If you’ve been a believer for any amount of time, you know that reading the Bible is a key part of the Christian life. The Bible outlines God’s rescue plan for humanity, provides a blueprint for Christian living, and is the primary way for us to connect with the Author Himself.
Despite being an ancient text, the Bible is living and active. That means it’s useful for our everyday life. But, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming.
Bible reading plans are an excellent resource to guide believers on the journey of reading through Scripture in its entirety. There are countless good options out there, but we’ve rounded up five effective Bible reading plans that will help you reach your Bible reading goal for any timeline.
Annual Bible Reading Plan
We love the idea of committing to read through the Bible in a year. But life happens, the days fill up, and missing a day or two of reading can be enough to derail you from your goal. That’s why the plan created by Five Day Bible Reading is a great solution. Instead of committing to stay on schedule 365 days of the year, the five day plan is built on –– you guessed it –– a five day schedule that allows for flexibility.
In addition to being easy to use and offering the option to start anytime throughout the year, the five day plan is organized in a unique way. The Old Testament is assigned in chronological order and paired with a New Testament reading each day, ensuring that you’ll be well-fed throughout the 52 weeks of reading.
90 Day Bible Reading Plan
Feeling ambitious? A 90 day Bible reading plan might be the perfect fit for you. This 90 day challenge outlines a detailed plan that includes reading 12-15 chapters of Scripture each day. You can also track your progress, customize your reading plan, and take notes on what you read using the free resource.
New Testament Reading Plan
Dig deeper into the life of the prophesied Messiah, learn how the early church got its start, and find practical instructions on living out your faith with a New Testament reading plan. Spending focused time on five chapters each week will allow plenty of time for reflection and application. This weekly reading guide from the Moody Church is an excellent place to start.
Old Testament Reading Plan
While the New Testament is paramount to the Christian faith, the Old Testament is equally important. Learn how God’s redemptive story started with a reading plan focused on the Old Testament. We like this plan developed by YouVersion because it’s organized to lead you through the entire Old Testament while mixing passages from different genres including the historical, poetic, and prophetic books. Better yet, the plan can be downloaded and tracked on your phone using the YouVersion Bible app.
F260 Reading Plan
Coined as a Bible reading plan for busy believers, the F-260 plan highlights the foundational passages of the Bible that every believer should know. For 260 days of the year or five days per week, participants are expected to read one or two chapters of Scripture. The loose schedule allows time for Scripture memorization, and readers are also encouraged to journal throughout the 260 days. The F-260 reading plan can be accessed via the Replicate website or the YouVersion Bible app.
How to Succeed in Completing Your Bible Reading Plan
Regardless of which Bible reading plan you choose, here are a few tips to set yourself up for success.
1. Start Today
You’ve got momentum –– you found this article, after all –– and there’s no reason to wait. Why not begin now?
2. Set Aside Time
Second, prioritize moments each day for your reading. You’ll quickly find the time of day that works best for you. Whether it’s morning, noon, or night, stick to your scheduled time each day.
3. Embrace the Journey
Remember, setting a goal to read through a portion or the entire Bible can feel daunting. Instead of treating it like another task to accomplish each day, savor your time in the Word. Begin your time with a short prayer, and reflect on what you read.
4. Listen and Learn
Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of audio Bible readings offered through various apps. This is a great option if you’re short on time to sit down and read during the day, and will instead fill your commutes, workouts, or other activities with the truth of God’s Word.
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Letting the words you read (or hear) refresh your soul is just as important as sticking to your chosen Bible reading plan. Accomplishing your goal will not only help you grow in your understanding of Scripture, but also renew your understanding of the Savior.