Picking a favorite season isn’t easy – there is so much beauty in each of them. If I had to pick a favorite, however, it would be fall. I love the crisp autumn air, the crunch of dry leaves underfoot, the moody gray skies. Fall is rich in beauty, but it’s also a heavy season. Days are shorter, schedules are busier, and the darkness that blankets the world outside can make its way into our homes. It’s more important than ever to bring a little light to find peace in the season.
I’ll be honest, things have been hectic for us lately. I’ve been discouraged, and that has been reflected in my quiet time. I’ve been making anything and everything else a priority, forsaking the very thing I need the most – time with God. If you’ve been too busy or too focused to really slow down and listen, you’re not alone. This month, I’m going to fix this by creating a fall Bible study routine.
Let the Season Lead You
There’s a rhythm to every season, including fall, and there’s no need to fight it. Embrace the rhythm, use it as a cue to follow suit, and to slow down with nature. Stop chasing productivity and lean into presence. Not only His presence, but yours. Stop and be fully present in the moment, in the stillness of a quiet moment with God. When life feels cold or confusing, surround yourself with His warmth.
As the cooling weather forces us inside, use this time to connect with God. Pencil in a few moments every morning to have a cup of hot coffee and a quiet, encouraging bible study.
Create a Fall Bible Study Routine (But Not a Rigid One)
You don’t need a wide-open schedule or perfect consistency to create a good quiet time rhythm. You just need a willing heart and the ability to sit still for a moment – to listen intently for His voice. Here are a few simple, easy-to-implement ideas for creating a fall Bible study routine.
- Light a candle and read one Psalm each morning
- Read a Proverb together with your spouse or children before bed each evening
- Choose one book of the Bible to slowly walk through over the next 8 weeks
- Use a Bible app to listen to the Bible while you take an evening walk after dinner
- Pick a theme and begin verse mapping verses that fit that theme
Keep in mind that this is not to check a box or add more to your already-full plate. It’s to soothe your soul, to ground you in the Word of God, even as life around you gets chaotic.
Meet God in the Silence
Sometimes it feels like God is silent. I’ve been going through one of the longest dry seasons of my life, and some days, it’s hard to hold on. But just because He’s silent doesn’t mean He’s absent. It’s ok if you feel like He’s far away. He can still be quietly working in your life, asking you to trust Him in the silence, even if you don’t see it. Even if you don’t feel Him. So, what do we do? We sit in the silence. We listen for whispers and watch for gentle nudges rather than answers.
It’s a good time to ask yourself if anything is holding you back. Maybe God is being intentionally silent. Or maybe there’s a wall between you, something blocking that path of communication. If that is the case, removing that blockage can make a huge difference. Try journaling to see if you can work through the noise to find what’s holding you back. And then ask yourself, “What do I need to release this season?” Be honest in your answers, don’t hold back. Surrender yourself to God and watch Him work.
Use the Word to Anchor, Not Escape
As you work to create a fall Bible study routine, let Scripture be a shelter rather than a shortcut. It’s not a band-aid for hurt feelings. Quiet time with God is not a quick-fix for the problems that crop up every day, and it’s not an escape from the inevitable storms of life. Instead, Scripture anchors us in God’s presence through the storm. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that He will keep those in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because they trust Him. Trust in Him, and He will keep you. Even through the storm. Even in His silence.
Embrace the Ordinary
God doesn’t just exist in the Bible. You don’t just encounter him in your quiet time – in your fall Bible study routine. He is also in the leaves that fall to the ground, in the birdsong that fills the air. You can hear Him in the laughter of a child, and you can encounter Him in a quiet cup of tea. Spiritual peace isn’t just found in the Bible. I know because I faithfully read it daily for years while anxiety crept up and took over. Spiritual peace is often built through small moments of awareness.
Pair your fall Bible study routine with a grounding habit like lighting a candle, wrapping up in a warm blanket, or sitting in the autumn sunshine, and let your senses partake in the joy.
Prepare Your Heart for the Next Season
Fall is a time to gather what you need for winter. Summer is a time of abundance and growth. Fall is a time of preparation and harvest. It’s time to exit survival mode and prepare to turn inward for the winter. The problem is that many of us don’t know how to rest. A fall Bible study routine can help you create a rhythm of spiritual preparation for the next season. Not because we fear the long, bleak winter, but because we want to be rooted in Him before the cold comes. Winter is a season of rest, and we can only rest when we are fully trusting in Him.
Conclusion: A Quiet Revival
It’s time to let go of what is no longer serving you and embrace the inward reflection of fall. What better way to do this than to connect with God through a fall Bible study routine? It may not fix anything; it’s not really meant to. But it should help ground you in the Word of God and prepare you for whatever the next season holds. Let’s enter this fall season with open hearts and a willingness to meet God in the quiet.
