“Surely we only have to be honest with ourselves to know how regularly we need to turn to the Bible. How often do we face problems, temptations and pressure?  Every day!  Then how often do we need instruction, guidance and greater encouragement?  Every day!  To catch all these felt needs up into an even greater issue, how often do we need to see God’s face, hear His voice, feel His touch, know His power?  The answer to all these questions is the same: every day!” ~ John Blanchard, British Pastor

For those who have not already developed the habit, I would like to challenge and encourage you to spend a daily time in the Word beginning in 2021.

Here are four suggestions for success in reading the Bible: 

• First, find the time. Plan a regular time to meet with the Lord. Try to make it the same time everyday so that it becomes a scheduled habit. Don’t leave your time with the Lord to chance, for what you don’t plan for will not take place. 

• Second, use a Bible reading schedule. Most have never read a 1,000 plus page book before, so many get discouraged at the Bible’s sheer length. However using a reading schedule spreads your reading over the course of a year or more and so makes the task less daunting. In about fifteen minutes a day you can read the Bible in a year. If that seems too overwhelming, I would advise a less aggressive reading plan. Better to read less and stick with it than to get discouraged and drop your reading altogether. Here are some suggested reading plans

  • Online or mobile device plans

    • If you have a favorite Bible app that you use, it’s very likely they already have a Bible reading plan built into it. If you don’t have one, go to the app store and type in “Bible reading plans.” There will be plenty to choose from.

  • Printable PDF plans (click on the plan to open a PDF):

    • 5X5X5 Bible reading plan - Five minutes a day, five minutes a week to read through the entire New Testament in one year and through the Gospels multiple times. Includes five ways to dig deeper.

    • The Discipleship Journal Bible reading plan - This plan is set up to read through the entire Bible in a year. By reading from four separate places in the Scriptures every day, you should be able to better grasp the unity of the Scriptures, as well as enjoy the variety of four different viewpoints. This plan also offer suggestions for reading through the Bible at a slower pace.

    • Chronological Bible reading plan - This one year plan takes you through the events of the Bible as they occurred chronologically. For example, the Book of Job is integrated with Genesis because Job lived before Abraham.

• Third, when you read, try to apply the Bible to your life by asking yourself questions like:

  • Is there a command to obey in this passage?

  • Is there an example to follow?

  • Is there an error to avoid?

  • Is there a sin to forsake?

  • Is there something I learn about God?

  • Is there something that gives me cause to be thankful?

• Fourth, follow your reading with a time of prayer. Many have found the acrostic ACTS helpful in praying, as it summarizes the basic pattern given by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer. It means when you pray, practice:

  • Adoration (adore/ praise/ exalt the Lord),

  • Confession (of your sins),

  • Thanksgiving (to God for His blessings, even through trouble), and

  • Supplication (which means giving God your requests for you & others).