Reading Plans and Methods
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Episode 66: Tips and Tricks - Reading the Bible
It is so important to spend time reading the Bible but sometimes it can be a difficult thing to do consistently. There are lots of different ways to spend your time reading. I get to share some of the different ways that I have tried with a short description of each. Along with the different methods, I share the valuable tips that have been shared with me or that I have discovered over the years. Finally, I talk about the dangers that will hinder our time (or at least that have hindered mine in the past) while reading the Word of God.
Through the Bible
There are many different plans that will take you through the Bible and you can find them in different time frames as well. To complete the Bible in a year you need to read 3-4 chapters a day or for about 12 minutes a day. The more you read the faster you go.
Genesis to Revelation: This is a popular method because you simply keep flipping pages from the beginning the the end. However, some find that when they get in particular sections for a long time, it can feel repetitive or challenging to understand. Both of these reasons can become deterrents to your Bible reading.
Checklist: Another way to read through the Bible is to keep a checklist. When you finish a book of the Bible, check it off and choose where you want to go next. This does force you to keep track of the books more than the first option but it allows you to change up what you are reading after each book.
Chronological: The chronological reading plan takes you through the Bible is the order that it happened rather than the way the Bible is arranged, which is by the type of literature (Ex. All poetry books are together). A good example of this is provided by Blue Letter Bible and is linked below. This takes the same amount of focus keeping up with the reading plan as Checklist and also can be repetitive or hit the challenging sections together like the first option. https://www.blueletterbible.org/assets/pdf/dbrp/1Yr_ChronologicalPlan.pdf
Focused Reading
If you are not currently trying to read through the Bible or you would like to add to your through-the-Bible reading, there are several focused reading strategies listed below. You can always create your own but if you are replacing the through-the-Bible plan, I would suggest making sure that you eventually make it to every book in the Bible.
The Daily Proverbs: I have known many that enjoy reading the corresponding chapter of Proverbs for the day of the month. These are highly practical portions and a great addition to any plan that you already have.
The Assortment: This is similar to the checklist plan except you have multiple bookmarks in your Bible. Each day you choose to read from one or multiple of the place you are reading. This allows for a lot of choice each day. For some people, this is too much choice and they prefer to stay focused on one thing at a time.
The Authentic Plan: This one focuses on reading the Bible as it was intended to be read. This means that if the book is a letter, like Romans, it would have been read in one sitting. This can be helpful when you are about to spend time studying a book. I would suggest doing this a few times before you start studying chapter 1. This could mean you have to devote a little more time, depending on the book. When reading the Psalms, sometimes you run into the word "Selah" which should cause you to pause and think about what you just read. This practice can be a helpful one to implement. Another example would be in the case of stories. Read until the end of the story not necessarily at the chapter division. This can be difficult in some cases because the divisions are not always clear.
Tips & Suggestions
Pray: The Word of God is taught to us by the Spirit of God and so we should be dependent on Him for our instruction. There is a supernatural transformation that takes place when the Word of God renews our mind (Romans 12:1-2). Stop and ask for the Lord's wisdom and instruction. This is also a good time to make sure that there is no unconfessed sin in you life. The Word of God is like the Laver in the tabernacle and we should allow ourselves to be washed with the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26).
Choose your physical location wisely: If you are too comfortable, your body relaxes and so does you mind. If you are struggling making through your reading, change locations. Find one that works for you.
Help out your memory with strategies: The memory is an interesting thing. I soak things up if I listen to them and so listening to the audio Bible is very effective. Others might tune that out and would do much better reading the text. Others struggle with that as well and their eyes glaze over the words without understanding them. I would suggest that you draw a sketch of what you read that day or write a short summary. Those 30 seconds you spend sketching or writing may make a big impact on your Bible reading time.
Do it EVERYDAY: If you had a busy day and you are climbing into bed without reading your Bible, sit back up, read a chapter, and then go to sleep. This needs to be non-negotiable in our lives. The enemy wants to keep us from the Word of God and we need to not back down, even when we are tired.
Read for thoughts not completion: This was a life-changing change for me. I would "read" my chapter for the day but I wasn't comprehending it. When I started looking for a thought I could think about all day, it engaged my mind with the text. I was looking for something for the Spirit to show me; something that would help transform me by the renewing of my mind. I come to the Word of God with an expectation to be fed now instead of it being an item to check off my list.
Share what you read with others: Find other serious believers that want to talk with you about what you are reading and share what they are reading. This will help encourage you to continue your reading plans and hopefully you will be built up by the truth that is being revealed to them and they will be built up by what you share too.
Barriers to Avoid
Beware the distractions: If your phone is a temptation for you, don't read on an app on your phone. Use a physical Bible and put your phone far away if it could be a problem. You know what pulls your attention. Put yourself in a situation that will most easily allow you to read your Bible. You will always have the flesh to battle no matter where you go. Don't make it any harder by adding other temptations to steal you away.
Beware the excuses: Any excuse that pulls you away from the Word of God is not from the Spirit of God. Be aware of the reasons you present yourself in the form of excuses not to read the Bible. This is the bread that we feed on, the sword for our defense, the seed for sowing, the Bible is necessary!
Beware the "in-a-minute": This is similar to the excuses but is much sneakier and I find myself falling for this and so I decided to add it in. This is when you are planning on reading but first you just need to check your emails, or first you are going to... you fill in the blank. It is good to have a time and stick with the time. Don't just plan on doing it in the morning whenever you get to it.