An online search for calendars and programs to help you read through the Bible in a year will reveal several choices. At one point in my life I was determined to follow one of these calendars and fulfill a long time goal of reading from Genesis to Revelation.
It didn’t take me long, a few months, to realize the calendar was not working for me. When I was sick for a week and unable to read, I fell behind. When a family crisis hit, I fell even further behind. While my initial goal was to read through the Bible, it now seemed to be tied to this time constraint and calendar. I was never going to catch up.
As I continued the struggle of catching up, I became aware that the pressure I was putting on myself had replaced my initial goal. I was reading but was I really engaged with what I was reading? No. My reading had become something to check off my to-do list each day, rather than something I looked forward to doing and could do at my own pace. My comprehension and recall had also begun to slip as my mindset became more about fulfilling the calendar obligation.
I made a decision to put away the calendar. I began picking up my Bible each day and reading with no goal as to how far I would read or how long. I allowed myself the time I needed to read, comprehend, and go back to read something again if I needed to. I was able to relax and actually enjoy the process.
I fulfilled my goal of reading the Bible from beginning to end. It was a gratifying feeling. Since then I have set other goals with my reading. Today I am once again in the process of reading the Bible through to the end, at a slow but steady pace. I find I comprehend more and enjoy the process when there are no constraints on how I do it. Will I finish in a year? No. However, I will finish and I will enjoy the process.
If you are the kind of person who does better following a guide and wants to read the Bible through in year, you can download a calendar at Gideons International.
If you would like make it a goal but would rather do it at your own pace I would recommend just picking up your Bible and turning to Genesis 1:1. Begin reading. Feel free to stop at a point that feels right to you and pick your Bible back up later in the day or in the morning.
I recommend keeping a pen nearby while reading. There will be scriptures that jump out at you, things you have never read before, and thoughts you might want to jot down. Underlining specific scriptures will help you find them later.
There are many valuable lessons in scripture that apply to our lives today. Happy reading,
Cherish the Journey.
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