As we enter a new year, it is a great time to commit to a new Bible reading plan.
With the technology that most of us carry in our pockets each day, finding and sticking with a reading plan has never been easier. There are several apps that you can download that have a variety of plans to choose from and also offer several English translations you can use to make the most of your devotional time.
For my own personal preference, I enjoy both the ESV and NIV. I typically use the ESV for more in-depth study and the NIV for reading through a reading plan. This past year, I was introduced to the NIVr, an excellent bible for younger or slower readers, and as we begin 2020, my goal is to encourage my own children to read their Bibles more often.
There are several different ways that we can encourage our children to read. We can take time each week to read with them, possibly through one particular book of the Bible. The Gospel of John in the New Testament, or the book of Ruth in the Old Testament might be good places to start. If your child is old enough, it might be possible to use a reading plan that they can check off that will allow them to read through small "chunks" of the Bible and increase their understanding of the entire Biblical narrative.
I came across one such plan this week, and from another post that features four different elementary plans for children. The first plan only has a child reading around 3 verses per day, and the highest level increases that number to around 20 verses per day.
Level 1 - 3 verses per day
Level 2 - 5 verses per day
Level 3 - 10 verses per day
Level 4 - 20 verses per day
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the adults out there. First, I would encourage you to download a good bible reading app if you have a smart device such as the Faithlife Study Bible or the You Version Bible. Then, if you are interested in reading the Bible in 1 year, I would suggest using Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s plan that you can print out here, and also subscribing to the email list and podcast that are mentioned in this post by The Gospel Coalition.
With so many plans and translations to choose from, I hope this year will be a great year for you to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Remember, no matter which plan you choose to follow, the important thing is to take time to comprehend and reflect on what you are reading. If that means selecting a plan that doesn't make it through the entire Bible in one year then that's ok. Our walk with Christ is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
May God richly bless the time you spend with him this year.
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