Sarah Condie
Co-Director of the Mental Health and Pastoral Care Institute
January often brings the fresh excitement of new beginnings—whether it’s adopting a new exercise routine, improving your sleep habits, making healthier food choices, or carving out time to connect with other believers. For many, it’s also the month when we embark on new spiritual practices, such as regular Bible reading or prayer.
At the close of last year, I set a goal to read the Bible cover to cover in 2025. It wasn’t the first time I’d set out on this journey (and completed it!), but I thought this year might be a good opportunity to get back to it. I was motivated by the idea that reading large sections of Scripture every day would deeply nourish my soul and bring a new level of spiritual growth.
But by the end of the first week, I found myself running into unexpected trouble. I was faithfully ticking off my daily reading, yet something didn’t feel right. The enthusiasm that initially propelled me faded, and I realised that what I had hoped would bring spiritual renewal had, instead, started to feel like a chore. Despite checking the box each day, the experience didn’t satisfy my soul the way I had imagined. I began to wonder if I was simply consuming Scripture without truly savouring it.
The more I reflected, the more I recognized the parallels between my new Bible reading plan and the holiday season’s sensory overload with food. Over Christmas and New Year, our home was filled with delightful aromas, overflowing plates, and the temptation to indulge. At first, it felt festive and exciting, but after a while, I found myself mindlessly eating, no longer savouring the flavours. In the same way, my Bible reading had become about quantity—getting through the verses—rather than quality. I longed to taste the “finest wheat” and “sweetest honey” of God’s word, but I was rushing past those treasures to meet the daily goal.
That’s when I was asked an important question: What habits do I have in life that truly nourish me spiritually? I realised that my current routine wasn’t feeding me in a meaningful way. So, I made a change. Rather than racing through the pages of the Bible, I decided to slow down. I’m now reading slowly through the book of Genesis, taking time to dwell on just a few verses each day. One day, my reading was only the first two verses of Genesis, and I found plenty to meditate on there.
This shift in my approach has been incredibly freeing. I let go of the pressure to finish quickly, and instead, I’m allowing the words to sink in deeply. I’ve replaced my initial plan with a more sustainable one—one that feeds my soul rather than overwhelms it.
Sometimes, we don’t know if a new habit or routine will work for us until we try it. In the past, I’ve started something new only to see it fizzle out without much self-reflection. It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling like we must stick with a habit just because we’ve started it, but what’s truly important is finding the practices that nourish us. For some, reading the Bible in a year might be deeply fulfilling, but for others, it might feel overwhelming. The key is to find what works for you—what spiritually nurtures and sustains you.

The goal is to build a habit that helps you engage with God’s Word in a meaningful way. Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” and Psalm 81:16 promises, “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.” These verses remind us that God graciously gives us his Word to be a source of delight and sustenance, not a task to be checked off.
So, I ask you: What habits have you built into your life that truly feed your soul? As we move through January and the year ahead, let’s pause and reflect on the practices that help us grow in faith, nourish our spirit, and draw us closer to the heart of God.
Our Press On course is a practical way you can develop your own wellbeing plan and build healthy habits that work for you. Throughout January 2025, we are offering $10 off our online courses and vouchers (if you want to gift this course to someone you know). No special code needed, just add the online course or voucher to your cart and the discount will be applied. Click here to buy now.