- June 23, 2017
- Christian Living
One of the most important things you can do with your day is to read scripture. Everyone has a different method or reading plan that they enjoy partaking in, but all that really matters is that you are making Bible reading a priority. When we take the time to read the Bible each day, we are actively putting on the armor of God and giving ourselves the best shot at being a light in darkness. Reading the Bible is both an offensive and defensive measure. It helps to keep you on the path of the righteous while also enabling you to better serve and witness to those around you. Are you limited in how to read the Bible every day? Is there only one way? Of course not. Here are a few things to consider if you want to know how to read the Bible every day.
Reading Plans
Reading plans are great because they tell you exactly how to read the Bible every day. Plus, there’s more than just one method. When you can easily look at the date and check a box when you’re done, it makes things much more simple. What options are available? We’re glad you asked.
One Year Bible
One of the most popular ways to read the Bible is through a one year reading plan. Since roughly half of all Americans have read little-to-none of God’s word, following a one year reading plan allows you to accomplish the goal of reading through one of the longest and the most important book in history in a timely manner. There’s a great sense of accomplishment when you finish a long, challenging book and the Bible definitely qualifies as one of those. More important than reading through the Bible in a year, however, is knowing how to read the Bible every day.
When you use a One Year Bible, there are typically two different paths to take. The first is a chronological approach. When you attempt to read the Bible in the order in which things most likely occurred, it can greatly help your understanding of how events are related. Reading through the events of the early Christian church or the period of judges in Israel or a number of other historical accounts, context never hurts.
The second way to use a One Year Bible is to follow the traditional reading plan where each day’s portion dips into Old and New Testament as well as Psalms and Proverbs. You have to keep up with what is going on in each section, but you don’t have to wait until you’re nine months in before reading the accounts of the Gospels. Neither of these plans is inherently better than the other. You just have to figure out which sounds better to you. You don’t even have to read a One Year Bible to follow a reading plan that will take you through the whole Bible in a year, as there are multiple websites out there offering reading plans of their own. Whether it’s with a special One Year Bible or simply flipping through the pages of your favortite Bible at home, some sort of one year plan is a great way to ensure that you know how to read the Bible every day.
Proverbs or Other Segmented Reading Plans
Let’s say you’ve already read through the whole Bible and now you’re looking for something a bit more focused. There are many reading plans out there that will help you tackle a single book of the Bible or a large idea that is consistently found in Scripture that you would like to understand better.
Some people suggest reading through the book of Proverbs devoting one chapter to your reading each day. Since there are 31 chapters to the book, you’ll be sure to find one for each day of the month. This is a great opportunity for those who are starting to read the Bible for the first time as you only have to know the date to know where to read. Proverbs is a book full of wisdom so it makes a great companion for a daily devotional.
Consistency - How to Read the Bible Every Day
Anyone who has ever signed up for a gym membership in January knows that working out is not always easy. Sometimes it can feel like climbing Mt. Everest just to make it to the gym once a week. You’ll never get the body you want or be as healthy as you want simply by showing up once a week. The same thing applies to reading your Bible. It’s nice to crack open the book and read it every now and then, but that’s not the best course for digging deeper in your faith. Just like working out your muscles, you’ll need to consistently read your Bible to best develop your faith. Want to know how to read the Bible every day? By simply doing it. There are going to be days where the section that you’re reading isn’t the most relatable to your life. It may even consist mostly of just genealogies, but the important thing is that you are willing to make that time happen.
If you have the means, another step to consistency is to read your Bible at the same time each day. We’re hoping to build a habit with reading our Bibles, so planning out the time is a great way to make sure that it happens. Going back to the gym analogy, if you plan to work out first thing in the morning or right after work, there’s a good chance that you will follow through on that. We all miss a day here and there, but making a plan is a great way to achieve your goals. You may event want to have a certain area at home or work set up for your daily reading session. It all depends on just how much you want to plan.
Discipline is the Key
Knowing how to read the Bible every day is one thing, it’s another to make that goal a success. Whenever you are picking up a new skill, starting a new diet, or trying to conquer a fear, you have to be disciplined. That means you’re going to have to make choices and reevaluate the priorities in your life. What’s getting in the way of you reading the Bible each day? How can you fix that? Once you have formed a habit out of your daily reading, things will get a little easier. Be careful, though, because you can break a good habit pretty easily if you get lazy.
It is a very worthy goal to want to know how to read the Bible every day. When you sacrifice your time to come before God and read His word each day, you are growing spiritually, gaining wisdom, and learning how to better care for those around you. We should all pursue the goal of daily taking in scripture.
We all seek different ways to grow in our faith. Reading the Bible is an important way to make this happen. Prayer is another. Further down the list is listening to Christian music. Millions of Christians listen to worship music and other fun songs each day that challenge them or help them to push through the obstacles that are in front of them. Christian music can play an important role in faith, which is part of the reason why the K-LOVE Fan Awards celebrates the musicians who are making the biggest impact each year. Bringing together the biggest bands, athletes, authors, and filmmakers, the K-LOVE Fan Awards is the ultimate fan experience. Find out how you can be a part of the celebration by clicking below.