I get this question often from women, and I ask myself this often as well. Ironically, I sat before the Lord this morning and confessed that I had not been very present lately. I have felt that in every area of my life. Whether we want to believe it or not, our time in God’s Word affects every area of our lives. He is our portion. He is our satiety. Jesus is the bread of life.

We need the Word every day. We thrive when we are consistent in our time with the Lord. It doesn’t mean that life is without bumps, hurdles, trials, or suffering. It means that we are more equipped to handle the deep valleys of life. It means that we are fully suited up to fight against the schemes of the enemy.

Here are 5 helpful tips for staying consistent in God’s Word:

Tip 1: Pick a time and write it down in your calendar or set a timer. Whatever time works best for you to give the Lord your undivided attention. Every day may not look the same, and that’s okay. Find the time and make it work.

There are certain non-negotiables in everyone’s life. For example, I am not going to skip brushing my teeth in the morning or evening. Make this time a non-negotiable for you. I get that life happens, but for the most part, this is a non-negotiable.

Tip 2: Choose an area to read and pray that is less distracting. If sitting at your desk with constant notifications and a pile of to-dos keeps you from staying focused for 5 minutes at a time, then find a less distracting spot.

Reading in bed will instantly send me into sleepy mode. I don’t care what time of day it is. Finding the right spot matters.

Tip 3: Download a Bible reading plan or pick a book (from the Bible). Avoid jumping all around. Stay focused in certain areas for lengths of time. This helps you avoid reading out of context and without a plan. Without a plan, we plan to fail. I recommend the Navigators Bible Reading Plans.

Tip 4: Make it interactive. Don’t just read and move on. Write some notes, highlight, journal, color. Truly study what you are reading. Pay attention to the cross-references and study notes.

Tip 5: Have an accountability partner who is authentic and not weird. HA!

My best friend and I connect almost every morning. Just a little text or voice chat. Almost every time, without even realizing it, she says, “Just spent time reading,” or “I am about to go on the porch and have some Jesus time.”

She has never asked me to be her accountability partner. It is just an authentic part of our relationship. If she ever stopped saying it to me, I would notice. I would lovingly ask what’s going on. It is such an important part of her normal routine that it just flows out of her: “Good morning, friend! Just finished reading. How are you?”

Reading the Word is just like working out. That first day, you have to push yourself to do it. The second and third days, your body is sore, and you question if you really need to continue. But after day 30, you can notice a change in your body. Others may not notice yet, but with consistency, in due time, they will.

The long-term health changes you are making in your body are worth the daily time investment. The same is true of our time in the Word. The long-term spiritual changes you are making far exceed the daily time investment.