Every year, countless Christians embark on the journey of reading the entire Bible in a single year. While not every season of life is conducive to this endeavor, it is certainly a worthwhile pursuit for anyone seeking to strengthen their habit of daily Bible reading. The reality is, however, that this is a difficult goal and will require substantial determination.
For those committing to a Bible reading plan this year, consider these ways to strengthen your focus. First, find a friend to read with you. When May rolls around and you are tempted to give up, having a friend or two to encourage you to keep reading can provide the necessary inspiration to stay the course. Another key to successful daily Bible reading is choosing the right plan. There are a myriad of plans available, each with different focuses, orders, and lengths. When considering different Bible reading plans, it’s important to exercise humility by avoiding over-reading. Although it can be a tremendous achievement to read the entire Bible over the span of 52 weeks, it may be more profitable to start with a six month plan or spread your reading out over two years rather than one. When it comes to Bible reading, quality is far more important than quantity. Listed below are a few of the most popular Bible reading plans. Spend time looking through these plans to see which one might be best for you.
This plan is perfect for those who are developing the habit of daily Bible reading for the first time. The six month goal is far less daunting than the year long plans, but can help establish consistency in your reading. With less than three chapters per day, this is a great plan for beginners.
Chronological Bible Reading Plan
This year-long plan will walk you through the entire Bible in chronological order. Chronological plans are great for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the entire storyline of the Bible. Expect this plan to be more rigorous than the New Testament plan, but still manageable.
The M’Cheyene Bible reading plan is widely regarded as one of the best Bible-reading plans. Although the most rigorous plan on this list, the M’Cheyne plan will take readers through the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament once.
Modified by D.A. Carson, this plan follows the same format as the M’cheyne one-year plan but is spread over the course of two years. This plan is meant to give readers a thorough reading of the Bible in more attainable increments.