Here are a few of my top recommended Bible Study Resources for planning your quiet time with God. As you make your plan remember, you don’t have to do everything.
Pick 1-3 things for your longer devotional plan and decide what order you want to do them. For example, begin with meditation and quiet, read a Psalm, respond by journaling a prayer, and end with worship music.
Feel free to change your plan up every few weeks or whenever feels good.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more). Read my full disclosure policy to learn more.
Resources for your longer, “sit down meal” quiet time.
Prayer:
Honestly and openly talk to God — you aren’t going to screw this up! Check out How to Pray: 4 Simple Steps to a Powerful Prayer Life to learn more about growing your prayer life!
Write out your prayers in a journal.
Keep a list of prayer request — update with answers as you go. I created a
Use the book of common prayer or another prayer book (this modern one) to guide your prayers
Learn what God says about prayer! Here are 15 Bible Verses About Prayer that have helped me shape and understand prayer.
Pray prayers from the Bible. Here is a good list!
The books She Prays and Fervent have both impacted my prayer life heavily.
Praise:
Listen to and sing songs: Here is my Spotify worship playlist (fair warning, it is eclectic).
Compose songs
Write out thanksgivings in a journal.
Meditation:
Use meditation app to quiet your mind. Have a pen and little notepad handy to catch stray thoughts
Focus your mind on ONE Biblical truth and mentally rehearse it, like “God is peace” or “Do not fear” or “My God is kind to me.”
Meditative breathing: While taking a deep breath in think “God Himself ” then take a deep breath out while thinking “is my peace”. You can use any phrase of Bible verse that speaks to you or that you have read recently!
Listening:
Quiet your mind and body. Ask God to speak to you.
Wait in silence and listen.
Continue to clear distractions.
If you don’t hear anything that’s okay–enjoy God’s partnership in silence and contine about your day expectant of His prompts.
Bible Reading:
Read a proverb a day or a Psalm a day.
Use the 30 Days to Claiming the Promises Bible Study
Read through the Bible or a book of the Bible with a good study Bible. A few recommendations: Cultural Background Study Bible, Tony Evans Study Bible, and She Reads Truth Study Bible.
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp – Thoughtful reflections and Bible verses to study
Beth Moore Bible studies – Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only is probably my favorite!
100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs – shorter side, but has Bible verses with each day.
Read spiritual development books with with Bible in hand. There are so many great spiritual books that you can read with a heart to meet God through them. Keep you Bible handy and dig into verses referenced and journal responsively.
Journaling:
Answer these questions from your Bible reading in your journal:
- What is the writer saying?
- How can I apply this to my life?
Dig in! To Blue Letter Bible app to find original language, study Bible, historical context, google things as you go and write out notes as you learn.
Write out the top 1-2 verses that stood out to you from your reading time. Be as creative with coloring and hand lettering as you like! I love these journaling pens!
Write out a prayer in response to your reading.
Use illustrative Bible journaling to draw and color #illustratedfaith on instagram for lots of ideas or check out their website. They make Bibles specifically designed for creative coloring too!
Resources for your “fast food” quiet time.
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – short, but intimate devotionals that read like God speaking directly to you.
Pray as you go app — Daily Scripture reading and meditation.
Youversion Bible App — Look for shorter devotionals! There are long ones too, I love the community aspect of this app.
Use the 30 Days to Claiming the Promises Bible Study (takes about 10 minutes)
Bridgetown Church podcast daily — Scripture reading, short encouragement, and a song.
Flip Scripture devotional calendars — I can remember my mom and Gramma always having one by the sink. Small reminders that help refocus you on Jesus. I love the Claiming the Promises Verse Cards for this!
Turning on podcasts in the mundane is another on-the-go way I connect with God. I love that I can be folding laundry, doing my dishes and learning from the wisdom of awesome Bible teachers! Here are a few of my favorite faith podcasts.
- The Next Right Thing
- The Bible Binge
- Go and Tell Gals
- Risen Motherhood
- The Bible Project Podcast
- Bridgetown Church (longer episodes are sermon, shorter episodes are daily devotionals)
Turning on worship music as I go about my day helps me calm and refocus on God and His promises. I like to use Spotify to create playlists for myself or see other’s playlists! You can check out my Worship Playlist here!
Write Bible verse on sticky note or print it out and stick it somewhere you see often, dashboard, near mirror, on computer. (I used to write out verses on my hands when I was in college!) The printable Promises of God Verse Cards are perfect for this too!
I hope these ideas and resources spark your creativity in all the beautiful ways you can connect with God. His Word is sharp and active and the Holy Spirit is oh-so-ready to speak to us each day!
