The Bible is massive. Seriously.

It’s 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, and over 750,000 words in the ESV. That’s longer than Lord of the Rings and War and Peace and about half the length of Game of Thrones (which, for the record, is still unfinished—unlike the Bible, which, spoiler alert, has a very clear ending).

Yet despite its length, Christians are commanded to read it:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” —Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

Not just our favorite parts. Not just Psalms and the Gospels. The whole thing:

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” —2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

And yet, research shows that most Christians haven’t read the Bible cover to cover. Regular churchgoers? About 30% have. Christians overall? Only 10-20%. That means the vast majority of believers—myself included—haven’t read the entirety of the very book we claim to build our lives on.

Why Is This So Hard?

For me, the idea of reading the entire Bible is daunting. The sheer length is intimidating enough, but then you factor in:

The wording (Shall I liken thee unto King James?)

The cultural context (Why are there so many cubits? What even is a cubit?)

The attention span required (Oh look, a butterfly!)

It’s tough. And the fact that there are over 800 Bible reading plans just on the YouVersion app—thousands more floating around the internet—doesn’t make it easier.

So where do you even start?

Just Start

I know it sounds overly simple, but the best answer I can give is: just start. Pick a page and read. Then keep going. Until you’re done.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22 (ESV)

The truth is, there’s no perfect method. No secret reading plan that unlocks a hidden level of spiritual enlightenment. You just have to start and keep going.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” —Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

When are you done? I don’t know. That’s between you and God.

Don’t Overthink It

Too often, we let overthinking stop us from action. We analyze, plan, and research so much that we never actually do the thing.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” —Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Just read.

And once you start, you’ll quickly find that the Bible is ridiculously applicable. It won’t take long for something to stand out, hit you in the gut, or give you exactly what you need in that moment.

Then, if you want to go deeper, you can:

Look up cross-references.

Ask your pastor.

Start a blog where you pour your heart out to strangers on the internet, hoping for some sort of feedback… cough…not that I’d know anything about that.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

If you’ve never read the Bible cover to cover, don’t let guilt stop you from starting. If you’ve started and stopped a dozen times, don’t let that keep you from trying again.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” —Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

So stop overthinking. Stop making excuses. Just open the Book and start reading. The first step is to take the first step.

And if you’re still waiting for the perfect moment, let me remind you:

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” —2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)

Now go read.

(And maybe leave a comment so I know I’m not just talking to myself here.)