There was a time when I would open my Bible, read a chapter… and close it feeling more confused than encouraged. Honestly it still happens more than I would like to admit but I’m okay with that because it has forced me to be more intentional with my studies, I research, read and study the word more intensely until I understand fully
I wanted to understand Scripture. I wanted it to feel the Holy Spirit. I wanted it to stick.
But sometimes it felt overwhelming, especially as a mom trying to squeeze in a little time between all the daily chaos, snacks, chores and play.
Thankfully over time I have found a few tools that help me every day. These tools have helped me grow in my faith and grown closer and closer to God. Tools that are easy to grasp, manageable and help relate God's teaching to what exactly I’m facing in life.
These aren’t complicated. They’re not intimidating. They’re just tools that make studying the Bible feel doable and meaningful.
Here are my favorites.
A Guided Bible Study
One of the biggest game changers for me has been using a structured study instead of randomly flipping pages and hoping something clicks.
Right now, I’m loving A Beautiful Year in the Bible: The 52-Week Bible Study for Women. It breaks the Bible down into manageable weekly readings, and each week includes reflection questions and space to process what you’re learning.
What I love most about it:
- It doesn’t feel overwhelming.
- It connects Old and New Testament themes.
- It helps me see the bigger story instead of isolated verses.
- It gently guides you deeper without requiring a theology degree.
As a busy mom, and wife I don’t have unlimited hours to prep. I need something that helps me understand what I’m reading without hours of extra research, and this does that beautifully.
If you’re looking for something structured but not rigid, this is such a good place to start.
You can find it here on Amazon if you want to check it out.
A Cute Notebook
I used to think I needed a fancy journal system. I don’t.
All I use is a simple lined notebook I picked up at Marshall’s, it’s darling but simple. I keep it with my Bible, and I jot down the following after reading:
- What stood out
- What confused me
- What it reveals about God
- How I can apply it today
Writing slows me down. It makes Scripture stick.
Sometimes I’ll write just a few sentences. Sometimes a whole page. But having space to process instead of just reading and moving on has changed everything.
Grace Over Perfection
This might be the most important tool of all.
I had to let go of the idea that my quiet time has to look perfect.
It doesn’t have to be 5 a.m., quiet house and aesthetically pleasing
Some days it’s five focused minutes.
Some days I miss.
Some days I start again.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s consistent. It's a relationship.
Tools like A Beautiful Year in the Bible help me stay steady because they remove the “what should I read?” decision fatigue. And as a mom, removing friction is everything.
If You’re Just Starting
If you feel intimidated or unsure where to begin, here’s my simple advice:
- Pick one guided study.
- Grab a notebook.
- Start small.
- Keep going.
You don’t need the perfect season.
You don’t need uninterrupted hours.
You just need a willing heart.
Understanding Scripture doesn’t happen overnight. But little by little, week by week, it becomes clearer. Softer. Deeper.
And that’s what it’s all about, not just reading the Bible, but knowing the God behind it.
Love, Shelby
