How do you prefer to “take in” scripture? For some people, it’s through reading a different version of the Bible each year so that they can read scripture from a fresh viewpoint. For some, they prefer to listen to the Bible in an audiobook where scripture is read to them. For me, it’s through two ways — in-depth Bible study using the “Precept method” of study and writing out scripture word by word. 

I began writing my prayers in 1995 and continued this for about 20 years. In 2015 I realized I needed to do something different in my personal time with the Lord. I decided to break down scripture into bite-sized pieces and write it every day, starting with my favorite book of the Bible, the book of Psalms. My daughter suggested I start a Facebook page since others might like to write scripture as well, so I began a page and shared my bite-sized pieces of scripture for writing each day. 

There is a small group of people who started with me over 10 years ago and are still writing, but the number of people isn’t important to me — just the fact that I enjoy it. If others also want to write, they are welcome to join me. 

I asked the group late last fall why they enjoy writing scripture. The responses were very similar to mine: “It makes me slow down, it helps me put things into context, it helps me focus, and it causes me to see new things in scripture passages that I have read many times previously.” 

In 10 years we have accomplished writing almost all of the New Testament, with just a few chapters in the Gospel of John and the Book of Acts to complete. We have written from Psalms to Jonah in the Old Testament. Right now, we are scheduled to complete the rest of the New Testament and the Old Testament books from Psalms through Malachi by the middle of 2027. 

This gift of writing scripture has been life-giving to me. Many times, I found myself just skim reading because scripture had become commonplace to me — and so my mind would wander. As I put an actual pen to paper with my own hand, it causes me to focus — it’s slow going! I have purposely kept it to no more than five or six verses a day at the most so that there is time to soak it in, to think it through, and to catch up if I miss a day or two. Some of my favorite moments have come when I am writing the selected verses, my mind stops, and goes back and reads them again because of a totally new concept or something that I have previously missed. Recently, as I have been going through the Gospel of John, I have been stunned to realize how much Jesus shared with His closest followers between the Last Supper and the time in the garden when the authorities came to take Him away! I thought I knew that story — I thought I knew that timeline, but by slowing down, I now see how important those last minutes between Jesus and the disciples in that room were. He had so much He needed to tell them, and He took the time to do it even though He knew the end was very near. He knew that they needed these words of encouragement and instruction, and this was His last opportunity to really take the time to tell them. 

Scripture is so rich in history and has so many things to tell us not only about the lives of those within its pages, but also about ourselves.

How do you get started writing scripture? My recommendation is to get a spiral notebook and a good pen, find a quiet place, choose a favorite book of the Bible to begin with and just write. Don’t cut it short, don’t skip the “boring” stuff, just open that book and write. Take time to pray before you write — for direction, for new revelation, for an open heart and open ears to hear the Word of the Lord. You are not writing to get perfect handwriting points or to share with others; you are writing to hear the Word of God in a new and fresh way. 

Psalm 119:11-16 says: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (NIV 2011).

If you don’t enjoy writing with a pen and paper, don’t let that stop you. Find your way to take in the Word of God. No way is better than another. No time of day is best. Find a place, a time, and your preferred version of the Bible; and begin. God made us all unique, so just find the best time and method for you. 

As we’re told in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (NIV 2011).

Mixed media by Rachel Domotor; Illustrations by Eglelip/Getty | This article was originally titled “Lifting Up Hearts, Writing Down Verses” in the September 2026 issue of The War Cry.