There is something I really love about having a Bible bag. I used to have all of my Bible study things scattered around the house, which meant that every time I wanted to sit down and read, I would spend the first few minutes looking for a pen, my highlighters, a notebook or whatever else I had decided I needed that day. Having a bag where I can keep everything together has made Bible study feel so much easier, and it also means I can take it with me when I want to read somewhere other than my desk.

Since I started Bible journaling, I’ve tried many different supplies, bought things I thought I would use and eventually worked out which things I actually reach for. So, I wanted to show you how I would build a Bible bag from scratch and the things I think are genuinely worth having in it.

Start With the Bag

The first thing you need is, obviously, the bag. I like having something that is big enough to fit my Bible and a few supplies without becoming so enormous that I don’t want to carry it anywhere.

A pretty tote, canvas bag or structured carryall works really well. And surprisingly, I have found these to be very affordable on Amazon, so you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money on a bag specifically designed as a Bible bag.

I would also look for a bag with some structure. Once you start adding pens, notebooks and all the little things that seem to multiply inside a Bible bag, having somewhere to put smaller items makes a big difference. I also prefer a bag that opens wide enough that I can actually see what’s inside rather than having to dig around for everything.

Your Bible

Obviously, your Bible is going to be the most important thing in your bag.

I personally love having a physical Bible that I can underline, highlight, write in and come back to over and over again. I have never really been one for the Bible app. There is something about seeing the notes I’ve made in the margins and the pages I’ve returned to that makes my Bible feel like a record of my relationship with God.

If you’re buying a Bible specifically for journaling, I’d think about the kind of journaling you actually want to do before choosing one. A wide margin Bible or a journaling Bible gives you more room to write, while a Bible with thicker paper can be helpful if you know you’re going to use pens, highlighters and other supplies.

And don’t feel like you need to buy a new Bible just because you’re starting to journal. If you already have a Bible you love and understand, you can absolutely start there.

The Filament Bible App

While I much prefer a physical Bible for my actual reading and journaling, I also love having the Filament Bible App alongside it. My Bible is Filament enabled, so I can scan the page I’m reading and access study notes, articles, devotionals, videos, maps and other resources connected to that particular passage. I love having all of those extra resources available when I’m studying something more deeply, without needing to have a pile of different study books beside me.

Pens You Actually Like Using

This is probably where you need to resist the temptation to buy every pen you see.

I’ve found that having a small collection of pens I genuinely enjoy using is much more useful than having a huge collection that I never reach for. I like having a few different colors available, along with a reliable black pen for writing notes and observations. I also found that the black fineliner pens are great for outlining artwork too, so they have become one of those things I reach for all the time.

When you are writing directly in your Bible, make sure the pens you’re choosing are actually suitable for Bible pages. The paper can be much thinner than ordinary notebook paper, so a pen that works beautifully in your journal might bleed straight through a Bible page.

I have found that these colored rollerball pens and the black fineliner pens don’t go through my Bible paper, which is exactly what I want when I’m writing directly onto the page. I can use them for notes, underlining, adding little details to artwork and generally making the pages my own without worrying about ruining the other side.

Highlighters

I have never really had a highlighting system. I don’t use specific colors for anything in particular. I use highlighting as a way to make certain Scriptures or passages stand out, and I also highlight passages that I write notes about and will tend to link them across to the margin where my notes are written on the side of the Bible.

I have found that some highlighters can bleed through Bible paper, which is particularly frustrating when you’ve spent time journaling on the other side of the page. I do love using gel highlighters, and I’ve found these make a huge difference.

They are bright and vibrant while also having no bleed through at all, which makes them one of my favorite things to keep in my Bible bag. They also make highlighting feel a little more intentional because I can get a really nice, even line without pressing too hard on the page.

Sticky Notes and Page Markers

I always like having a few sticky notes tucked into my Bible bag.

