Keep Going in Your Bible Study
Four tips when motivation is low
Hilary Foye
BSF Content Development Director
We speak of our great God as absolutely sovereign, the Lord of heaven and earth. But that raises some perplexing questions. For example, does God choose us? Or do we choose to follow God? Some of the most difficult and perplexing of all theological questions concern the relationship between God’s divine sovereignty and our human free will. How much do we do and how much does God do?
Remember whose words you are reading
Almighty God – the One who spoke the world into being, upholds the universe by the word of His power (Heb 1:3). He breathed life into Adam to make him a living soul (Gen 2:7) and breathed every word of the Bible you hold in your hand (2 Tim 3:16).
Let His words breathe life into you today.
Remember you have help
Every time you open the Bible, something supernatural happens. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would indwell every believing heart: “rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38). If you’re in Jesus, the Holy Spirit reads Scripture with you, refreshing your soul, reminding you of truth and building your faith.
Ask the Holy Spirit to revive your mind and heart with truth today.
Remember God wants to speak with you
God delights in revealing Himself to His people. He loves His character and nature to be your delight. When you study His Word, you will begin to see Him more clearly with the ‘eyes of your heart’ (Eph 1:18). Of all the voices in the world, we can be assured His voice in Scripture is true; as we read, He makes known His words to us. And we will be forever changed.
We read. He speaks. We are transformed.
Remember it does not depend on you
God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows you are ‘but dust’ (Ps 103:14), and that your ‘spirit is willing’ but your ‘flesh is weak’ (Matt 26:41). His grace is enough for each new day and never stops drawing you back in, onwards, upwards. Take comfort that His power in you is greatest in your weakness. (2 Cor 12:9).
Surrender to His grace that secures you not only for today, but forever.
About the Author
Hilary Foye worked with the WordGo team for two years before taking up her position as BSF’s Content Development Director in September 2021. Hilary grew up as a missionary kid in Ivory Coast, West Africa. She and her husband Bill now live in Northern Ireland with their two little girls, Zoë (8) and Eden (6). Hilary’s favorite things to do include adventures with her family in their camper van, writing songs and poems, and leisurely breakfast with friends.
This article was adapted from a post originally published on the WordGo journal.
Related Articles
4 Questions Christian Leaders Should Ask
LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM EXILE & RETURNBSF Guest ContributorWhether we lead in our homes, at the office, or elsewhere, God has placed each of us in a position of influence. After decades in business, I’ve read countless books about leadership. But one book, more...
Four Ways to Resist the World’s Influence
LEAVING BABYLON BEHINDJanuary 5, 2026BSF Guest ContributorAs we look ahead to a new year, a fresh start, we long to leave the old behind. We embrace the new and step forward in confidence, but old patterns can still get in our way. As Christians, we often expect to...
Is God Still Here?
FINDING ANSWERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENTDecember 28, 2025BSF Guest ContributorThere are moments in life that stop us in our tracks—a sudden loss, an unexpected diagnosis, a change we never saw coming. But more often, it’s not one big disaster that wears us down. It’s the...
Starting a Gospel Conversation
Three helpful reminders when sharing the gospelFrom the Editorial TeamWe all know people who seem to have a natural gift for evangelism. They appear to weave Jesus and the gospel into every conversation, and they make it look effortless. You can often find them...
Submit a Comment
Our BSF staff approves each comment to maintain privacy and security. It may take 24-48 hours for your comment to be posted. Be sure to check back for replies from the author or other BSF members!
What a timely, encouraging and very much needed article…to REMEMBER. Thank you for letting God use you.
It is so encouraging and uplifting to focus on Who God Is and how He is faithful to us. His gift of the Holy Spirit to us, to teach us is magnificent. We come to God, and He nourishes us.
Thank-you for the article.
Thank you for this help. I’m ministering to a young man in prison and this kind of basic information is so helpful. He is definitely searching.
Thank you for the encouragement!
I want to enroll in the BSF Bible study of Revelation in Charlotte, NC this fall 2024.
Please have someone contact me and send any registration forms needed.
Thank you.
Hi Tanya, so glad you are interested in joining the Revelation study! Please visit join.bsfinternational.org to find and in-person or online group to join. In-person groups meet at a local church in your area, and online groups meet completely online, so you can choose what works best for you.
Blessings, Meredith
Hello Hilary,
The verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9 about Gods power in us is made perfect through our weakneses brings such hope and joy to my heart. Would you be able to elaborate on it and give some examples or stories regarding how God does that? It would help me have a greater understanding of this most remarkable verse from Gods Word.
Thank you,
Jean
I love the word, I know Jesus better each time I study His word. I learn something different every time, this is my second time studying John and it is like I never read it before. It is a Rich and Deeper experience. I grow closer to the Lord and know Him and his character and trust him more. His love never fails. Taste and see!!!
What chapter are we on this week in lesson study for 1/10/24
Very educative.
These gems that you gave me are so precious. With the holidays, Ive missed the zoom classes, but having gems emailed to me is also appreciated.
Thank you so much for sharing these four tips. As I read through them, it inspired and motivated me to pray and ask God to allow His words to breathe life into me, for His Holy Spirit to revive my mind and heart with His truth, and to open my eyes to see Him more clearly.
Thank you for sharing these 4 tips. It did help me to be motivated and keep going. Indeed, I always feel God speaking to Him through His Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Reading His Word and meditating on it make me know Him better by His rebuke, conviction and teaching. I pray that I will always turn to Him and to His Word first rather than seek what the world dictates.
Hilary, that was so beautifully & clearly written & explained. Thank you for reminding us how special it is to have the privilege to delight in the Word of God. Just thinking about the power of hearing God speak is mind-boggling! We so often take it for granted.
My motivation has been low recently. These 4 tips are a fantastic and easy way to get motivated and back into daily Bible study! Love that they take the focus off myself and put it back on God!