Read the Bible in 1 year? Nah, try 4 years!

Like many of you, I have read through the Bible in 1 year. And like you, it was a mixture of good and bad experiences, upon sober reflection.

Good to read the whole of the Bible, in context; not avoiding any ‘bits’ e.g. Numbers 7. Good to discover so many new things missed in previous readings. Good to have a set, habitual, goal to read the Bible – avoiding the time honoured, but lazy option – the dreaded “open and plonk method”!

Bad, in the sense that it’s sometimes too easy to tune out mentally on some long readings when tired – how much did I really read? Am I a goal driven maniac? On no, I better not get too far behind! Read on, there is hope ...

Recently I have become the proud owner of an ESV Study Bible. (Does this make me a Calvinist?) Great Study Bible! – but maybe more of that for another blog.

In the back of this magnificent literary masterpiece (portable Bible College) is a 'Daily Bible Reading Plan'.

I look at it. Oh, oh – another year of guilt? I feel like Rex in 'Toy Story'!! OK; so I’m exaggerating BUT …

I had an idea!

The major setback for me with the 1 year plan, personally, was the lack of opportunity to meditate on what I had read. You know, you read a passage and it grips you – you want to spend time chewing the cud with it but, well, another 4 chapters to go to achieve the day’s goal! No meditation now (by that I mean filling ones mind in terms of reflecting - not emptying!); got to move on.

So, back to my idea.

I was checking out the ESV 'Daily Bible Reading Plan' one night; you know – just minding my own business when I noticed it was set out in 4 sections. They are:

1. “Psalms and Wisdom Literature”
2. “Pentateuch and History of Israel”
3. “Chronicles and Prophets” and
4. “Gospels and Epistles.”

Hmm … I thought. Instead of reading the 4 sections for the 1 day; why not just read 1 section for the day and meditate on just that ONE passage.

So, instead of reading the Bible through in 1 year I could read it through in 4 years; with much more overall value in terms of private devotions (I’m not talking about Bible Study here folks!).

What do you think? You can design it so that you move through the 4 sections in the year ensuring a good balance of devotional reading.

Good idea?

Well, don’t just sit there … let me know!

(The ESV Daily Reading plan can be downloaded from HERE free. Just look for the ‘ESV Study Bible’ option – press ‘Print’. This will load as a ‘pdf’ file).

PS: Then there's the 3 Year Bible Plan or just many Bible Plans! Or even the 52 Week Bible plan!