Hopefully, you were reading your Bible this year. There are many different ways to read systematically through the Bible. This is the most effective way of ensuring you are not “cherry-picking” scriptures to read – that is choosing those parts of the Bible that say the things that you like and don’t confront you in the areas where you are not lined up with God. It is important to study the whole counsel of God to know God and to be able to walk with Him consistently – in the good times and in the tough times.
The following are some links to help you find a schedule of reading that suits your desires:
Blue Letter Bible reading plans
While it is not the time frame in which you finish reading the Bible through, it is the consistent, daily, verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter reading of the Bible that makes a huge difference. It is not that you will understand everything or apply everything, but it is the idea that you are exposing yourself to the entire revelation of God. By doing that consistently over time, you will begin to see that the word of God will change you.
I also recommend that as you read through the Bible, you write down verses or sections of scripture that minister or speak to you on any given day. This writing out of scripture helps to reinforce it in your mind. It also helps you to meditate on it as you write it out by hand.
The benefits of a journal are to numerous to go into here, but perhaps that is a topic for another post.
May the LORD richly bless your efforts to study His word consistently every day of 2017.
