So you’ve decided you’re ready to get back in the habit of studying your Bible daily – that’s great! But where should you begin?

Without a specific goal in mind, you might find yourself flipping through pages aimlessly, landing briefly in Proverbs, then jumping to Psalms, and finally skimming a passage from Matthew. While this might occasionally lead you to an encouraging verse, this way of “study” lacks depth. Without giving proper attention to context, the impact of the study will be shallow, leaving you unfocused and unmotivated to continue. Over time, this unfocused approach can turn Bible reading into a chore rather than a joy. When this is what Bible study looks like, its no surprise when people find it easy to skip or abandon entirely!

The solution? Set challenging and personally exciting Bible study goals.

When you approach your study with a clear, specific goal, it gives you purpose and direction. You move through Scripture with intention rather than wandering aimlessly. This makes your study time more fruitful and more enjoyable.

But don’t settle for goals that are too easy. Easy goals are boring goals. Challenging goals, on the other hand, inspire personal ambition. Ambitious goals push you and tap into your competitive spirit. They serve as a personal challenge to prove to yourself what you are capable of, transforming your study into an engaging and rewarding process.

For example, have you ever read your entire Bible, cover to cover? If so, how quickly can you do it? Can you complete it in one year? In six months? In three? Could you memorize the Sermon on the Mount? Could you write chapter-by-chapter summaries of the entire book of Isaiah?

Don’t misunderstand me – reading the Bible as quickly as possible or memorizing large portions isn’t the ultimate goal of Bible study. The real purpose of setting a goal is to to motivate you to spend more time immersed in Scripture, meditating on the text, thinking about its meaning, and finding ways to apply what you learn. Challenging and exciting goals are simply tools to spark enthusiasm and create sense of accomplishment. That excitement keeps you motivated to return to Bible study with consistency and joy, time and time again.

Once you’ve imagined a challenging goal, break it into a daily plan. This is what makes seemingly impossible goals feel achievable.

For example, if your goal is to read the entire Bible in three months, that may at first feel like a daunting challenge. But notice what happens when you break it down. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. Over 90 days, thats roughly 13 or 14 chapters per day. Assuming it takes you about 5 minutes to read a chapter, you’d need about 70 minutes daily. Can you set aside just over an hour a day for three months? With focus and dedication, the answer is likely yes! By breaking your goal into smaller steps, you can transform it from overwhelming into doable.

The key is choosing a goal that excites you. When you’re personally invested, the process becomes fun rather than draining. With a clear plan in hand, your study time will feel purposeful and productive.

So don’t settle for easy, aimless reading. Instead, set personal goals, break them down into smaller steps, and dive in with enthusiasm and determination. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you approach your study with focus and ambition!