In this episode of Beneath The Fig Tree, we continue the 119 Bible Bootcamp by exploring what it means to build rhythms of Bible study that truly last. Instead of striving for picture-perfect quiet times, we’ll talk about what makes a rhythm sustainable—for you, in this season of life. You’ll hear honest stories from my own journey, learn how Psalm 119 models rhythms with God, and discover a simple framework to help you find a pattern that’s rooted, realistic, and renewing.
- A sustainable rhythm isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.
- Psalm 119 shows us rhythms that weave God’s Word into every part of life.
- Rhythms shift with seasons of life; God meets you in each one.
- Common “quiet time rules” can create pressure, but God invites freedom.
- A simple framework: Rooted, Realistic, and Renewing.
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What if building a rhythm in God’s Word wasn’t about picture-perfect routines but about finding what’s sustainable—for you, right now, in this season?
Hey there friend, and welcome to Beneath The Fig Tree. I’m so glad you’re here. Like, really a lot.
Right now, we’re in a special season called the 119 Bible Bootcamp, where Psalm 119 is our treasure map into God’s Word. Today we’re exploring what it means to build sustainable rhythms in Bible study.
We’ve all been shown this picture-perfect version of quiet time—wake up an hour before everyone else in your house, have your coffee ready, sit in the same instagrammable spot, with your Bible, journal, and highlighters lined up, no distractions, and then read for an hour. Journal some perfect insights and then pray. Preferably on your knees, hands folded, eyes closed, head bowed. And of course, the reading plan with boxes to check as you go.
Can that work? Absolutely. Please hear me—I’m not knocking it. Some of my own sweetest encounters with God have looked just like that. Minus the reading plan and checklist. For some reason, those never really did it for me.
But is it the only way? Not at all. In fact, for many of us, in many seasons of life, it’s not even realistic.
And even more important: this isn’t about routines, it’s about relationship. We don’t connect with our friends or family by checking boxes—God doesn’t want us to approach Him that way either.
What Do We Mean by Sustainable?
Before we dive into why sustainability matters, let’s pause for a moment and talk about what I mean by “sustainable.”
When I say sustainable, I’m not talking about perfection, productivity, or meeting some man-made standard. I’m talking about rhythms that you can actually carry in your real life—the ones that don’t leave you burned out, guilty, or exhausted.
Think of sustainable rhythms as ones that:
- give life instead of draining it,
- grow roots instead of wilting under pressure,
- can bend with the seasons you’re in, instead of snapping when life changes.
Other words you might hear me use are:
- doable(it fits your real life),
- life-giving(it leaves you nourished instead of empty),
- lasting(something you can keep with you over time).
That’s the kind of rhythm we’re aiming for.
Bible Study Rhythms in Different Seasons of Life
Let’s talk about what this looks like in different seasons of life.
I can’t point to long seasons of waking before everyone else with a perfectly ordered quiet time. I tried that traditional pattern here and there, and sometimes it worked for a while—especially once Dakota was in school and Brandon was at work. But it never became my forever rhythm.
When Dakota was in high school, our mornings looked different. I drove him thirty minutes to school, and during that time we read through a chronological Bible together. He would read aloud as we drove. That was the rhythm God gave me in that season.
After he left for the army, Brandon and I were suddenly navigating a cancer diagnosis. His. My capacity was thin, but God met me in a new way. That was about the time the War Room movie came out. So, like many of you, I filled a wall with sticky notes and index cards—prayers, verses, names. Those scraps of paper became my rhythm. And it was tender, sustaining, enough.
Those bits aren’t on the wall anymore—mostly because we don’t live there anymore—but I still have them tucked into a journal.
But, during the years of a demanding job, my rhythms became a sort of patchwork. Some mornings I managed to read. Other days it was an online devotional, or a teaching in my earbuds. And there were stretches with almost no time in the Word at all. God’s grace still held me.
Now, as park hosts, Brandon and I live in an RV—space is tight and interruptions are constant. I sometimes read with the news humming in the background, not exactly ideal. But even that became a kind of rhythm.
These days, since stepping away from full-time work, my mornings have slowed. I often carry my Bible out to the hammock swing. I read until the sun rises just behind the trees, too bright to see the page. Then I close my eyes and let the light rest on me, a wordless prayer. Later, in my studio, I can spread out with journals and translations, or turn Scripture into art with worship music surrounding me.
But hear me: this is only a season. It hasn’t always looked like this, and it won’t always stay this way. The point is—you do what works in your season. And wherever that is, God meets you there.
Common Misconceptions About Quiet Time
Many of us carry quiet-time “rules” we’ve picked up along the way—let’s reframe a few together.
