As we start a new year it’s a natural time to start a new Bible reading plan! (Here is one for the church family in YouVersion.) Here are some principles to keep in mind as you read Scripture this year.
- A plan is just a plan – designed to help with consistency and discipline without becoming a legalistic burden. Make your own plan and get to work on it. Until you have a working system of your own, use this plan.
- Habits matter. A friend recently put me on to a great book called The Power of Habit. It’s amazing to reflect on how much we do without even thinking about it (the book says 40% of our lives) simply by reflex. Habits cannot be changed they can only be replaced – that is brain science. Our habits shape us – they make us who we are. Reflect on your habits and consider if they are the best ones.
- Some is better than none. A verse a day is better than 25 chapters one day followed by three weeks of nothing. Less is often more when it comes to the Bible – the goal is meditation (Ps. 1) that produces application (Matt. 7) not just information.
- You have permission to check boxes you have not read (gasp). If you can’t rest with unchecked boxes just check them, say the word “grace” and move on. Some of us are proud of unchecked boxes – we all have issues. “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”
- Keep moving forward. If you miss a day or two don’t try to catch up – just read what’s scheduled for that day. You’ll be amazed at how God speaks to you through what “happens” to be scheduled on a given day.
- It’s ok to choose one section. You might skip the Old Testament (longer) section sometimes and just read the new. You might spend extra time just in the Psalm or just mulling over one verse of Proverbs. This is the beauty of this reading plan is how it mixes OT, NT, poetry and wisdom every day.
- Write something down. You don’t have to post a comment – that’s just one way to write (and some of you may find that you like it). I like a hand-written journal. There is something significant about expressing – both in writing and in speech – what God is teaching you. It locks in the lesson and reinforces the point.