How to Create the Ultimate Bible Bag for Effective Study Time

About a year and a half ago, I set out to create a designated quiet time for myself! I wasn't really sure what I was doing in the beginning or where to start but I quickly realized there were some things that I enjoyed using during this time. "Bible study tools" is what we will call them! I should mention that I'm also a busy mom and knew that the easier I made this on myself- the more likely it was to happen! This means that these tools needed to be easily accessible and mobile! (Hey- sometimes my quiet time is in the carline at school pickup!) That's when I decided to create a Bible Bag and it has changed my study time!

My Bible Bag makes it easy for me to grab and move to any location, take my materials on trips, grab it for the car pickup line, or take it to practice! Therefore, there are ZERO excuses! I've got everything I need in this handy bag! So what's inside?!

Let's start with the bag itself! I went to Amazon and searched for "Bible Cover" to find a bag to contain all of my goodies. This is the specific one that I really like! I know some people put their things in a basket or a tote bag, but I like that this Bible cover zips closed. This means my tools aren't falling out everywhere. (No, this is not an affiliate link!) Whatever you decide on- a basket, tote, Bible cover, etc. is fine! -But NOW let's talk about what's inside!

I want to be real clear. None of these tools are REQUIRED to read/study the bible or have a meaning relationship with the Lord! These are just things that I have found make my time smoother and/or more meaningful for me. You might find that you prefer different things in your bag! That's the beauty of it! Completely customizable! So first, here's what is inside mine and then I will explain!

• Bible - obviously!

• Sticky notes

• Journal

• Highlighters

• Pens (different kinds and colors!)

• Daily Devotional

• Bible Study Book

• Bookmarks

• Paperclips

• Handouts from conferences, studies that I have attended, etc

• Pictures of my family and/or friends

• Prayer list

So let's start at the top. Obviously, you are going to want a Bible in your bag; however, this COULD be optional if you use the YouVersion Bible App! I honestly use both! I love that I can flip back and forth between different translations on the Bible App! It is great for gaining a better understanding! But I also picked a version that I like and purchased an actual Bible! It's where I write, highlight, and keep notes that I want to remember forever!

Moving on... sticky notes! I use these for jotting down things that are distracting me from my time with the Lord! Again, busy mom here! So it never fails! The fact that someone needs a costume for something or that I forgot to make an appointment will pop into my head! Instead of stopping what I'm doing and ordering the costume or making the appointment, I jot it down on a sticky and then I can forget about it until my study time is over! This alone has been LIFE CHANGING for me! Sticky notes are also great for jotting down notes and sticking directly into your Bible if you are someone who doesn't want to write on the actual pages.

Next, a journal is a newer addition for me. I love paper products (stationary, note cards, journals), so adding a journal to my Bible bag came about for two reasons! Number 1: I have a ton of empty journals that I have accumulated through the years! Number 2: Some ladies at a Bible study that I joined said they really love to journal their prayers instead of speaking them aloud or praying silently. They said they like to go back and see the ways God has worked. So I tried it and I've loved it!

Highlighters and Pens! This one seems pretty self explanatory. If it isn't clear yet- I was the child (and adult) that loved school supplies. If you weren't then a plain ole black or blue ballpoint pen will serve you just fine! Do what makes you happy! There are tons of companies out there that market and sell pens and highlighters that are "Bible Pens" and "Bible Highlighters". I've used regular ones and the fancy "Bible" ones... I don't see a difference.

The next I always have is a Daily Devotional. I LOVE a good devotional! A devotional is a short, daily reading or reflection designed to help you connect with God, offering Scripture, insights, and a prayer to guide your day. It’s a simple way to focus on your faith and grow in your relationship with God, even in a busy schedule. I have a post coming soon with all my favorite devotionals and shops where I purchase them!

I joined a women's Bible study at my church a few years ago. (Again, I have a post coming with some of my favorite Bible Studies that I've done!). But these Bible Studies have a Bible Study Book that we use (kind of like a workbook!). It has weekly homework, so it's definitely something I keep in my bag so I can catch up whenever/wherever!

Bookmarks and paperclips are great for not only saving my place but marking pages that I want to come back to or think I will refer to frequently. I'm a little extra, so I have some super cute cross shaped paperclips!!

My awesome bible bag has a really great pocket where I slide any handouts/papers that I get from conferences, studies, or groups that I attend! If I go to something and I receive a handout that I feel like is worth saving- I will put it in my Bible bag so that I can reflect on it during a quiet time, transfer the notes into my Bible, or maybe journal about it!

Pictures of family/friends keep me focused on my people. When I pray about specific situations or for my kids perhaps, I love looking at a picture of them! I have pictures tucked into special pages of my Bible, too! Like a picture of me with my grandparents.

A Prayer list is one of those things you could do inside of your journal or even as a note in your phone, but some people like to have all of their current prayer requests in one place. I'm still playing around with what works best for me and managing prayer requests! Maybe I'll do a post on that!

My Bible Bag has truly transformed my quiet time with the Lord, helping me stay organized and focused as I dive into His Word. I hope you found some tips in this post that you’ll want to try for yourself! Did I miss anything? I'd love to hear what’s inside your Bible Bag—feel free to share your favorite essentials in the comments below! Let’s continue to encourage and inspire one another on this journey of growing closer to God.