Daniel purposed in his heart….”
Daniel 1:8
Two years ago I made a two year commitment to read through the Bible using a Two Year Bible Reading Plan. When I started, two years seemed like a long time but now it has already come to a close. Just think, if you had purposed to follow a three year Bible reading plan, you would already be 2/3 complete, and if you had purposed to follow a four year plan you would now be 1/2 way through.
Time has a way of passing more quickly than you think. Don’t waste it saying “Later, Later.” Purpose in your heart to make a commitment to start now to follow some type of daily Bible reading, making yourself accountable. Checking off a list kept me on track and kept me from getting too far behind. (Yes, I was not always on track !)
Two years was just right for this grandma, but a three or four year plan will probably be better for you very busy moms with children. Reading the Bible should not cause stress and make you frustrated. Here is a link to one of those plans.
Print this out and cut it in bookmark size strips to place in your Bible. Store the other three years in another pocket of your Bible. You’ll be surprised at how quickly four years pass by.
If this plan does not fit your desires, many more plans are available, through other websites. Remember, if you overcommit, you might fail and feel guilty. Be sensible and prudent. It’s better to read a little of the Bible than not to read anything at all.
What are a few of the blessings?
1. The joy of watching God’s great plan of salvation unfold from Genesis to Revelations.
2. Reading books of the Bible I might not have read, or don’t read much. These books were a blessing and I found passages of Scripture to underline in each one.
3. Learning more and more how much God cares for us as individuals.
4. Being reminded that God uses all types and kind of people.
5. Seeing the longsuffering of God.
Remember, every book in the Bible was written by the inspiration of God and has a purpose and reason for being in the Bible.
Perhaps you have just finished reading through the Bible? Then set for yourself a new goal, a new plan, a new purpose and commit to staying with it. This year I’m ready to embark on another adventurous journey in God’s Word as I commit to memorize passages of the Bible. I have already started this commitment and have received much joy and, just like reading the Bible is an attainable goal, so memorizing is also a goal which can be achieved. Let’s ask the Lord to bless our commitment and He will give us the strength and the time to fulfill it.
Purpose and Discipline = Structure and Order = Rest and Strength
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What a great word, Gail!
I love your reasons for reading as well. I hadn’t thought about how Bible reading teaches us to “See the longsuffering of God.” What a wise word!
I was “parked” by you on Modest Mom today, and I’m glad to find your post.
Hope you have a blessed day~
Melanie
Thank you, Melanie, for your encouraging words. Praying that all of us would put Jesus Christ first in a time when this life has so many distractions!
Blessings, Gail
Hi, Gail. I’m visiting from sharing His beauty blog linkup! This was so encouraging, and funny that God put it on our heart to start a reading plan near the same time. Keep doing what you’re doing!! Blessed to connect with you.
Thank you, Jacque. Hope you were as blessed from following the reading plan as I was.
God’s Word gives me strength to follow His will as I live out my everyday life.
In Christ, Gail
I love new years and new commitments. My husband and I have purposed to read the Bible through this year too. We’ve chosen to use an audio Bible this year and are really enjoying it. When I read the Bible through it always astounds me how fitted together the passages are. So many time what we read in the Old Testament is echoed in the New Testament. And so many time the age old scripture is just what I needed for that particular day. Thanks for your encouraging words and may you be blessed in your journey.
Thank you, Rebecca for your encouragement. I’m happy to hear about your new commitment with your husband. Sharing with others, especially our loved ones, always helps to bring us together as we think about the same things.
Serving Him, Gail
I have been working my way through the Bible over the last year or so. Last January I started a plan to read through it in 90 days. It was easy at first because I had nasty insomnia, so I would read when I couldn’t sleep (thanks to the Bible app on my phone). As my sleep renormalized I found it wasn’t sustainable for me. I switched to two chapters in the old testament and two chapters in the new testament each day. Eventually I realized I needed to care for my body as much as my soul and started exercising in the mornings. At first I stopped reading for a while when I started working out, but that obviously wasn’t the right choice, either. I have now found that 1 chapter of the old testament and 1 chapter of the new testament each day, along with physical exercise, is the right balance for me. It may be a slow pace, but I’m working my way through and loving it. I am now on track to be done by the end of this year, so basically a 2 year plan.
When you get time, I’d love for you to come check out my corner of the blogosphere at http://fearfultofearlessblog.com
Thankful you found the right Bible reading pace just for you, Heather——just as long as we read and study.
In Christ, Gail
What a great suggestion to choose a 3 or 4 year plan rather than trying to read the whole thing in one year! And so neat that you found passages to underline in every book!
I love underlining, then I can easily find passages that mean so much or that have interesting or especially important facts. Since the Bible is the “Living Word of God” we’ll always keep learning.
Blessings, Gail
Thank you for sharing this encouragement on the Art of Home-Making Mondays Gail! I have never done an “in the year” program but you have me inspired! 🙂
That’s great, Jes! It’ll be such a blessing to you!
God Bless, Gail
I have never read completely through the Bible in order. I’ve read a lot of the Bible from other things like devotionals. It is my goal to make it completely through my devotional Bible this year. I like it because it has devotionals and you can follow along. So far, I’m already behind! I’m trying for 30 minutes a day. All I know is that my life in the past is MUCH better during the times that I’m reading my Bible regularly than the times that I’m not! Stopping by from Soul Survival’s linkup. Have a blessed weekend!
How wonderful that you have set a goal for reading through the Bible! Please don’t get discouraged if you get behind. Just keep moving forward even if it takes you two years or more. Steady reading of God’s Word gives us the strength, peace and joy we need for everyday life and directs us into obedience to God, which brings Him glory, which should be our ultimate desire.
God Bless you, Gail