How to Read the Bible: Tools and Tactics to Transform Your Bible Reading

At The Impossible Life, we believe nothing is impossible. Whether you’re building an unbreakable mindset, developing winning habits, or deepening your relationship with God, it starts with taking daily action. One of the simplest yet most powerful actions you can take? Reading your Bible.

On our recent Tools & Tactics episode of The Impossible Life Podcast, we broke down practical strategies for Bible reading. Why? Because we’ve both seen it in our own lives—reading the Word of God consistently transforms you from the inside out. It’s not just a “good habit” or something to check off a list. It’s how you know God and live a life aligned with His purpose.

But if we’re being real, most people struggle to read the Bible. You might not know where to start. It might feel confusing. Or maybe you’ve started in the past but didn’t stick with it. If that’s you, you’re not alone—and we’ve got you covered.

Below are practical tools and tactics you can use to make Bible reading something you look forward to, get more out of it, and ultimately grow in your faith.

Why Bible Reading Matters (More Than You Think)

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s talk about why. As Nick Surface mentioned on the show, reading your Bible is the basic that underpins everything else. It’s how God chose to reveal Himself. If you’re relying on a podcast, preacher, or Instagram quote to feed you spiritually, you’re missing out on what God wants to give you directly through His Word.

And here’s some perspective: right now, you have instant access to dozens of Bible translations on your phone—something believers in underground churches around the world would give anything to have. We’re sitting on a spiritual winning lottery ticket. We just need to cash it in.

Step One: Understand What You’re Reading

The Bible isn’t always easy to read, and there’s a reason for that. It was written in different languages (Hebrew, Greek), thousands of years ago, to people with completely different customs and contexts.

What You Need to Know:

• Translations matter. Some are word-for-word (like ESV), others are thought-for-thought (like NIV), and some are paraphrases (like The Message).

• Context is key. Know who wrote it, who they were writing to, and what was going on at the time. Otherwise, you might misunderstand what God’s saying.

• Prescriptive vs. Descriptive. Some passages are telling you what to do (prescriptive), others are just telling you what happened (descriptive). Know the difference.

If that sounds complicated, don’t worry—we’ve got tools to make it simple.

3 Bible Reading Tips (Plus One Bonus Tip from a Former Navy SEAL)

1. Use the YouVersion App—And Start with the NIV

YouVersion is a free app that gives you access to almost every Bible translation. If you’re new to Bible reading, start with the NIV (New International Version). It’s easier to read without losing the core meaning.

Pro Tip: In the NIV version on YouVersion, you’ll see a little “i” icon before every book of the Bible. Click it. It gives you the who, what, where, and why of that book. This is like listening to both sides of a phone call instead of just one. Suddenly, Paul’s letters to the Corinthians make a lot more sense when you realize they lived in a city famous for competitive games where only the winner got a prize. (That’s why Paul talks about running the race to win!)

2. Let Scripture Interpret Scripture

You don’t want to yell where the Bible whispers, or whisper where the Bible yells. If something only shows up once, in one book, be cautious about making it a hill to die on. But when you see a concept repeated over and over in both the Old and New Testaments—like grace, faith, and Jesus as the Son of God—pay attention. That’s the stuff to build your life on.

When you’re not sure what a passage means, look for where else it shows up in Scripture. The Bible explains itself.

3. Try The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble

If you’ve ever struggled to read the Bible cover to cover, this resource is a game-changer. The Bible Recap is:

• Free

• Available on the YouVersion app, YouTube, and as a podcast

• Designed to help you read through the whole Bible in a year (or just the New Testament if you prefer)

What makes it so powerful is Tara-Leigh’s God Shot—a daily reminder to focus on where you saw God’s character and personality in the reading. This will reframe how you approach Scripture and deepen your relationship with God.

Bonus Tip #4: Build a Daily Habit (from Garrett Unclebach, Former Navy SEAL)

This one’s simple—but it’s also why so many people fail.

“I’ve been reading my Bible every day for 20 years,” Garrett shared on the podcast. “And it changed the way my brain works. It’s the first place my thoughts go now.”

Start small, but be consistent:

• Read one Proverb and one Psalm a day.

• Focus on building the habit, not being perfect.

• Over time, Scripture becomes the primary pathway your brain follows. You’ll see life through the lens of God’s Word, without even trying.

Garrett’s additional insight? Read the Bible cover to cover at least once. Don’t just hang out in the New Testament or your favorite stories. The full story of the Bible matters. Knowing how it all connects will bring Scripture alive in a new way.

Final Thought: Just Start Reading

You can have the best tools, the right translation, and all the context in the world—but if you don’t open your Bible, none of it matters. Reading God’s Word daily is like building strength in the gym. At first, it’s hard. But if you show up every day, you’ll grow. It’s inevitable.

Don’t overthink it. Just start. And when you miss a day, pick it up again. No excuses. No shame.

Ready to Live the Impossible Life?

Reading the Bible is foundational to living the life God designed you for. At The Impossible Life, we believe that starts with mastering the basics—and it doesn’t get more basic than this.

👉 Download YouVersion and get started today.
👉 Check out The Bible Recap and build your habit.
👉 Share this article with a friend who needs to get back in the Word.

For more Tools & Tactics like this, subscribe to The Impossible Life Podcast or follow us on Instagram @theimpossiblelife.

Think Better. Live the Impossible.