November 14: Reading Scripture Slowly

You opened your Bible, read a chapter, closed it, and couldn’t remember a word. Sound familiar?

A lot of people approach the Bible like homework. Read a chapter a day. Check the box. Move on. Some keep it up for a few weeks and then quit when they hit a confusing book full of names and measurements. Others never start because it feels too big.

Here’s another way. Read less, and read it slower.

The writer of Psalm 119 loved God’s Word more than almost anyone in Scripture. And look at his prayer. Open my eyes, so that I can see wonderful things out of Your law. He knew that reading the words wasn’t the same as seeing what’s in them. He needed God to open his eyes.

So start there. Before you read, pray that one line. “Open my eyes.” Then read a small amount. A few verses. A short paragraph. One psalm. Read it once to get the sense of it. Read it again, more slowly. Notice what stands out. A word. A phrase. A question it raises.

Then ask a few simple questions. What does this show me about God? What does it show me about people, and about me? Is there something here to do, or stop doing, or believe? Is there a promise to hold onto?

Write down one line. That’s it. You’ve read the Bible today, and actually heard something.

A good place to start is one of the Gospels. Mark is short and moves fast. Or the Psalms, which are full of every emotion you’ve ever had in recovery. Fear, anger, gratitude, despair, hope. You’ll find yourself in there.

Some days, it will feel like nothing jumps out. That’s fine. Seeds don’t sprout the day you plant them. Keep showing up. Over months, you’ll find the words coming back to you when you need them.

This is meditation, the kind Step Eleven talks about. Not mind-emptying. Truth-filling.

One thing today

Read Psalm 23 slowly, twice. Before you start, pray, “Open my eyes.” Afterward, write down one phrase and carry it with you through the day.

A prayer

Lord, open my eyes. I want to see what’s really in Your Word, not just read past it. Speak to me through it, and help me carry what I hear into my day. Amen.

Scripture reading fits naturally into Step Eleven.

Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free

Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+

After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).