7 Tips in 7 Days: Get More in God’s Word

Start your 2017 with a new Bible habit.

Voices influence you every day: friends and family, news and entertainment, self-improvement articles and “life hacks” — even your own thoughts. What if you could make God’s voice the one you listened to most? The Bible is God’s inspired Word to us. It teaches us what’s true, helps us see things in our lives that we know we should address, and empowers us to discover more purpose, more fulfillment. Jesus said:

“I have come so that [you] may have life and
have it in abundance.”

John 10:10b HCSB

Distractions constantly compete for our attention, making it hard to find quiet spaces where we can hear his voice. And that’s why we do what we do. We never stop exploring new ways that we can help people engage more with God’s Word — people just like you. Each day for the next seven days, we’ll share one tip — one simple thing that you can do right then — that will help you start connecting with the Bible more consistently. Here’s the first one:

Tip 1: Start a Bible Plan

Tip 1: Start a Bible Plan

Browse our Bible Plans for topics where you’d like to learn God’s perspective. Each Plan divides its content into relevant Bible passages that you can read (or listen to) in just a few minutes each day. Many also include ideas or questions that help you think about how you can apply the things you’re learning. You may have heard these called Reading Plans or Devotionals. We call them “Bible Plans” because many offer additional content beyond reading, such as short videos, audio clips, or images. Whatever you call them, Plans are a proven way that you can start making the Bible a natural part of your everyday life. Our “Discover” tool makes finding Plans you enjoy easy and fun:

Start Starting

🙏 Set yourself up for success:
When you’re just starting out, we recommend that you choose Plans that are two weeks or less, and then gradually add longer, more challenging Plans as your daily habit begins taking hold. Most importantly, each day before you start your Plan, ask God to speak to you through his Word.


Tip 2: Enjoy the Bible with Friends

Tip 2: Enjoy the Bible with Friends

What do you and your friends usually end up talking about? The television shows you’re binge-watching? Things that you’re thinking about buying? Sports? Celebrity news? Do you ever talk about big(ger) ideas? Something you heard recently that challenged how you see the world? You started a new Bible Plan yesterday. Today, invite a friend (or several) to join you. Then let that experience you’re sharing begin to fuel more meaningful conversations. As you and your friends explore one another’s perspectives, you’ll all discover new things in God’s Word that you might not have noticed on your own.

Start Connecting

The Bible is better with Friends!


Tip 3: Watch Bible Stories in Videos

Tip 3: Watch Bible Stories in Videos

A couple of days ago, we mentioned that many Bible Plans offer additional content beyond reading, including audio and video. The short clips inside a Plan specifically address that Plan’s topic. The videos in the Bible App’s Video section, on the other hand, are more like a “Bible Channel,” offering you many different ways to experience the Bible. Animated short films from the Bible Project help you understand what’s in the Bible and why, revealing the bigger story that God is telling through his Word. Select clips from Lumo Project’s “The Gospel of John” and from Lightworkers Media’s Son of God let you witness historical events from Jesus’ life. Enjoy scenes from the record-breaking television series The Bible. You’ll even find the complete feature-length version of JESUS, a classic telling of our Savior’s life story. See the Bible in a whole new way:

Start Watching

For your best Video experience:
Watching Bible App Videos while connected to WiFi does not use your mobile data plan.


Tip 4: Listen to the Bible with Audio

Tip 4: Listen to the Bible with Audio

Do you ever think about how fortunate we are to have so many options for experiencing the Bible? In the English language, most of us have the luxury of choosing our “favorite” version. Early Christians — the ones who knew how to read — might have one hand-written copy of a letter written to their group by one of the apostles. More often, believers could only experience Scripture by meeting together to listen as someone read aloud to them. Audio versions let us experience the Bible as they did, by hearing. Just tap on any Bible version where you see a speaker icon. Then, as you listen from the convenience of your commute , your workout ‍, your job ☕️, your couch — just imagine: you’re very likely listening along with other believers , even though you’re in different places.

Start Hearing

Keep in mind:
Listening while connected to WiFi does not use your mobile data plan. All Bibles that feature audio have a speaker icon next to them. To see all available versions, just tap your current Bible version.


 

Tip 5: Create a Verse Image and Share

Tip 5: Create a Verse Image and Share

You’ve been getting more into the Bible for a few days now. Have you felt it speaking to you yet? It has the power to inspire deep spiritual responses: Joy. Encouragement. Conviction. Gratitude. Peace. When something special happens, you capture the moment with a photo . When God’s Word touches your heart, capture the moment with a Verse Image . To begin, just tap the verse, then Image, then follow the prompts. It only takes a few steps to perfect your personal expression of Bible art. When you’re finished, share it with friends!

