a society, we find ourselves increasingly distracted! Clutter, both physical and mental, constantly vies for our attention. We’ve lost our ability to focus. Or, at least, we struggle with it a lot more, whether we are children, teens, or adults.

But what can we do about it? I’m finding that I need to simplify, even when it comes to matters of faith. In the past, I loved a big study Bible filled with notes, articles, cross references, and maps. And although I still have several I cherish, I’ve started reading from one without all of “the things” because it’s less distracting. I’m able to get lost in the story more easily.

It’s funny how we tend to assume that more is better: more pictures, more color, more information. And yet more can quickly become overwhelming, especially for our children. If there has ever been a time to clear the clutter, it is now.

• Special typography. By bolding key letters in words, the eye naturally follows through the text. There’s also more spacing between lines than you normally find in Bibles.
• No maps, notes, or pictures. As parents, we often assume that everything for children should include color and illustrations. You know we at HST love beautiful picture books! But there are times when those things are more of a distraction than a help. I can’t even describe how meaningful it’s been for me personally to simply read Scripture with only text. (Zondervan also publishes the Clear Focus Bible in the NIV and NASB translations for teens and adults!)
• Child-friendly translation. The NIrV is based on the New International Version translation and is written at a third-grade reading level. Both of my boys used this version when they were younger, and I highly recommend it!