Another Bible-Reading Plan or Process?

The new year is almost upon us and it's time to decide which bible reading plan we will, more than likely, not finish. ;-)

Instead of trying to find one that may be way over our heads in terms of completion, why not reassess the way you read your bible. The way you read your bible is just as important as what you read. Bible reading or study should be an enjoyable time of being in the presence of the Holy Spirit; He's your reading "coach" and prepares you to receive the Living Word. If you treat your annual reading plan as a chore or obligation, it won't be an enjoyable experience and you'll never receive what the Holy Spirit is trying to feed you.

How about trying out the following:

[if !supportLists]1. [endif]Decide whether your daily time is study or just plain reading of His Word. Choose a plan that you feel led to use. It's not written in the stone, so feel free to modify them.

[if !supportLists]2. [endif]Try to read at the same time everyday. Forms a great habit. Most people choose to read in the mornings. My mind is more relaxed and open at night. Plus I feel I have God all to myself since everyone else is calling Him first thing in the morning. ;-)

[if !supportLists]3. [endif]Read a bible version that makes sense to you. I don't know a thou from a thee, so I opt for the NIV. (Did I just spin a rhyme? ;-)

[if !supportLists]4. [endif]Color your bible. I mean highlight it, make notes, use a Sharpie. Whatever makes a passage of scripture stand out to you, mark it up!

[if !supportLists]5. [endif]Personalize it! When you read it, use your name. "The Lord is Tracy's Shepherd..." He wrote it with you in mind anyway ;-)

[if !supportLists]6. [endif]Don't charge yourself with a war crime if you miss a day, It's okay, God just wants to spend time with you anyway. Just pick it up when you remember.

[if !supportLists]7. [endif]Don't make beginning a bible-reading plan a New Year's resolution! We all know that New Year resolutions are meant to be broken. ;-) Don't set yourself up to fail, but set yourself up to embark on cultivating a new relationship...one with the Holy Spirit.

What are some of YOUR tips to successfully engaging in a bible-reading plan? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

~Tracy

© 2015, Tracy Spence-Banks. All rights reserved. No republication of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without expressed permission of the author. SOMSistahs Inc.

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