“Why don’t you just read the Bible like a normal person?!”
The comment hit me like a ton of bricks on a Monday morning. It was left on a video I posted on my business account showing how I use stickers and scrapbook paper during my Bible study time. Not only is this something I’ve done for years in my own personal time with the Lord, but it has also become part of the work I now do: creating tools to help others engage Scripture in similar ways.
My first response to her comment was anger (I’m only human). My second response was sadness. In a 45-second clip of my Bible study, she felt confident enough to make a judgment about my walk with the Lord, my reverence for Scripture, and my heart posture toward God. More than that, her comment carried an assumption that there is only one “right” way to sit with the Word … and that everyone should approach Scripture in the exact same way she does.
What struck me most is that her comment didn’t really have anything to do with stickers or paper. It revealed something deeper: a misunderstanding of how differently God has wired us to learn, process, and engage with truth.
Why I Engage Scripture Physically … and You Can, Too
The truth is, I do “just read the Bible” sometimes. There are mornings when my Bible is open, I’m sitting in my comfy chair with a cup of coffee, and I simply read a passage quietly before the Lord. But there are also seasons when I need to slow down, interact with the text, write notes in the margins, underline repeated words, and even doodle visual reminders of what I’m learning. For me, engaging Scripture physically helps me recall His Word more deeply.
And this isn’t about being creative for creativity’s sake. It’s about attention. It’s about staying with the text long enough to let it shape me. It’s about creating and remembering how God is the ultimate Creator of all things. It’s about dwelling in His Word a little longer than just skimming the words of my Bible.
Over the years, I’ve learned that people meet with the Lord in different ways. Some love quiet reading. Some process by underlining and writing prayers in the margins. Some need space to reflect, jot notes, and sit with Scripture longer. None of these approaches are “more spiritual” than another. They are simply different ways of engaging the same living Word.
God did not create us as identical copies. He created us with different minds and different ways of processing information (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Some people are wired to hear and retain. Some are wired to see and visualize. Some are wired to write and reflect. Some need to physically interact with what they are learning. This diversity is not accidental. It is part of His design. And honestly … it is part of His kindness. Imagine how limited the body of Christ would be if everyone learned, worshiped, and processed truth in the exact same way. I’m so thankful we are all so unique!
For me, visual and hands-on learning has always been part of how my brain works. I can recall a doodle I made of the word “abide,” and in that moment, the verse from John about abiding in Christ comes rushing back to mind. The image becomes a memory anchor. The act of slowing down to draw or write something causes me to dwell on the verse longer than I would have if I had simply read it and moved on. That does not make my study deeper than someone else’s … but it does make it deeper for me.
And I know I am not alone in this. Over the years, I’ve heard from countless women who felt like they were “bad at Bible study” until they were given permission to engage Scripture in a way that fit how they learn. Some had been taught, directly or indirectly, that unless your Bible looks untouched and pristine, your study must be shallow. Others were made to feel like writing prayers in the margins was irreverent or even ungodly. But God’s Word is not threatened by pens, highlighters, or honest questions written in the margins of a well-loved Bible.
That understanding has shaped how I think about the tools we use for Bible study. The Bible itself never changes. God’s Word is living and active, regardless of what cover it comes in. But the format we hold in our hands can either feel intimidating or inviting. And that matters more than we often realize, especially for people who are trying to build consistent habits in the Word.
The Best Type of Bible Is the One You’ll Read — or Write in, or Listen to …
For some, a traditional leather Bible feels grounding and familiar. For others, a Bible with space to write, room to reflect, and a design that feels warm and personal makes it easier to return to Scripture again and again. There is no spiritual hierarchy of Bible covers. There is only the quiet invitation to open the Word and meet with the Lord.
That heart is what led to a recent collaboration with Zondervan on two NIV Journaling Bible designs. They were created with margin space for notetaking and a thoughtful design meant to feel approachable, not intimidating. Not because the design is the point … but because if a well-designed Bible helps someone open God’s Word more often, then the design is quietly serving the greater purpose.
I’m deeply thankful that I get to create resources for people who learn and process Scripture the way I do. It starts in the Word … sitting quietly with the Lord, studying, noticing, being in awe of how His truth fits together. I simply get to take the gifts He has entrusted to me and use them in service of others who want to grow in their understanding of Scripture.
However you meet with the Lord — reading, writing, listening, journaling, underlining, praying in the margins — the goal is always the same. To draw near to Him in His Word. To let Scripture shape your heart.
If you’ve never journaled in your Bible before, consider this your invitation to grab a journaling Bible and give it a try. See if that small shift helps you slow down and engage God’s Word in a new way.
Exquisite from the inside out, the two editions of the NIV Artisan Collection Bible will delight you with their unique cover design, created by Kerri King at Kingfolk Co. Each page of this Bible has lightly ruled, wide margins, inviting you to journal, reflect, take notes, and create your own art.
As you read, let your eyes relax as you take in more of God’s Word with the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface in a single-column layout. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the New International Version (NIV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation.
Kerri King is a faith-based artist, designer, and the founder of Kingfolk Co, a creative business rooted in Scripture and driven by purpose to get folks into the Word. From custom Bible accessories to thoughtfully designed stickers and digital printables, Kerri’s work centers on helping women and families stay engaged in God’s Word in meaningful, everyday ways. With a passion for theology, beauty, and truth, her products blend Christ-centered perspective with handcrafted creativity. Whether through her Bible designs or her monthly sticker subscriptions, Kerri’s mission remains the same: to make faith feel personal, beautiful, and accessible.