Sometimes I’ll come across something while I’m studying that I don’t have time to write out properly, or I’ll want to mark a page to come back to later. Sticky notes make it really easy to capture those thoughts without interrupting what I’m doing.

I also like using page markers when I’m studying a particular book or theme. They can be especially useful when you’re comparing different passages throughout Scripture or when there are several things you want to come back to.

Washi Tape and Other Journaling Supplies

This is where the Bible bag can get really fun.

I love being able to add a little creativity to my Bible journaling, whether that’s through washi tape, stickers, colored pens or other small supplies. For me, the creative side isn’t separate from Bible study. It actually helps me slow down and spend more time looking closely at the passage I’m reading.

That doesn’t mean every Bible page needs to become a work of art. Sometimes my journaling is simply a few highlighted verses and a note in the margin. Other times I might spend more time creating something on the page. I like having the supplies available so I can let the passage I’m studying determine what I do with it.

You can read my blog on Must Have Bible Journaling Tools for Beginners for a list of my most-used creative Bible journaling items. That post goes into more detail about the supplies I use and love, so you don’t need to fill your Bible bag with everything at once.

Stickers, Colored Paper and Notepads

There are a few other little things I like having available when I’m Bible journaling, particularly stickers, small pieces of colored paper and colored notepads.

I love using these when I want to add a little more creativity to a page without having to draw everything myself. A small piece of colored paper can also be really useful for writing a longer thought or prayer when I don’t have enough room in the margin, and stickers are an easy way to add something decorative without taking up much space.

I keep these sorts of things together rather than loose in my bag, because otherwise they can quickly become a mess. A little pouch or pencil case works perfectly for keeping all of those smaller journaling supplies together and makes it easy to pull them out when I’m ready to use them.

A Prayer Journal or Notebook

I also like having a separate notebook or prayer journal with me.

There are things I don’t necessarily want to write directly into my Bible, particularly longer prayers, thoughts or things I’m processing with God. Having a notebook beside me gives me somewhere to write those things down while I’m studying.

One of my favorite things about keeping journals over time is being able to look back at them. There are prayers I completely forgot I had written, things I was worried about that eventually worked themselves out and moments where I can now see God’s faithfulness much more clearly than I could when I was living through them.

Wire Journal I Know the Plans I Have for You

That’s one of the reasons I think a Bible bag can become more than just a collection of supplies. It can become the little place where you keep the things that help you spend time with God. You can read more about this in How Prayer Journaling Helped Me Hear God More Clearly.

The Little Things I Keep in My Bible Bag

There are always a few random things that seem to find their way into my bag.

A pencil, extra sticky notes, a ruler, bookmarks and sometimes a pair of scissors for journaling supplies are all useful. I also like keeping anything I regularly use for Bible study in the bag rather than having to remember where I left it last time.

The trick is not letting the bag become a dumping ground. Every so often, I go through it and take out the things I haven’t used. Otherwise, somehow a Bible bag that started with a Bible and a few pens ends up containing receipts, random scraps of paper and approximately seventeen pens.

How I Organize My Bible Bag

I like keeping the things I use most often easy to reach.

My Bible and notebook go in the main compartment, while pens, highlighters and smaller journaling supplies are kept together in a pouch. Anything I don’t use every time I study can stay tucked away rather than taking up space around the things I actually need.

I also try to keep my Bible bag ready to go. If everything is already inside, I’m much more likely to grab it when I want to spend some time reading Scripture. There is something surprisingly helpful about removing all those little barriers between thinking, “I should spend some time in the Bible today,” and actually sitting down to do it.

You can then add to it as you discover what works for you.

I’ve found that having everything together has made it much easier for me to make Bible study part of my everyday life. My bag is ready when I am, whether I’m sitting at my desk, taking it to church or finding a quiet spot somewhere else to read.

And I think that’s really what I love most about having one. It’s not about having the prettiest Bible bag or owning every Bible journaling supply available. It’s simply about creating a little space that makes it easier to open my Bible, slow down and spend some time with God.