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Reading the Bible daily is a habit we know is important, so why is consistency so difficult? Find a Bible reading plan to help you get in God’s word regularly.
We’re focusing this month on making small changes to one habit at a time that add up to lasting change. And why not start with the most important habit of all…being in God’s word regularly. In reality, it’s no exaggeration to say that no other habit matters more than this one.
My husband and I are teaching the youth at our church this Sunday. Our lesson is going to be on how to make God-pleasing decisions. What we’re finding as we prepare our lesson is that we keep coming back to this truth: Knowing what God’s word says on a topic is key to being able to know His best for us. Even more than being key, it’s essential. (Seeking Godly counsel is up there, too, but that’s a topic for another day).
So if we know reading the Bible daily is vital…why don’t we do it?
I’ll go through seasons where I’m diligent in my daily Bible reading, and then one day I’ll realize I haven’t opened my Bible just to read it for awhile. I’m at church twice a week, I’ll justify, teaching at least one of those times. So it’s not like I’m not reading or hearing Scripture.
Still, that doesn’t compare to soaking in His word and spending time listening for what my Good Father wants to speak to me.
Have you been there?
Maybe you’ve found, like I have, that having a plan makes all the difference in consistency. I’ll be honest, the first time that I committed to read through the Bible in a year it was maybe not for the best reason. Someone I knew said that she read through the Bible each year and I thought, “Well if she can do it, I can do it.” Not out of a pure desire to develop this vital habit, but because I didn’t want to be outdone. Let’s call it what it was: Pride.
Regardless of my motives, however, God used that year to grow me and change me in many ways.
Find a Bible reading plan that works for you
Whatever your motives are in wanting to develop this habit…God can bless you and speak to you in ways you can’t even imagine. Promise.
And besides our personal motives, we are all motivated differently by a plan that works for us. When it comes to spending time in God’s word daily, whatever works for you is the right plan. So let’s look at some different resources and find something that works!
Read through the whole Bible in a year
There are lots of plans that map out ways for you to read through the entire Bible in 365 days. (Note: You don’t have to start on January 1st, btw. Your year of reading can begin whenever you decide to start).
My sister loves her One Year Chronological Bible. She has read through it every year for…well, I’m not sure, but for a long time! Seeing how Biblical passages align with one another, who lived at the same time as who, and reading historically how events played out can bring Scripture to life. I tried this, but struggled with feeling a bit bored.
This page has compiled quite a number of Bible reading plans to choose from. Several are one year plans, others are ongoing. Many have printable checklists you can use to track your reading. My favorite is the 5-Day Reading Program. It maps out passages to read five days a week. I like that it pulls from the Old Testament, New Testament and Psalms/Proverbs each day. The variety is nice (I think skipping around like this would drive my Chronological-Bible-Loving sister crazy). 🙂
This link at the One-Year Bible Online has a similar method, but has readings for every day: One year Bible reading plan.
The plan I’m using this year is the same one I used the first time I read through the Bible in a year. It’s actually called a prayer journal, but includes daily Scripture readings. The reading plan includes a couple of chapters as well as something from Psalms or Proverbs each day.
My favorite part about this journal is the space to jot down what stands out to me from my daily reading each day. A verse. A phrase. Maybe a truth that God is speaking into my life. Often, this little nugget will stick in my mind throughout the day. And because I often spend time in prayer while I’m doing my daily reading, the prayer journal aspect fits nicely with my reading schedule.
I think this may have to be an annual purchase from now on. I love it!
Topical Bible reading plans
There’s no rule that says that you have to read through the Bible cover to cover, you know.
- This page offers a daily devotion and over the course of 2019 will be covering the whole New Testament as well as the book of Proverbs.
- This page at Blossom in Faith has a number of free topical Bible reading plans. If you’re wanting to grow the fruits of the Spirit in your life, these topics are right on point. Love, joy, peace…self-control, they’re all there. Each topic has a few verses to read each day for a month.
