I’ve read the Bible the whole way through in one year, on a number of occasions now. I don’t always manage it, but I’m so grateful for trying! Here’s why…
Now Faith… is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. … Faith is such a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods ‘where they get off’, you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but just a creature dithering to and fro, with its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion. Consequently one must train the habit of Faith.
C. S. Lewis, in his incredible book Mere Christianity explains how our moods change very frequently, and that means our faith is something which needs to be trained every day, in order to withstand changing circumstances.
If there was ever a year of changing circumstances, it was 2020.
And if there was ever a year I was grateful for having a habit of reading the Bible every day, it was 2020.
Some days I didn’t feel like it. At all. But because of habit, I read the Bible anyway. And sometimes it didn’t ‘do anything for me’. But sometimes I felt like God was speaking to me, encouraging me, challenging me, reminding me he is there with me.
They say a habit is formed after repeating something once a day, for a month.
So why don’t you challenge yourself to read a bit of the Bible (or listen to it, like you can with the Bible App) once a day , for a month, starting in January? If you don’t manage it every day, don’t beat yourself up, just try again the next day.
What do you have to lose? Nothing.
And what is there to gain? A deeper faith, daily encouragement, better knowledge of the Bible and it’s promises - I’d say there’s a lot to get out of this!
In 2021, as a church family we are reading the Bible every day of the year. There are three plans, courtesy of www.bible.com, which we are doing together.
1
BIBLE IN A YEAR
This plan takes readers through the entirety of Scripture in one year, including readings from the Old Testament, New Testament and either a Psalm or Proverb each day.
Combined with a daily commentary from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, this plan helps us read the Bible, and grow in our faith.
2
NEW TESTAMENT
This Plan will lead you through the New Testament in one year.
Each new book includes videos specifically designed to enhance your understanding and engagement with God's precious Word.
Perfect for those who are comfortable reading a couple of chapters a day and want to go deeper!
3
BIBLE HIGHLIGHTS
This year-long reading plan features devotionals from The Jesus Bible, which explores how Jesus can be found in both the Old and New Testaments.
If it’s been a while since you’ve read the Bible, or you struggle to fit it in to your routine, this is a great place to start!
With all the talk of New Year’s Resolutions - a new effort to get into God’s word more is just about the best thing you can commit to doing. Join one of the plans above and be encouraged as we talk about the daily readings together in the comments, and watch as you grow in faith and in your relationship with God!
