Trekking through the Bible

One December, my pastor threw out a challenge: “I hope you will join me and read through your entire Bible this coming year.”

Read through the whole Bible in a year? No way, I thought. In my two decades as a Christian, I had never read through the complete set of Scriptures. The New Testament? Yes. Psalms? Of course. But Malachi and Obadiah? I could barely pronounce their names, much less understand and apply their messages.

Other excuses flooded my mind. When could a working mom find the time to digest 66 books? What if my enthusiasm waned and I got behind? I was already in a Bible study group – wasn’t that enough?

Taste and see

The week after my pastor’s admonition, a motivator arrived in the mail, tucked into the centre of one of my favourite magazines – a one-year Bible reading plan. This was exactly what I needed. The daily readings listed on the plan made the task seem manageable. I began on December 20, just to be safe. Twelve months later, I had completed the assigned readings. I’ve read through the Bible every year since then. While it doesn’t replace my study of the Scriptures, my annual Bible trek has produced four distinct fruits.

1. A love for the Word. I was surprised by what a page-turner the Book of books can be. There were days when I couldn’t wait to get back to Joshua to see how the conquest of Canaan would proceed. Jeremiah wrote what I felt: “Your words . . . were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16).
2. Complete exposure. I used to think Bible reading was a waste of time unless I grasped every word, so I read selectively. But a reading plan exposes me to the complete package of God’s Word. Much of what I read each day I do not understand – which points to what I need to study. I often jot down questions and underline topics for later examination.
3. Biblical fluency. Education experts tell us that repetition is one key to absorption. With each annual read-through, I understand more about the webs of complexity in my Lord’s Book. Each time, I learn something new.
4. A firsthand perspective. It is one thing to hear a sermon about the judgment of God; it is quite another to read for yourself His forceful words through the mouths of the prophets. An annual trek through the Scriptures gives me an unfiltered picture of God. It is like standing at the top of a mountain and drinking in the view, rather than having it described to you by a friend who has made the climb.

Help along the way

Here are some guidelines for an annual trek through the Bible.

1. Pick a time. Like many busy Christians, one of my biggest obstacles to systematic Bible reading was time. I was surprised to learn that my daily selections only took 10–15 minutes. For me, the key to success was to make those few minutes into a habit. Since I like to read before I fall asleep, I chose to do my day’s selection just before bed every evening. Find a time each day that works for you, and stick with it.
2. Stay on track. Initially, I was so afraid of getting behind that I actually stayed ahead of schedule. Later on, I allowed myself a skip day when I had a particularly late evening.

   Then, our family vacation and Vacation Bible School (ironically) altered my usual patterns, and I ended up two weeks behind. I refused to panic or give up but instead doubled up on my readings until I had caught up.

3. Be accountable. As I discovered how much I was getting from my Bible trek, I wanted to encourage my adult Bible class to try it. That goal motivated me on the days my self-discipline ebbed. Tell someone else that you have a year-long Bible reading plan. Challenge your spouse, small group or prayer partner to join you so that you can cheer each other on.
4. Choose an appropriate plan. There are innumerable ways to make it though the Bible in a year. Some plans combine daily selections from both the Old and New Testaments. Others start with Genesis and progress straight through to Revelation. Decide which approach would be best for you. There are plans that offer two and three-year reading schedules as an alternative to a one-year program; these require five minutes of reading a day or less. Some readers prefer simply a schedule. Other plans offer devotional commentary, charts and historical background. Many programs include one day off per week, to prevent the frustration of falling behind.

Using a structured plan transformed my reading of God’s Word from hit-or-miss to a regular habit. My annual Bible trek is now a cornerstone of my daily devotions. The words of Deuteronomy 17:19 ring true: “(The Law) is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life.”

Kathy Widenhouse is a freelance writer from Chesapeake Beach, Maryland.