To say this is not the era for extended Scripture study is an understatement. I once took college level courses on the Old and New Testaments, spending weeks researching and writing a paper on Psalm 1, in which I compared and contrasted Latin and Greek translations.

I now resort to singing kids songs in my head to remember the fruits of the Spirit.

In my fatigued and forgetful state, I know that exposure and integration of sacred Scripture is more important than ever. So, if you are a busy human like me and searching for ways to read the Bible more frequently, here are a few strategies I’ve found to be helpful.

On the go

For a $4.99 one-time purchase, I was able to download the Catholic New American Bible in my Kindle app. An actual Kindle isn’t necessary to use the Kindle app on a smartphone, and having the entire Bible on my iPhone gives me the option to read Scripture almost anywhere. It’s very easy to search: a chapter and verse can be found in a few taps. It will never replace my actual Bible, but Scripture on an e-reader or phone is great for reading on the go.

Podcast it

The Bible In A Year podcast with Father Michael Schmitz is a fantastic resource, but I quickly realized I don’t have a daily commute long enough to keep up. For this stage, I love listening to Jackie Angel’s Memorize Scripture podcast. She shares one episode a week that’s about 3-5 minutes long and centers on memorizing a single verse. Subscribers to her newsletter also get a graphic of the verse delivered via email each week — I usually make it the lock screen on my phone. While I have high hopes to actually read the Bible in a year at some point, memorizing a verse a week is perfect for what my brain can handle right now.

The daily

The routine that I have successfully incorporated for many years now is listening to the daily readings or a Gospel meditation on the Hallow app. While the app does have great features available to those who subscribe, the daily readings and Gospel meditations are unlocked on the free edition. Listening in the morning is a great way to stay regulated in traffic or the craziness of the school drop off line. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will also deliver the daily readings to your inbox if you subscribe at https://bible.usccb.org under their “Daily Readings” page if you prefer, and each day has the readings via podcast if you want to listen.

The ways I’ve read sacred Scripture have definitely looked different across the seasons of life, but in this especially busy one I’ve found solace in simply hitting “play” on an app or podcast or opting to open the Scriptures on my phone before mindlessly scrolling. The first Psalm reminds us that one who meditates on the law of the Lord is “like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season” (1:3).

So whether you’re catching a quick verse between soccer practices, listening to Psalms while folding the 47th load of laundry this week or sneaking in a short chapter while hiding in the pantry quietly eating chips (we’ve all been there), remember that God meets us exactly where we are — even if that’s the carpool line. 

Scripture doesn’t require perfect circumstances or uninterrupted quiet time. Yes, availing yourself to the “streams of water” that Scripture is to your soul can take some creativity, but your soul (and sanity) will thank you for it.