Can't Develop a Daily Bible Habit? Here's a Tip for Christian Entrepreneurs
Updated: Jan 21, 2021
Even though we know as Christian entrepreneurs that we need to study God’s Word regularly, we often think about the most efficient way to structure this daily routine, especially with how busy our businesses keep us.
When I was first getting into the habit of reading my Bible daily, I couldn't find the motivation. It felt obligated and a little fake. I knew it was good for me. I knew I needed to do it. But I just couldn't get the routine to stick.
All of us Christian entrepreneurs trying to run businesses God's way desire to know God's word. And we know from biblical instruction and from our pastors and spiritual leaders that we should be reading the Bible regularly.
However, it's not enough to only rely on the Sunday sermon or occasional Bible study. Us business owners are bombarded DAILY with issues that we need to be prepared for. For that reason, we need to be getting the Word of God inside of us not only on Sundays but throughout the week. In fact, it should be part of a successful entrepreneur's daily morning routine.
I'm called "Daily Godpreneur" because my mission is to inspire God first business owners to put God first in morning routine and watch how God transforms everything else for His glory. I call this my daily morning huddle with God.
Business teams have daily huddles for productivity. Sales teams meet daily with their manager to get motivated. Project teams get together briefly every morning to uncover anything that might be holding a project back and to move forward with a solution. CEOs have morning checkups with their executive team.
If this is how business operates already, then why would our morning time with God be any different?
The Bible says
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalms 119:105 NLT)
I want to share my "daily devotional" routine so you can learn how I spend my time praying and studying the Word of God, and how it applies to my business.
NOTE: Although the Bible tells us the basics of what we need to do daily as part of our Christian devotion, it gives us freedom as to how to do it. I'm going to show you my particular way because it works for me. You can follow it or be inspired by it and create your own.
The Basic Structure of Daily Bible Study Routine
The basics of your daily time with God will include
Prayer on what to read
Reading about what feels right
Meditating on that thought
And for EXTRA CREDIT,
Journaling privately
Sharing thoughts publicly
There are no rules on how exactly you read God's Word, but there are indications that it should be done DAILY.
The Bible says
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8 ESV)
Notice that the Bible doesn't list EXACTLY how you need to do this. There are no terms of when, where, and how much has to be read. That's up to you. What's important for you to understand is that if you want your ways to be prosperous and business to be successful, then the most important thing is to just do it.
If you're just staying out on developing a DAILY routine, then start with a practical activity that I also do daily.
Time and Place: Pick one place in the house you always do your studying, and pick a window of time that this activity falls into.
Create a pattern in your mind: wake up, brush teeth, make coffee, listen to 3 worship songs, sit down and open Bible.
Embrace technology - I do everything from my phone, not a physical Bible. It works better for me.
Set reminders - if you commit to a block of time, why not add it to your Google calendar.
Don't compare - Don't worry about measuring yourself against anyone else, especially me. I'm a writer and teacher. Your pastor has to do this as his job. Don't beat yourself up because you're not putting in the work like they do.
I pray you'll consider my examples and that will encourage you to develop a daily Bible reading habit. Stop feeling guilty that your devotional life doesn't look like others. They're on a different journey.
We should start wherever we can start. It could be 1 minute per day, it could be 1 hour per day. More important than the the "how" is that our minds begin to develop the DAILY habit of depending on the Word to guide our business days.
Imagine if all of us Godpreneurs did whatever we could to establish a pattern of regularly reading the Word of God. How different would the marketplace be? That's the motivating thought in my heart for continuing Daily Godpreneur.