You’ve heard that old saying: “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” Here’s another cliche that reflects the same wisdom: “If you don’t know where you’re going that’s exactly where you’ll end up.”
This practical principle is true in every area of life. We must be intentional and proactive to make real progress in any endeavor. This includes our spiritual discipleship. If we want to be in God’s Word consistently to deepen our relationship with God and foster spiritual refinement, then we need a plan. A Bible reading plan.
You may have tried to build consistency and biblical literacy without a Bible reading plan. Perhaps you settled in to spend time with God, but you weren’t sure where to read. Maybe you just opened your Bible and started reading wherever it fell open. Or maybe you just went back to a familiar passage you’ve read a hundred times.
Does any of this describe your Bible reading practice? If so chances are you’ve often felt overwhelmed and ill-equipped. Perhaps there’ve been days when you decided it was easier to not open your Bible.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way… If you have a plan, you will always be prepared when you sit down with God and His Word.
A few benefits of having a Bible Reading Plan
- More Consistency – It’s easier to begin reading if you know where you’ll be reading.
- Better understanding – Reading God’s Word in context promotes a more accurate understanding of His original intent. (Also see “How Literary Context Aids Our Understanding of the Bible.”)
- Increased biblical literacy – Through planning, you can include books of the Bible you are not familiar with! The more we know of God’s Word, the more we will know of God!
- Excitement – When I know what I’ll be reading today, and tomorrow, and the next day, I am excited to get there! That excitement fosters persistence and success!
A few words of caution & a bit of advice
- Plan for success – Choose a plan that will challenge you but not overwhelm. For instance, if you have struggled to read your Bible consistently, don’t start with a “Read the Bible through in a year plan.” Choose a plan that is just a step beyond where you are now. If you are getting into God’s Word about 3 times a week, look for a plan that has 5 days of readings each week.
- Read in context – Topical Bible studies and plans can be great. But, if you are still building a foundation of biblical literacy I recommend reading through one Bible book at a time. Reading in context promotes better understanding and will give you a better grasp of the Bible’s overall story. (Also see “How Biblical Literary Context Helps You Understand the Bible” and “What is the Metanarrative of the Bible?”)
- Give yourself grace – Shoot for consistency, but know there will be days where you just don’t get to it. And that’s okay!
- Equip yourself with some good study tools – Learn some basic Bible study tips and techniques. This will give you confidence as you approach Scripture and foster greater understanding. (See “The 4 R Inductive Bible Study for Every Day Use” to get started.)
- Don’t give up – If you get far behind in your plan, it’s really tempting to just throw in the towel. Instead of giving up, start fresh. Start a new plan or begin reading a different Bible book. If you are reading with a group, just jump back in where they are!
A few Bible Reading Plan Suggestions
There are so many options available. You can find plans for beginners that provide a few minutes of reading for just a few days a week all the way to one that will guide you through the Bible in 90 days! Here are some options to check out:
- Bible apps – For instance, “YouVersion” has plans built into the app that help keep you on track.
- Online plans – Websites like BibleGateway have oodles of plans available. You can read them online or have the readings sent to your inbox!
- Your Bible – Some Bibles have plans in the back. For instance, this “NIV One Year Bible” divides God’s Word into 365 readings to take you through the whole Bible in a year.
- Make you own plan – Choose a book or books of the Bible. Reading full books are the best way to really grasp the meaning. Determine how much you can read each day and mark the readings on a calendar. You can completely personalize this! You can determine how many days a week you can read and what length each reading will be.
- The Bible Recap – This comprehensive program provides a reading plan to read through the Bible in a year plus brief daily podcasts that recaps that day’s reading. Check out The Bible Recap.
- Other Organized Plans – These can be year-long plans or shorter-term plans organized around a theme. For instance, Advent Reading plans for Christmas time. This is what I usually do. I have even developed several plans that are available for free on my website! Go to my “Free Resources” page to check them out.
Feel like you need some encouragement and accountability to stay in God’s Word? Invite a friend or two to join you! You can use the same plan and meet periodically to discuss what you’ve been reading. There are also online groups to offer help and encouragement. I host one on Facebook. In fact, you are welcome to join us at “Reading the Bible Together.”
What has been your biggest hindrance to staying in God’s Word regularly?
A few other posts you may find helpful:
- 9 Tips to Help You Interpret the Bible
- 11 Tips for Spending Quality Quiet Time with God
- 8 Tips to Help Make Quiet Time a Reality – especially for moms of young children
I was reading your article on the Fruit of the Spirit this morning and it led me to this article on planning to read the Bible. So glad I did because not only will this be useful to me, but to my friends and family as well. Thank you!
Hi Mary! Glad you found it! I hope you will be encouraged!