- “If I don’t read a full chapter, it doesn’t count.”→ God’s Word is alive; even one verse can nourish you.
- “If I can’t do it in the morning, I’ve missed it.”→ Psalm 119 shows rhythms morning, day, and night. God isn’t bound by the clock.
- “If I don’t journal, I’m not doing it right.”→ Journaling can be beautiful, but God hears your whispered prayers and your sighs, too.
These aren’t failures; they’re invitations to freedom.
That “traditional” method we’ve all heard can be beautiful—but it’s also built on assumptions:
- That you have quiet mornings.
- That you can sit for long stretches.
- That your best focus comes at the same time every day.
- That life doesn’t throw curveballs.
But maybe you’re in a season with toddlers, or shift work, or chronic illness, or grief. Maybe your brain just doesn’t focus best at 6 AM. That doesn’t make you less spiritual. It makes you human.
God never asked us for performance. He asked us for presence.
How Psalm 119 Models Rhythms with God
Psalm 119 doesn’t give us one perfect routine; it shows us a person in constant conversation with God across all kinds of moments.
- “I remember your name in the night, O Lord”(v. 55) – rhythms even in sleeplessness or struggle.
- “I rise before dawn and cry for help”(v. 147) and “My eyes are awake through the night watches” (v. 148) – rhythms can be early or late; it’s not about a slot on the clock, it’s about seeking Him.
- “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules”(v. 164) – not a stopwatch, but a life threaded with worship.
That’s the vision: not a formulaic schedule, but a life that breathes with God.
Rhythms that Actually Work
So what does sustainability look like in our real, human, everyday life? It looks like finding rhythms that meet you in your real life, with God’s real presence.
Here are a few ideas:
- Micro-moments.Reading a single verse in the morning and turning it into a short prayer as you drive or do dishes.
- Stacking habits.Pairing Scripture with something you already do—listening to an audio Bible while you walk, or journaling one verse after you brush your teeth at night.
- Seasonal shifts.Maybe mornings work best in the summer but evenings in the school year. Your rhythm can change with your season.
- Flexible plans.A reading plan is a guide, not a master. Use it, but don’t let it use you.
The psalmist says in verse 164, “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.” That doesn’t mean a stopwatch. It means weaving worship into the flow of life.
A Simple Framework for Building Sustainable Rhythms
By now, you probably know, I’m not a fan of formulas. But I do love things that help me remember. So, here’s a gentle framework you can hold onto as you think about your rhythms.
- Rooted– Does it connect you to God’s Word?
- Example: Reading Scripture with Dakota in the car kept me rooted.
- Realistic– Does it fit your life right now?
- Example: The prayer wall during Brandon’s cancer was all I could manage, and that was enough.
- Renewing– Does it leave you nourished, not burdened?
- Example: My hammock swing moments renew me in both creation and the Word.
If your rhythm is rooted, realistic, and renewing—it’s sustainable.
Why Sustainable Rhythms Matter
This is why sustainability isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential.
Sustainable rhythms keep us connected long-term. Psalm 119 describes a life shaped by God’s Word in every season—not just the quiet ones, not just the mornings when the kids sleep in, but in the middle of affliction, joy, and everything in between.
The psalmist says in verse 97, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Not one set hour, but a rhythm woven throughout life.
Sustainability matters because a rhythm you can’t keep up with will quickly become a burden. And when time with God feels like a burden, we’re tempted to set it aside altogether.
The Key Principle—For You, In This Season
The most important thing: rhythms are personal. What works for your friend may not work for you. What worked for you last year may not work right now.
The invitation isn’t “find the perfect routine.” The invitation is “walk with God in this moment.”
A Vision for the Long Haul
Picture it this way: small, steady rhythms become streams that carve deep places of grace into your life.
Over time, these small, faithful rhythms form us. They’re like streams carving rock—slow, steady, transformative. Like daily bread, each portion may feel small, but over a lifetime they nourish us into maturity.
Your devotional life won’t be remembered as perfect streaks of checkmarks. It will be remembered as a lifetime of moments with God.
Friend, you don’t need a flawless routine. You need a faithful God. And He’s already promised to meet you in every season, in every rhythm.
As always, I’ve created a free Companion Kit for this episode—it’ll help you reflect on your current season and sketch out some possible rhythms that actually fit your life. You can grab it in the Resource Hub.
Try this week: instead of asking, “What should my quiet time look like?”—ask, “What rhythm might help me walk with God in this season?”
Friend, God isn’t looking for your perfection. He’s inviting you into His presence.
Let’s cultivate a devotional life you love. Like, really love. Because it is possible—and it’s easier than you think.
If today’s episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps more women discover the treasure waiting in God’s Word.
