Yes, there are a million “Bible study habit” posts… but here’s why this one’s different.

This is something I teach and we practice often inside the Bible Study Collective Membership, because I've seen firsthand how many women truly want to be in the Word, but feel frustrated when their good intentions don't turn into lasting habits.

So, if you have ever tried to build a Bible study habit and felt like it lasted… until life got busy, you are not broken.

You are normal.

Most of us don't struggle because we don't love God. We struggle because we rely on motivation, and motivation is basically a flaky friend. Some days it shows up, some days it does not.

So instead of building your habit on “I feel like it,” we are going to build it on something that actually holds.

A plan.

Here are 8 simple steps to help you build a Bible study habit that sticks, even in real life.

Step 1: Pick one habit and make it your only focus

This is the part that sounds almost too simple, but it matters so much. When we try to change everything at once, we usually change nothing. We decide we are going to wake up early, drink a gallon of water, meal prep, work out, read our Bible, keep a spotless house, and become a completely new person by Tuesday. And then… we burn out.

So for now, give yourself permission to focus on one thing: spending time in the Word. Not “study the Bible perfectly.” Not “catch up on everything I missed.” Just “show up consistently.” You can build the other things later. Right now, you are building the foundation. 

Step 2: Commit to 8 weeks

A lot of people think habits are supposed to click into place quickly. But for most of us, habits become solid through repetition over time. That is why I love an 8 week commitment. It is long enough to build real momentum, but short enough that it feels doable.

Think of it like this: you are not signing up for a lifelong contract. You are choosing a season of practice. And during this season, your goal is not perfection. It is consistency. If you miss a day, you are not disqualified. You just keep going. That is how habits are made. 

Step 3: Use habit stacking

Habit stacking is one of the easiest ways to make a new habit stick because it takes the guesswork out of it. Instead of trying to remember “I should study today,” you attach Bible study to something you already do consistently.

In other words, you stop relying on memory and willpower, and you start relying on routine.

Here are a few examples:

• After I pour my coffee, I open my Bible.
• After I brush my teeth, I read my passage.
• While I sit in the school pickup line, I spend 10 minutes in Scripture.
• After dinner, I sit down at the table and do a short study.

The key is choosing something that already happens almost every day. That becomes your trigger. And if you are thinking, I do not have a consistent routine, that is okay. Start with the most consistent part of your day, even if it's small. 

Step 4: Write an intention statement

This is where your habit goes from a hopeful idea to an actual plan. Most of us say things like: “I need to study my Bible more.” But that's not a plan. That is a wish.

An intention statement answers three questions:

• When will I do it?
• Where will I do it?
• What will it look like? 

Here is a simple format you can use: During the next 8 weeks, I will study my Bible ___ days a week for ___ minutes, right after __________, in __________.

A few examples:

• During the next 8 weeks, I will study my Bible 4 days a week for 10 minutes, right after I pour my coffee, at the kitchen table.
• During the next 8 weeks, I will study my Bible 5 days a week for 15 minutes, right after I get home from work, in my bedroom chair.
• During the next 8 weeks, I will study my Bible 3 days a week for 10 minutes, right after I drop the kids off, in my car before I drive away. 

Notice how specific those are. Specific is your friend here.

And one more thing, do not set your goal based on your best day. Set your goal based on your normal day. You want a plan you can actually keep. 

Step 5: Make your environment ridiculously easy

This might be the most overlooked part of habit building. Even small obstacles can stop a new habit. If your Bible is in one room, your journal is in another room, and your pen is… who knows, your brain will decide it is too much effort and you will suddenly remember you need to switch the laundry.

So let’s remove the friction.

Try this: Put your Bible, journal, and pen in the exact spot you plan to study. Open to the passage the night before. Keep your reading plan printed and tucked into your Bible. If you study on your phone, put your Bible app on the home screen. You are basically making the start line as close as possible.

The easier it is to begin, the more likely you are to follow through. 

Step 6: Build in accountability and community

I know, I know. Accountability can feel intimidating. But it is incredibly effective, not because you need pressure, but because you need support.

When someone knows what you are working on, you are more likely to keep going. And when you have a place to share progress, you are less likely to quit the first time you struggle.

Accountability can be simple:

• Post a quick photo of your Bible or journal in your group.
• Text a friend once a week with a “done today” message.
• Ask a friend to check in with you every Friday.
• Invite someone to do the same plan alongside you. 

And if posting feels too vulnerable, start private. One trusted friend counts. You do not have to do this alone. 

Step 7: Plan for obstacles before they happen

Here is the truth. Obstacles are coming. Not because you are failing. Because you are human.

The trick is to plan for them now, while you are thinking clearly, instead of waiting until the moment you are tired and frustrated. This is where “if then” planning helps so much.

• If my morning falls apart, then I will do 10 minutes after lunch.
• If I oversleep, then I will read one short passage before bed.
• If I feel behind, then I will remind myself that consistency matters more than catching up.
• If I feel discouraged, then I will choose one Psalm and sit with it for a few days. 

Notice how these plans remove drama. You are not asking, “Will I still study?” You are deciding, “When my plan changes, here is what I will do instead.”

That is what makes habits stick. 

Step 8: Make it part of who you are

This step is my favorite because it shifts everything. When you think of Bible study as something you are “trying to do,” it is easy to drop it when life gets busy. But when you think of it as part of who you are, you keep returning. This is an identity shift.

Try saying:

"I am someone who meets with God in His Word." "I am someone who keeps showing up." "I am someone who wants my life shaped by truth." "I am someone who ________."

When you start thinking this way, Bible study stops being a chore and starts being a choice that fits your life. And yes, you might still have days you do not feel like it. But identity based habits help you keep going anyway. 

Your simple action plan for today

If you are ready to start, do these three things today:

• Write your intention statement.
• Put your Bible and supplies in your study spot.
• Tell one person what you are doing, or share it in your community. 

Then begin with the smallest version of your plan. Make it so doable you almost feel like it does not count. Because it counts. 

A Bible study habit that sticks is not built through a big emotional surge of motivation. It is built through small, repeatable steps that you return to, even when life is loud.

And you CAN do this!

 

Before you go, I would really love to hear from you in the comments.

Which step feels like the hardest for you right now, or what has made it difficult to keep a Bible study habit in the past?

If you feel comfortable sharing, your story might be exactly what another woman needs to hear today. And if you are already working on building a habit, I would love to cheer you on too.

 

If you enjoyed this post and are ready to take your Bible study skills to the next level, we would love for you to check out the Bible Study Collective Membership. Inside you'll get the tools, inspiration, and support you need to be successful as you learn to study, interpret, and apply God's word to your own life. You don't have to do it alone! Learn more here.