There is an unspoken struggle I have long had whenever purchasing a new Bible, which is that a brand new, beautifully bound book does not feel like it belongs to me. This past week was the first time in over five years I have faced having to “break in” a new Bible. This requires a couple of steps—and it involves a bit more than buying a nice set of highlighters. When I buy a Bible, I like personalizing it, which gives me a deeper enjoyment of ownership.
Step 1: Choose your Bible
I am not talking about translations (although I personally love the ESV). What I am referring to is how a Bible physically feels in your hand. Have you considered if it is standard or lightweight? Large print? Study? There are so many options out there it can be overwhelming. I like going in person to a bookstore to choose because I like physically handling a Bible before making a purchase. Simply, know what it is you want before making a choice.
Step 2: Consider buying an accompanying notebook and cover case
I absolutely love notebooks, and I have historically had one alongside my Bible for years. Currently, I am experimenting with a notebook that is both a lined and bullet journal. I selected a beautiful Fringe Studio notebook to accompany it. While I am an avid fan of Moleskine notebooks, I do love the occasional treat of the more specially designed notebooks you can find at Barnes & Noble.
After doing some research, I found a beautiful faux leather Bible case online, which is large enough to hold my Bible, notebook, and highlighter bag.
Pro Tip: If you purchase a lightweight Bible (one that is skinnier than the majority of standards) and size up with your Bible case, you can fit a lot of things inside the case you might not have been able to otherwise!
Step 3: Invest in highlighters, sticky notes, and other journaling supplies
This is something that if you have a whole bunch of journaling supplies around the house, you might not need to spend a dime on unless you want to invest in new ones.
Highlighters – I really like gel highlighters, although I have used a lot of kids’ Twistables. This set from Amazon works well with both Bibles and regular sticky note paper.
Sticky Notes – I have a sticky note problem… they are all over my house! And, yes, they are inside my Bible too. I found an amazing assortment from Amazon, and what I really love about them is that they are transparent, which is helpful when studying a text. You can even use them to highlight large portions of text.
Other Supplies – pens and bookmarks are always a helpful addition to any Bible.
Step 4: Apply Bible Tabs
This is the one thing I hear so many people say, “I really would love tabs on my Bible, but putting them on is so difficult!” Really, it does not have to be hard. As long as you purchase the right type of tabs, you can finish the job quickly. Sit down, listen to a podcast, and put those tabs on!
Make sure you research a set that is easy to apply. The standard tabs that you see in most bookstores (I am looking at you, Barnes & Noble) are challenging given how small their tabs are in size. Again, Amazon is the way to go. I ordered a set from Amazon that had a really nice ruler inside. I finished putting on these tabs in thirty minutes, which is the fastest/easiest job I have ever had in tabbing my Bible.
Step 5: Actually use your Bible
Although I was entirely set up for using my Bible, I quickly took it to a study after purchasing it. Simply using your Bible can get you into the swing of having a new one. Honestly, with all the prep work done, what really matters is what is inside the cover. It is fun to admire how pretty it is, but reading it is the most important thing. It is not all in the aesthetics, but in the reading, reflecting, and learning.
For those who love a good DIY, check out this video on how to sew your very own Bible case!