Bible study and prayer are two important disciplines in the Christian life. But according to the Pew Research Centre only 45% read their Bible at least once a week.

This must make Satan and his minions gloat.

The minister at my church, Pastor Crystal, preached that the enemy of our soul wants us to buy his lie that the Bible is not for us. She suggests we ignore him and follow the 5 Rs instead.

1. Read

Find a Bible reading plan and read it regularly. Get a version you understand and is easy for you to read.

I bought my first Bible, the NIV Women’s Devotional Bible* in 2001. Since then, I’ve owned The Message — The Bible in Contemporary Language*, NLT Life Application Study Bible* and The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible.* There is no limit to the different styles of Bibles available today.

2. Reflect

Meditate on what it means to you. Mull it over. Ask questions.

My friend, Janis Cox, created the SIMPLE method. S — Say the passage aloud. I — Identify the characters, the setting, the circumstances. M- Make a list of the thoughts, questions and ideas. P — Pray again for God’s guidance. L-Life — How can I apply what I have been studying to my life? E — Exit the passage with a prayer for God to help you.

It’s important to not just read the Word, but reflect on it.

3. Remember

Hide it in your heart and memorize scripture.

Years ago, I cringed at the thought of memorizing scripture. It wasn’t until middle adulthood that I started to seriously work on my memory. I created a free Bible Memory Challenge to help others to commit Bible verses to memory.

4. Recount

Share it with someone. Others are hungry for spiritual truth.

This is one of the reasons I write devotionals. At one time, I posted these devotionals on a blog called Return Home and Tell based on the scripture Luke 8:39 NIV,

Return home and tell how much God has done for you. So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

5. Respond

Apply what the Bible says. James says to be a doer of the Word.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22–25 NIV)

This is the most challenging aspect of Bible study. Reading is the easy part. Putting it into practice is the real test. This is where I pray for the Holy Spirit’s help on a daily basis.

Pastor Crystal ended her sermon by encouraging us to read the Bible for our health, well-being, and spiritual nourishment.

Let’s be part of the 45% of Christians who read the Bible and follow the 5 Rs.