inability to take notes while driving, and the fact that most people don't work seven days a week.

The time you choose to spend with Him will be based upon whatever your schedule allows. Ask God to help you find the time that is best for you. The most important thing is that you set aside a definite time. It is too easy for our good intentions to get lost in the shuffle of life is we don't make a definite commitment here. Plan to spend some time listening to Him through Bible reading. Plan to spend another portion of this time talking with him through prayer.

If you miss a day, you will find that things seem more complicated, stressful. Don't despair, just ask Him to forgive you if you missed your time with Him through neglect. Ask Him to help you get back on target the next day.

WHAT IS A GOOD TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE TO USE?

Choose a Bible translation that you can understand. But be sure it is an accurate translation. You can read the bible for free online.

The King James Version (KJV) has stood the test of time. It is all the English speaking world had for centuries. Because this is the translation that God allowed to be provided to so many for so long, many people feel that we should not depart from it. Its poetical beauty is unmatched by any other translation.
However, because of its archaic language, many people find the KJV difficult to understand in our day. There are several good translations available today.

The New King James Version (NKJV) is very similar to the KJV, retaining much of the poetical beauty and original form. But archaic words are updated, making it easier to comprehend.

The New International Version (NIV) is a personal favorite of mine. The New American Standard Version (NASB) is also a good translation. These two translations are easy to understand, yet they retain a formal beauty in language.

The Contemporary English Version (CEV) published by the American Bible Society is another good translation, written in a more everyday language.

If you choose to study from a translation other than the KJV, it is best to use a copy of the KJV alongside your other translation, so that you are always comparing with the translation that God has allowed to be the standard for so long.

Taking the Next Step in Your Bible Study Journey

Knowing that you need time in God's Word and actually developing the habit are two different things. Many believers struggle with consistency, not because they don't love God, but because they simply don't know where to begin.

The good news is that you don't need a complicated plan. A few minutes spent reading Scripture, talking with God in prayer, and reflecting on what you've learned can have a profound impact on your spiritual growth over time.

🌱 Start Small and Stay Consistent

If you're new to daily Bible study, don't feel pressured to read large portions of Scripture every day. Start with a chapter from the Gospel of John, a Psalm, or a few verses that speak to your current season of life.

The goal isn't to rush through the Bible. The goal is to spend time with God and allow His Word to speak to your heart.

📖 Helpful Resources for Daily Growth

If you'd like additional guidance, these trusted Christian resources can help support your daily walk with God:

• 📚 Our Daily Bread — Daily devotionals and scripture-based encouragement.
• 💡 Heartlight — Inspirational devotionals and Bible-centered teaching.
• 🌸 Proverbs 31 Ministries — Faith-based encouragement designed especially for women.
• 💕 iBelieve — Devotionals, prayers, and articles for everyday Christian living.
• ✨ First15 — Guided devotionals focused on spending the first moments of your day with God.
• 📱 YouVersion Bible App — Free Bible reading plans and devotionals on hundreds of topics.
• 🎧 In Touch Ministries — Sermons, podcasts, and biblical teaching from Dr. Charles Stanley.
• 🌿 FaithGateway — Bible studies, devotionals, and Christian growth resources.

📝 Create Your Own Quiet Time Routine

Every person's schedule is different, but many believers find success with a simple routine like this:

• 🙏 Begin with prayer.
• 📖 Read a passage of Scripture.
• ✍️ Write down what stood out to you.
• 💭 Consider how it applies to your life.
• ❤️ End by thanking God and bringing your requests to Him.

Even ten or fifteen minutes each day can help strengthen your relationship with Christ and build a solid foundation for spiritual growth.

🌅 Questions for Reflection

As you spend time with God this week, consider these questions:

• ✨ What is God teaching me right now?
• 📖 Is there a verse I should memorize or meditate on?
• 🙏 What concerns do I need to surrender to Him?
• 🌱 What step of obedience is God asking me to take?

Ideas for Branching Out

Don't limit yourself to only Psalms or Proverbs however. You need a plan that will nurture you from all the Spiritual food groups of God's Word. Here are some ways to accomplish that:

Use the concordance in the back of your Bible or a Bible promise book (several types of these are available in Christian bookstores) to find all the promises you can in the Bible. Determine which promises are unconditional and which ones are based upon a condition that we must meet.

Use your concordance to study the lives Bible people. Try to determine what made them great, or what made them fall short. Notice how God worked in their lives, and their responses. Learn from their examples.

Read and study one book of the Bible at a time. Read a chapter, or just a few verses each day. If you are new to Bible study, try starting with the book of St. John, then read Acts and continue on through the New Testament. Then go back to Genesis and begin reading the Old Testament.

When you come to the "begets and begots" and other passages which seem boring, just skip over these for now. God has them there for a reason, and some day you will want to go back and explore the truths hidden underneath their surface.

If you come to something you don't understand, just try to apply the things you do understand. None of us understands the Bible completely. It has very simple as well as very profound truths in it. God will gradually teach us more and more as we read it. The things that are hard to understand at first will become easier to understand as we study the Bible as a whole.

Remember, Bible study is not merely an academic exercise. It is an invitation to know God more deeply, trust Him more fully, and allow His truth to transform every area of your life.

Editorial Note

This article is based on original writings created by my mother and is published here with her permission. The original websites where this content first appeared are no longer active. To preserve these valuable insights for future readers, this content has been reviewed, edited, updated, and maintained by Denise Finochiaro and The Sis Tribe Friends.

Our goal is to provide readers with accurate, helpful, and inspiring content while preserving the original message and intent of the author's work.

About the Orginal Author

Lois Turley is a retired registered nurse who lives in Fort Worth, TX. She founded and is the former author of the website “Hope In a House Divided”. She is a published author in many publications over the years. She is a child of God and mother to two adult children, her daughter Denise and her son Nathan and mother-in-law to Nathan’s wife Nela.  She is grandmother to two adult grandchildren, her granddaughter Emily and her grandson Devin and she is great-grandmother to Lee Anna.

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