- Another neat way to get in the Word every day is a Scripture-Writing Plan. This site has lots of free printables of topical studies to go through. You can subscribe to her site to gain access to the printables, or you can search old posts for topics like Bible verses for anxiety or Bible verses on my identity in Christ and find individual plans online.
There’s something about writing it that makes a verse stick in our head. It also makes it more personal, somehow. You can use this technique with any Bible reading plan you try, choose a verse or two to copy into a journal or onto a note card.
The habit of daily Bible reading
Nothing gets our eyes fixed on Him more or sets our hearts on things above more than being in God’s word every single day. As a fan of less structure rather than more structure, I can get in the habit of just opening my Bible and reading what my eyes fall upon. There’s benefit to this, no doubt. But I’ve found that it’s not ideal for growing on a consistent basis.
There is something beautiful and complete about following a plan that forces you to read portions of Scripture you may otherwise skip over. Something lovely about asking Him to speak through the familiar passages in a new way.
Click here for lots more resources on growing faith, lessons from Scripture, and more!
Tell us–what’s your biggest struggle in reading the Bible daily OR how do you do stay consistent in this habit??
Read more in the creating habits series:
1 – The secret to knowing how to change is in forming new habits.
2 – Daily Bible reading can be hard to be consistent in. Find a Bible reading plan that works for you. (this post)
3 – The only thing you need to know to be productive and get more done.
I was most consistent reading my Bible daily when I had a group of friends reading the same passages. Thanks for these links; consistency is so important for our relationship with Him.
Having the accountability of reading with others can make a HUGE difference!
Well, you have proven we are without excuse for resources! I haven’t read through the Bible in a few years. You have offered me plenty of options. Thanks for the motivation.
I haven’t either, Beth. But so far I’m staying on track!
Helpful post with great tips!
One thing I appreciate about the Word of God, is it doesn’t matter your study plan, whether you read a chapter a day or three, or go in chronological order… all that matters is that it’s being read, and even more so that it’s applied to the heart!
I finished reading the Bible in just over a year last year, and as such I started the year already in the Psalms, so I added to it Genesis, and Matthew, I’ll continue in chronological order again.
Totally agree, Jessica! That’s why I love that there are so many different styles and methods available to help us do it. Committing to the habit is the real test for me, I find that God speaks through whatever portion I’m reading.
Thanks for the good ideas. Daily Bible reading is so important to our spiritual health.
Spending time in His Word is a true blessing.
This is great. Reading the Bible daily has absolutely changed my life.
I am a Bible reading, journaling Christ follower…I find when I miss my quiet time and get off track, I get off track. I agree, our daily bread is so important in maintaining connection with God. A well done, valuable post – thank you. ❤️
It does seem to start a bit of a domino effect, I find as well.
I had to build myself a War Room, so I cleaned out a closet and there I sit every morning with my Bible and a yellow pad … no electronics allowed. It really helped to get into the Word when I had my own place to go to.
What a great way to be deliberate in knowing what will work for you to stay focused.
Great post with great tips on how people can get started.. it’s all about developing that personal relationship with the Lord and digging in his word .
Susan, being in God’s word, is hands down, the best discipline we can establish in our lives. I don’t use a strict plan, but I determine to read a psalm and usually 2 chapters in the Word almost every day. I journal the insights God shares with me. And so often, He speaks to me about things going on in my life.
You share some great resources here!
Journaling is such a good way not only to be deliberate in our daily reading, but it’s also kind of cool to look back and see how God has spoken to us.
Hi! I think this is my first visit to your blog, and what a great post to meet over! I have done all kinds of things over the years to keep that Bible reading time fresh and consistent. If we had any idea of how blessed we are to be holding the Word of God in our hands, it would not be so hard, right?
My main advice to readers is that you can always come back to it. Faithfulness is the goal, but even when we fail, God is still waiting for us to keep the next appointment. (There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! Romans 8:1)
Michele Morin recently posted…You Can Cultivate Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World
Yes and Amen! None of us would be standing if not for his grace. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve gotten lax in my daily reading, only to return and be reminded how much I really need it. Thanks for stopping by, Michele!