Audible has become my constant companion while driving. Over the past month, I’ve listened to A Rebel’s Manifesto by Sean McDowell, Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, 50 Women Every Christian Should Know by Michelle DeRusha, and Shepherds for Sale by Megan Basham. But my daily routine now includes listening to God’s Word through Audible.

The Bible is life to me. The words, the names, the history, the accounts of God’s goodness and faithfulness to His people then and now jump off the page. But what do we do when the season calls for less ‘sitting’ and more ‘moving’? Listen to the word!

Though it takes up a lot of phone memory, listening to the Bible on Audible has been a great way to stay in the Word while driving or doing chores. Currently, I’m listening to the Listener’s Audio Bible (NIV) read by Max McLean, which is 75 hours and 14 minutes long. Listening to larger chunks of the scriptures, over time, have me picking up on common phrases and words that are specific to each book of the scriptures.

I’m preparing for a trip next month to explore Paul’s journeys, so the New Testament book of Acts is a regular listen this month.

There are many apps available which offer God’s Word read aloud, like Audible, Bible Gateway, YouVersion, Spotify and more. We can choose different voices, translations, and even the speed of the reading.

Before the smartphone God’s people, especially the children, listened to the scriptures read aloud. Before a lot of folks could read and before the printing press, the scriptures were read, memorized, and sung aloud as a means of grace to pass along our faith to the next generation.

The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy is less an action book and more a book of Moses’ speeches meant to be read aloud. According to chapter 31, read aloud every seven years during the Feast of Booths inviting the people of God to a do-over, a reset, a reboot, a jubilee to let go of regret, debt, and turn our eyes, focus, and priorities back on leaning into loving the Lord our God with our whole hearts for our whole lives. This instruction right after Moses tells Joshua to “Be strong and of a good courage… Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.”

Listening to the scriptures aloud just might be the proper equipping today to combat fear and discouragement offering a do-over to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

If the noise of the news, the hallways, and even the music are plentiful and constant, listening to the scriptures read aloud can turn just about any space you are into a sanctuary.  

¹⁰ Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Festival of Tabernacles, ¹¹ when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” Deuteronomy 31:10-13