If you’re not already having daily Bible time, college would be a great time to begin a habit of daily time with the Lord. In Deuteronomy 17, an Israelite king is required to “write for himself in a book a copy of this law ... and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God” (17:18-19). Numerous Scripture verses reveal the life-giving quality of God’s word. Scripture “builds us up” (Acts 20:32) and helps us to “grow up into salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2). God works our sanctification over our whole lives, and one of the ways He does this is through our reading of Scripture. Another means of grace is prayer, which brings us closer to God as we commune with Him. If God has been so good to give us these means of grace, why shouldn’t we gladly use them?

1. Make a plan.

Choose a book of the Bible or a Bible reading plan and stick to it. Jumping around in Scripture is not wrong, but keeping to a plan will eliminate the need to make a decision every day. Sometimes the hardest part is deciding WHAT you’re going to read, so if that’s already taken care of, then you can enhance your time by focusing on more fruitful matters.

2. Remember that it’s not a formula.

There is not one correct way to have your Bible time. Some days you will read just a few verses, on others you may read several chapters. Some seasons you will have lots of time to read while other times you might just have a few minutes each day. If you’re starting out, don’t set too high a standard — a few verses and a few minutes praying will suffice. Likely, as Bible time becomes a habit, you will naturally spend more and more time reading and praying, but don’t overwhelm yourself all at once. Take time to learn to delight in this time with the Lord.

3. Make it a habit.

Habits are best formed in conjunction with an already-formed habit. Do you have a morning routine? Add your devotions time to your before-class routine. The same goes for the evening. Could you fit in time for devotions just before bed? The main priority is making sure that devotions become a regular priority and are not shoved aside, whether you do them in the morning, the evening, or some free hour during your day.

4. Remember to persevere.

You’re not always going to feel like spending time reading and praying. Sometimes it will feel like a delight, but other times will feel more like a chore. In Ephesians, Paul recognizes this when he says: “Keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (6:18). Perseverance is required to faithfully continue seeking God. The good news is that he enables us to seek him. We are not left on our own. So let us press on to know the Lord!