One of the biggest online and mobile Bible platforms has shared four top hacks for more consistent Bible engagement in 2022.
Every January, the popular Bible app YouVersion sees a spike in engagement as people resolve to read the scriptures more in the new year.
This year was no different as people subscribed to more than 1.1 million Bible Plans on January 1 alone.
While these goals are always set with enthusiasm, research shows that most resolutions fail by mid-February.
That begs the question: since it’s not every resolution that fails, what are the successful few doing differently to reach their goals?
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear says: “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.
“But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger.”
This simple explanation of how to create healthy habits makes seemingly impossible goals feel more attainable.
This poses the question: Could 2022 be the first time you engage with the Bible every day of the year?
As mid-February approaches, keep up the momentum or start a new habit with YouVersion’s top tips for building strong Bible engagement.
Here are YouVersion’s Top Four Bible Engagement Hacks:
- 1. Stack your habits
The easiest way to create a new habit is by linking it to something you already do consistently. So if the first thing you do in the morning is to reach for your phone, try reflecting on YouVersion’s Verse of the Day. When you combine a new habit with an already established one, it gives your new habit more “stickiness.”
Tip: Make YouVersion the first app you see, and get instant access to the Verse of the Day, by enabling the Verse of the Day widget on your phone. Learn how to enable widgets here.
- 2. Aim for consistency
The best way to build a habit is to just start. And as you get started, don’t focus on the amount of time you’re reading or listening to Scripture, just focus on doing it regularly. Participate in YouVersion’s 21-Day Challenge, starting February 1, as a simple way to build up your Bible streak. You can even pick a time that works for you, and set up daily reminders to help you spend time in God’s Word.
Tip: Keep up your momentum by viewing your Bible streak on your YouVersion Home Feed. You can also set up Plan, Prayer, and Verse of the Day Reminders here.
- 3. Stay connected
If you want to increase your chances of sticking with your Bible habit, be sure to use the Friend feature. YouVersion has found that having even one Friend in the app makes you 16% more likely to stay engaged in the Bible. Plans with Friends offers a simple, easy way to make sure you continue building your Bible study habit. There are thousands of Plans in YouVersion, so simply pick a plan that interests you, and start it with friends. At the end of each Plan day, you’ll be given a space to chat with your friends about what you discovered.
Tip: You can do a plan with anybody! Simply share a plan link on social media, or share a plan with someone within the app. Get started by choosing a Plan, and follow the prompts to invite friends to join you.
4. Make it feel new
Sometimes, the reason we get in a Bible reading rut is because what we’re doing feels too familiar. Shake up how you engage with the Bible. If you typically read scripture, try listening to an audio Bible. If you tend to study scripture in one specific version, switch to a different version for a month and see if anything new stands out to you. Or, try subscribing to shorter Bible plans so you can change your focus each week. YouVersion data shows shorter plans (think 4 or 5 days in length) lead to higher completion rates.