I like to read the Bible, and I like to learn more and grow in my walk with God. But I am also a slow reader and struggle to be disciplined when it comes to reading God's word everyday. And while I don't believe that a person has to read a certain amount per day, or that they need to finish the whole Bible in a certain length of time, I recognize that having a plan helps most people. Having a Bible reading plan is a smart, focused way for a Christian to grow in their faith.
Reading the Bible isn't always easy, and sometimes we need tools to help us understand the Bible. A Bible reading plan can be one of the tools we use to help us remain consistent and make sure we don't stop reading the Bible.
Having a Bible reading plan looks different for the individual Christian. Some people need a "Bible in one year" plan. Others simply need a plan that will get them in the Word everyday, regardless of how much or little they may read on a given day. For me, I never dive into a plan that is for reading the Bible in one year, because I am such a slow reader that the task is too much for me to handle. Then, when I fail, I get bummed out and give up. But for some people, the challenge of reading the Bible in a year (or less) is exactly what gets them reading more consistently.
Whichever category you fit into, the point is not who reads the most or who reads the fastest. The point is communion with God and making sure that it is a daily priority. So today, I am sharing a few Bible reading plans that can help you get in the word daily so that you can grow in your walk with God and know Him more.
Having a Bible reading plan looks different for the individual Christian. Some people need a "Bible in one year" plan. Others simply need a plan that will get them in the Word everyday, regardless of how much or little they may read on a given day. For me, I never dive into a plan that is for reading the Bible in one year, because I am such a slow reader that the task is too much for me to handle. Then, when I fail, I get bummed out and give up. But for some people, the challenge of reading the Bible in a year (or less) is exactly what gets them reading more consistently.
Whichever category you fit into, the point is not who reads the most or who reads the fastest. The point is communion with God and making sure that it is a daily priority. So today, I am sharing a few Bible reading plans that can help you get in the word daily so that you can grow in your walk with God and know Him more.
Related: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself While Reading the Bible
Amy wants to help women get in the word of God every day, so she created a plan to help us do just that. Get the Word to Worship plan here.
A: Bible reading plans can be started at any time. Even a "read the Bible in a year" plan can be adjusted to your timeline and done in one year from whenever you started. Sure, the days may be off, but it's still accomplishing the same thing.
Q: What if I miss a day of reading?
A: If you miss a day of your Bible reading plan, you can either read extra the next day to catch up, or you can simply be a day "behind". Again, the point of a Bible reading plan is not to achieve a certain mark. The goal is communion with God and you can have this whether or not you have missed days on your plan. Each day is fresh with mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). Catch up, or start from where you left off, and just spend time with your Creator.
The Best Year-Long Bible Reading Plans
Word to Worship by Amy Gannett
I follow Amy on Instagram and I am so encouraged by her. I also really wish we could hang out in real life, because she seems like my kind of person, ya know?Amy wants to help women get in the word of God every day, so she created a plan to help us do just that. Get the Word to Worship plan here.
Daily Biblical Reflections by Alastair Roberts
My husband has been listening to these Youtube readings by Alastair Roberts since the start of the new year. Though Alistair Roberts has more of a theologian brain than I do, the nice thing about these videos is that he reads the entire passage to you and then gives a commentary on it. He does this with both the Old and New Testament readings each day. That way, if you would like to hear commentary on the verses, it's there for you, but if you want to go straight from the OT reading to the NT reading, you can just skip past the commentary and still get the Bible reading. Plus, if you like awesome accents, this will be a treat!The Read the Bible Plan with Crossway and The Gospel Coalition
The Gospel Coalition and Crossway have partnered together to create a Bible reading plan for 2020. Despite the fact that this is a dated plan (meaning it technically starts January 1st, 2020 and ends December 31st, 2020), you could still do it at your own pace, or from whatever day you decide to start. There are also other resources they've provided to go along side this plan, which you can find in this Gospel Coalition blog post.5 Day Bible Reading Plan by Lower Lights Publication
My pastor suggested this reading plan. It's what he is using and what other members of our church are using. The benefit of this plan is that it's only 5 days a week, so you can use the weekends to catch up if you miss a weekday. A friend at church told me that this feature has been helpful for her.Read Your Bible
Friends, whether you choose a Bible reading plan or you choose to read at your own pace completely, please be in the Word of God. It takes discipline and patience and endurance, but God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) and really does transform us. Let us rely on God's strength and ask Him to help us. Let us commit our time to Him and remember it's importance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I only start a Bible reading plan in the new year?A: Bible reading plans can be started at any time. Even a "read the Bible in a year" plan can be adjusted to your timeline and done in one year from whenever you started. Sure, the days may be off, but it's still accomplishing the same thing.
Q: What if I miss a day of reading?
A: If you miss a day of your Bible reading plan, you can either read extra the next day to catch up, or you can simply be a day "behind". Again, the point of a Bible reading plan is not to achieve a certain mark. The goal is communion with God and you can have this whether or not you have missed days on your plan. Each day is fresh with mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). Catch up, or start from where you left off, and just spend time with your Creator.
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