After almost twenty years of walking alongside clients in their healing journeys and even longer walking with Christ, I’ve discovered that some of the most profound spiritual breakthroughs happen not in grand moments, but in the quiet, intentional spaces we create for encountering God’s word. One simple tool that has consistently enhanced both my personal devotions and my clients’ spiritual practices is a good set of quality highlighters.
When I first suggest Bible highlighting to someone struggling with anxiety or depression, they sometimes look at me skeptically. “How can colored pens possibly help my mental health?” But here’s what I’ve witnessed time and again: the physical act of marking meaningful passages creates a bridge between our minds and hearts that pure reading alone often misses.
Quality highlighters matter because they don’t bleed through thin Bible pages, allowing you to mark without destroying the text underneath. When you can trust your tools, you’re free to focus entirely on what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you in that moment. I often recommend using different colors intentionally—perhaps yellow for promises, blue for commands, pink for verses about God’s character. This isn’t about creating a perfect system; it’s about engaging multiple senses in your relationship with Scripture.
The therapeutic value runs deeper than organization. When my clients highlight verses that speak to their specific struggles—whether it’s anxiety, grief, or feelings of worthlessness—they’re literally marking their territory in God’s promises. Months later, when they flip through their Bibles, those highlighted verses become visual reminders of God’s faithfulness during difficult seasons.
From a spiritual formation perspective, highlighting slows us down. In our hurried world, the simple act of choosing which words deserve color forces us to pause, consider, and truly digest what we’re reading. It transforms passive consumption into active meditation.
Your Bible becomes a living document of your journey with God—a colorful map of where He’s met you, challenged you, and comforted you. Those highlighted verses aren’t just pretty marks on a page; they’re monuments to God’s faithfulness in your life.
Whether you’re battling mental health challenges or simply seeking to grow deeper in your faith, never underestimate the power of good tools in the hands of a surrendered heart.
Here are some great highlighters to try out during your next Bible study!
Salt + Cedar Collective 