A Bible Reading Plan That Works

It isn’t unusual for people to resolve to form new habits at the beginning of the year. This is a good and healthy kind of ambition. Even though we know we may fail to follow through, it’s still good to steer our intentions in the direction of better habits. Many Christians will resolve to cultivate the habit of reading the Bible, using a Bible reading plan.

The Gospel Coalition website has an excellent list of Bible reading plans, and I’m an enthusiastic supporter of our people engaging with Scripture (reading, studying, hearing, discussing, etc.) But because Bible reading plans are usually schedule oriented, I am conflicted about them. They can work well, very well by adding structure to the habit. Or they can create problems, real problems, by contaminating our hearts.

A Bible-reading plan that doesn’t work and creates problems

We must admit at the outset that a Bible reading plan is a checklist. The format isn’t the problem, but when I let the checklist drive my engagement, it changes my approach to reading Scripture.

When I read the Bible, I must do so with my mind and heart engaged and open to hear from God. There’s something leisurely about reading the Bible this way. It is not hurried or distracted. The focus of that mindset is on God Himself, not on a task to be completed.

But when I adopt the checklist mindset about my spiritual formation, the results are sure to be bad. A checklist approach to spirituality reduces holy habits to goal achievement, which will either fill me with spiritual pride or make me feel so guilty and discouraged that I give up. (I’ve been down both those roads, and they’re both dead ends.)  

My mindset will be most obvious when I miss a day or two.

Most of us who have attempted a through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan have faced the problem of falling behind. Faced with a Bible-reading deficit, am I filled with anxiety and guilt? If so, that impulse isn’t from God, and it reveals checklist mindset.

If I am to use a Bible reading plan, I need to guard my heart against a goal-achievement mindset. Scripture engagement isn’t about accomplishment; it’s about meeting with the living God in His Word.

A Bible-reading plan that works

I recently asked a friend what he was doing for Scripture engagement. I knew that he had launched into a through-the-Bible reading plan several years ago; I wondered if he had persevered or given up. He told me – to my delight – that he was continuing his study. Because of his thorough note-taking approach, he had fallen behind schedule. So he had given up getting through the entire Bible in a year; instead, he had simply recalibrated his expectations and continued his study. After all, what’s the hurry?

A Bible reading plan that works has two key characteristics:

1. I use it to engage with God’s Word, not just read it.

2. I keep using it.

No, really, it’s that simple.

Whatever plan you use, if it keeps you engaged with God’s Word – not just reading but reflecting – it’s a good plan for you.

Stick with that plan.

Persevere, Paul Pyle Pastor of Discipleship