Start Creating

Watch for hidden treasures:
Sometimes when you tap on a passage, you may discover that a professionally-designed Verse Image is already linked to it. (Every Verse of the Day has one.) These digital artworks are a free service that we provide, so you’re more than welcome to share them. (Although, we also love seeing the Bible inspire your original creations.)


Tip 6: Highlight, Bookmark, and Create Notes

Tip 6: Highlight, Bookmark, and Create Notes

Personalize the Bible text in your Bible App with highlighting, placeholders, and even your thoughts and ideas. To start, tap any verse. On the menu that pops up, tap a dot to create a Highlight in that color. (Swipe left for more Highlight colors and options. To remove a Highlight, tap the Highlighted verse, then tap the Highlight dot with the “x”.) Add a Bookmark, so you can easily come back to that verse again later. You can even add Notes to verses. When you create a Note, tap Options to mark it as Private (the default — where only you can see it), Friends (only your Bible App Friends can see it), or Public (any Bible App user can see it). Each time you read, make your Bible App more “yours.”

Start Personalizing

Tap your curiosity:
When you tap on a Bible verse, you’ll notice other options besides Highlights, Bookmarks, and Notes. Don’t be afraid to explore. ⛵️ Anything you do with this menu, you can easily “Undo.” Experimenting is one of the best ways to learn everything the Bible App can do for you. ⚗


Tip 7: Compare Versions

Tip 7: Compare Versions

What should you do if you’re having a hard time understanding the meaning of a verse? Or what if you come across a verse that feels like you’ve heard it before, but it’s somehow just not quite the way you remember it? Fortunately, it’s easy to look at a verse in several different Bible versions, listed one right after another: Tap on the verse, then Compare. You’ll see the same verse repeated in all of the Bible versions you’ve used recently. Tap the plus button (+) to add more versions to the list. To remove versions from the list, or to rearrange the order in which they appear: Android: Tap the Settings gear icon. iOS: Tap Edit.

Start Comparing

Take it offline:
Many Bible App features work even when you’re not connected to the Internet. But, if you’d like more than one Bible version when you’re offline, you’ll first need to download some to your device when you’re online. Sometime when you have a good connection, tap the 3-letter version code at the top of the Bible Reader. Tap “Download” next to the Bibles you’d like. (Note: Some Bibles not available for offline use.) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


bonus-tipSchedule “Hear from God”

What’s the best way to lock in a habit and really make sure you stick to it? Put it on your calendar. When you really like a show, you make arrangements to watch it. We intentionally find time for the things we value. You already set a goal of connecting with the Bible more — now set the appointment. It’s okay if you’ve missed a day here and there in the past. But today is a new day. Set yourself up to succeed going forward. Schedule a daily time for God to speak to your heart through his Word:

Set a calendar reminder to pop up every day at a time that works for you.

You can also subscribe to receive the Verse of the Day, bringing God’s Word to you. Just choose the language you want, then the Bible version, then the time of day.


You have a great start.

Now keep going. ☺️

Enjoy God’s Word… every day.

Featured: Bible in One Year, Hillsong, Bethel, and New Year’s Plans

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Bible in One Year 2017
Nicky and Pippa Gumbel and Alpha, 365 days

Read through the entire Bible in one year, learning how you can apply God’s Word to your life through daily devotionals from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, leaders of HTB in London and pioneers of Alpha.

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How’s Your Soul?
Judah Smith and HarperCollins, 5 days

In excerpts from his book, pastor and bestselling author Judah Smith helps you pause the busyness of your life to find rest and peace for your “inside you,” by bringing your feelings into alignment with God’s truth: the Bible.

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Blessed
Brian Houston and Hillsong Church, 7 days

Senior Pastor and Global Founder of Hillsong Church Brian Houston leads you through attitudes from the life of the righteous man described in Psalm 112, to help you see 7 key principles you can start putting into practice today and begin to see God’s blessings in your own life.

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Destined to Win
Kris Vallotton and HarperCollins, 5 days

With encouraging and practical devotionals drawn from his book, pastor and co-founder of Bethel School of Ministry Kris Vallotton helps you discover your true identity in Christ to step into God’s calling for your life.

