Do You Have a Plan to Read Your Bible in 2008?

Do You Have a Plan to Read Your Bible in 2008?

January 01, 2008 is just days away. Start the New Year off right. Prepare your heart spiritually and your mind psychologically to commit to the regular, consistent and consecutive daily reading of your Bible throughout 2008. The information below is from the email I sent out this time last year.

Reading someone else's daily devotionals is good. Even reading a Bible Bite on Tuesdays and Thursdays may be helpful - but you will starve to death spiritually if that's the extent of your diet. If you want to have a robust year for the Lord in 2008 - there is no substitute for reading your Bible diligently, daily and consistently. You need more than occasional 'bites'. We need a daily intake of spiritual food if we are going to thrive spiritually for the Lord.  (Psalm 119:9-16)

I am attaching three Bible Reading Schedules.

Plan A - this daily reading plan takes you through your entire Bible once a year. Each day you read from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Plan B - this daily reading plan takes you through your Old Testament once a year and through the New Testament and Psalms twice a year.

Plan C - this daily reading plan takes you through the Old Testament once a year and the New Testament twice a year.

Print out the Plan you choose and keep it in your Bible. Last year I printed off the plan I preferred, reduced it in size and had it laminated.  

Under the links section of www.heaven4sure.com you will see a website listed that gives you a variety of options. As a minimum, be sure to select an option that gives you a balanced daily diet of reading from BOTH the Old and New Testaments each day.

Are you afraid to start following a Bible Reading Schedule in case you miss a day or two here and there? You're afraid to commit to a schedule in case you can't follow it? You don't like New Year Resolutions - because you can't keep them?  What do you have to lose? Let's say you followed the plan until March and then you got off track with the schedule.... what have you lost by following it in January, February and March? Nothing!!  Go for it! Try it!

TIPS for EFFECTIVE READING :

1. Before you read, pause to confess your sins to the Lord and ask Him to speak to your heart as you read His Word.

    

2. Read prayerfully. As you read, pause at certain verses or phrases and speak with your Lord about what the verse means and how it might pertain to your own life.

    

3. Block out a 30 minute time slot that is most likely to be convenient for you to read your Bible - the same time every day. Even if you have to set your alarm clock earlier - go for it. If you were training for the Olympics you would make the time to practise. Rigor and discipline is required. Satan will never hand you extra time on his silver platter to read your Bible. If you are going to read your Bible, you will have to TAKE the time.

    

4. If you miss a day every now and then, don't try to go back and catch up. You’ll find that too difficult and discouraging. If you have lost a day or a week because of extraordinary events in your life, just get back on schedule and read only where the Plan states you should read for that day. You can read the missed chapters next year, if the Lord spares you.

    

5. If you have completed all your readings for the day and you are about to close your Bible without enjoying anything, force yourself to select one verse and mull it over in your mind for a few minutes and pray.  Let's say you selected Job 21:13 out of your readings:  "They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave."   You could think of the wealth of sinners and how shallow it is compared to your wealth as a believer. You could think about 'a moment' - in a moment you could be at home with the Lord. In a moment the Lord could come and you could thank the Lord for the 'moment' you trusted Christ.  Or you could think about 'going down to the grave.' Your body may go down but you will go up. Praise God!  It may not seem like much, but at least it is some little nugget for you to have in your mind as you go through your day. Underline that phrase or that verse in your Bible. Jot down your little thought in a note pad and date it.

    

6. Get at least one other friend to adopt the same plan and then challenge each other with the Lord's help to follow the Plan.

    

7. Your daily reading according to a schedule is the minimum. Every Christian should also spend time 'studying' the Word of God.

    

Warmly,

Peter

www.heaven4sure.com