Hello friends! I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and are looking forward to the days ahead. I’ve had a good rest and break and I’m feeling refreshed and full of ideas. I’ve got quite a few posts lined up to write about but I wanted to share this first- in case any of you want to join in! If you do, please message or email me to let me know so that we can support and encourage each other.
In 2016 I read the whole Bible in a year. And whilst it was a slow reading year otherwise, reading the full story of redemption and hope and God’s great love story for his people really transformed my understanding of Him and my faith. It deepens my understanding, caused me to read parts I had probably missed before and I really had to be saturated in the word because of the commitment that reading it in one year is. It seemed a bit daunting especially since Amelia was a newborn when I began (and Simeon and Phoebe were at home with me too until she started school in Spetember) but my determination (stubbornness) won and I did it, albeit a couple of days late.
But doing it was so much more than ticking a box- It added so many layers to hymn and worship music lyrics because I knew where the words had come from or been inspired by. I got to know God’s character so much more, learned the history of his people and all of the ways we blindly turn to ourselves and forget God before remembering that true life and everything good and perfect is found in and from Him.
I was glad to have some freedom to read whatever parts of the Bible I wanted to this head, and a bit more time to sit and dig through one book or section at a time. But I have really missed the intensity of being in truth so much. At various times I have felt stuck and not sure what to read and wanting to dig into something and not knowing where- although there are other things I’ve read and loved. So this year I’m doing it again!
Here’s the plan-
I’m going to read it chronologically again. I had tried reading a different type of reading plan before that gives you a bit of the Old Testament, a bit of the New Testament and maybe some Psalms but to be jumping about so much every day I found it hard to sustain.
I’m likely to listen to a lot of it on the youversion bible app. This worked really well at times like washing up or having a shower or getting dressed. It makes it much easier especially on sections that can seem hard or dense.
I am aiming to reflect on what I am learning in my journaling Bible a couple of times a week- underlining and taking notes helps me dig in when I’m reading and I love to document how I’m growing spiritually creatively too.
And finally I’m hoping to share some thoughts and reflections here – probably every few weeks but it will depend on what I’m reading and how much ‘free time’ I have!
If you’re thinking you’d love to read the Bible in a year but it wou,d be better off ‘one day’, remember that while there are wise things you need to take into account, you can make time for things that really matter. Do you manage to spend time on Facebook, or checking emails? Do you know how much time you really spend on your phone or online? When you break it down, you probably can squeeze 20 minutes into hour day for reading the true and living word, even if you simply get up 20 minutes earlier or to bed a little later.
I’m setting up little things now that should make it easy- having my Bibles in different rooms so I can just find what I need.
I’ve set up the chronological reading plan on my YouVersion Bible app (if you search blue letter Bible under ‘plans’ the different options come up), this should make it easy when I am listening to know wehere I’ve got to.
I am printing out a tracker and a chronological reading plan from the Illustrated Faith print and pray shop that’s also got some lovely art from Beth of Beloved Society so I can add it into my Bible and know where I’m at.
There is also a Facebook group for those doing it with the illustrated faith community so I’m in that which should be a good place to share what we are learning and encourage each other to keep going.
Im looking forward to another year digging my roots into the word. If you’re thinking of doing it too or have any questions do let me know!
Viv says
That sounds great
I would really like to join in and be encouraged by participating in a group
Zoe Rose says
If you haven’t already found it there’s a group called Beloved society bible reading on Facebook 😊