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The Ten-Day Word Fast
Tim Cameron and Charisma House, 10 days

Uncover the source of negative words, thoughts, and feelings in your life as you fast for ten days from these words — complaining, criticism, judgments, sarcasm, and gossip — and see what the Scriptures say about each.

The Best Apps for Your New Devices

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For your family of devices…

If your family received new tablets or mobile devices for Christmas, be sure you install the apps that can help you get the most out of them: the Bible App and Bible App for Kids! Looking for a great conversation-starter about your faith? Consider asking friends and family if they’d like you to install one (or both) apps for them!


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The Bible App

The Bible App has been installed on more than 250 million unique devices, all over the world. In addition to offering more than 1,400 Bible versions in over 1,000 languages, the Bible App now features more than 2,400 Bible Plans across dozens of languages. Plans help you build a Bible habit by bringing you select Scriptures each day, and adding context that helps you understand what you’re learning. And the Bible App is always free.

www.bible.com/app


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The Bible App for Kids

In partnership with our friends at OneHope, we designed the Bible App for Kids to help children engage with the big stories of the Bible through activities and fun, interactive animation. Available in 25 languages — with more still to come — the Bible App for Kids is being enjoyed by children all over the world. Installed on over 14 million devices, the Bible App for Kids is always completely free.

www.bible.com/kids


From our family… to yours.

The Bible App and the Bible App for Kids are both completely free — no ads, no strings attached. We designed the Bible App for Kids specifically to help your children fall in love with God’s Word. And we designed the Bible App to help you connect with God’s Word every day. No matter where you live, which language you prefer — or even what age you are:

YouVersion. It’s Your Bible.


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Considering an end of year gift?

Our mission is helping people connect with God’s Word every day. Click here to become a part of what we’re doing all over the world.

Give

Merry Christmas from YouVersion

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Merry Christmas from YouVersion!

From all of us here at YouVersion, we wish you the very best this Christmas. We hope you take many opportunities throughout this season to celebrate the gift that God gave us in his son, and to reflect on all that it means, for the Bible calls him:

Immanuel, “God with us”


Share the love. It’s easy.

If you get to spend time with friends and family this holiday season, we hope you’ll make the most of every opportunity to share your faith. Show people how you use your Bible App — and how much fun the Bible App for Kids is. Invite them to join you as Friends in the Bible App. You can even share verses and Verse Images about Jesus’ birth on your favorite social networks.

…if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.
1 PETER 3:15–16 NLT

Christmas Verse Images

1189_320x320 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

ISAIAH 7:14

 1187_320x320  “…And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

MATTHEW 1:21

565_320x320 “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all!

1 TIMOTHY 1:15 

Get the Bible in the Languages of India and Bangladesh


Thanks to the generosity of visionary Bible society and translation partners, YouVersion is pleased to offer several Bibles in the languages of India and Bangladesh, all available through the Bible App. And thanks to the The Bible Society of India, we’ve just launched several new versions of the Bible. Just tap any of the buttons below to select a Bible in that language:

New Bibles for India and Bangladesh

Hindi Bible – बाइबिलAudio Bible Available

Bengali Bible – বাইবেলAudio Bible Available

Telugu Bible – బైబిల్

Marathi Bible – बायबलAudio Bible Available

Tamil Bible – தமிழ்Audio Bible Available

Urdu Bible – ردوAudio Bible Available

Gujarati Bible – બાઇબલ

Kannada Bible – ಬೈಬಲ್

Malayalam Bible – ബൈബിൾ

Oriya Bible – Odia ପବିତ୍ର ବାଇବଲ

Eastern Panjabi Bible

Maithili Bible – jivən səndeshAudio Bible Available


Other Bibles for India and Bangladesh

Chhattisgarhi BibleAudio Bible Available

Assamese Bible
Nepali Bible – बाइबिल
Santhali Bible
Sindhi Bible

Kok Borok Bible
Mizo Bible
Mising Bible
Karbi Bible
Ao Naga Bible

Nyishi Bible
Konyak Naga Bible
Zo Bible
Tangkhul Naga Bible
Angami Naga Bible

Vaiphei Bible
Liangmai Naga Bible
Riang Bible


And, don’t forget to share this Good News with your friends:


About the Bible App

 

The Bible App has been installed on more than 365 million unique devices, all over the world. Developed by YouVersion, the Bible App offers more than 1,800 Bible versions, in more than 1,300 languages. And it’s always completely free.

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bible.com/app

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