As I hinted at before, I’ve got a venture that I’m hoping you join me in during this fresh new year! This might be perfect for you. It might not. Either way, I’m diving head first and I’d love some camaraderie along the way.
January is full of detox and workout challenges, but I’d like to tend to the HEART this month (or rather, over the next 90 days). I invite you to join me in reading the Bible in it’s entirety.
The Why
The “Why” seems pretty straight forward – TO GROW IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Of His heart, His ways, His approach to dealing with people, sin and hypocrisy. It’s all written in the Bible – the book most Christians base their faith and lives on. It just makes sense to STUDY this book, right?!
The thing I’ve found: SO many Christians who have never read the Bible all the way through.
Up until four years ago, I was right there with them.
I’d bounced around (usually flipping to to Psalms or Proverbs for that short little gem of inspiration or direction), but I’d never read the entire thing. I felt ashamed to admit this to Travis or anyone else. I felt ashamed that I didn’t know the order in which the books came (something I still have trouble with). Honestly, I felt like a fake.
I quickly found out that the shame was self-inflicted, that it was ridiculous, and that I needed to change it. So I started reading.
The How
For this particular venture, we’ll be reading the Bible through in 90 days time. That’s a pretty short time span, I’ll admit, but totally manageable if you set aside about 30 minutes each day. Instead of reading from start to finish, this particular plan divides the book into THREE parts and you read a little Old Testament and New Testament each day. I LOVE this plan because you can see the how the two sections (Old and New) are related and intertwine. It really is beautiful how the book is laid out. Like I said, each day’s reading takes about 30-45 minutes.
We’ll begin the 90 days NEXT MONDAY, the 20th, which should give us the perfect amount of time to finish on Easter Sunday! You can find the reading plan here (printable version here).
The Hope
I hope you’ll enjoy delving into God’s word.
I hope you’ll make time to set aside each day.
I hope to make this a yearly event on LL.
I hope (pray) God blesses you during this precious time of commitment and purposeful study.
I see GREAT things coming out of this!
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Again, we’ll begin the 90 days NEXT MONDAY, the 20th. You can find the reading plan here. I’ll also be posting each day’s reading in my sidebar for easy access!
QUESTION: Who’s excited? Would a group Facebook page make sense for this so we can encourage one another?
splendid…lindsay
Yes! Wow, 90 days seems impossible when I look at it. But you’re right, it’s definitely doable. I’m in the same boat as others…I have started the 1-year Bible several times and never finished it :( . I’ve read the New Testament several times and several of the OT Books all the way through, but I always seem to get bogged down around Numbers or Deuteronomy. I would love to do this with a group, and have some accountability!
P.S. I just love you for this!! (Even more than I already did!) xoxo
One of my challenges for the year (I’m doing an entire post on this tomorrow!) is to read the entire Bible in 12 months. I can’t wait to hear how your 90 days goes for you.
I want to do this but at the same time I don’t feel like I’ll really get anything out of it. What I mean is that when I do read the Bible I want to dissect it and know what it means and not just read the words so I feel like this would not be enough time for me. I will try it though it just may take me longer to get through it.
I definitely want to join you for this, Lindsay! :)
Fabulous idea! I think I’ll join yall. :) There are only of a couple books of the Bible that I have yet to read [kind of embarrassing since I got my minor in Bible and Theology], and this will be the perfect opportunity to do that. Currently I just go through one book at a time, usually one chapter per day, and it will be nice to have some structure.
I also really like the idea of a facebook group! Please let me know if you start that up!
Love this idea. Believe it or not, I’ve read most of the Bible. I’ve read the first 4-5 books a few times, but I always end up stopping there. I’d join in, but my grad classes start today and require a LOT of reading. I’m going to be lucky if I even get through that. Good luck! looking forward to seeing updates on this.
Also, I never mentioned, but I’ve been reading “When Bad Christians happen to Good People”. It’s somewhat controversial, but it is really good. It’s opened up my eyes to the folly of man, and that we all make mistakes. It showed me that by pointing my finger at one group, I’m doing the same thing that I’m accusing that group of doing to others. Good read.
This is such a great idea!! I am doing a different plan right now, but I’ll help cheer you on and encourage the group! :)
Love this idea! Do you know how many plans I’ve started but never finished to read the Bible in a year? Maybe social media can help me this time. :) Great thought, Linds!
I would love to do this with you. If there are enough of us a Facebook group would be good. Or maybe a few twitter chats or Google hangouts to share our experiences along the way.
YES Lindsay!! I am sooo in!! I also have not read the entire Bible & it IS embarrassing (especially when I’m about to become a chaplain’s wife)! I am so excited – THANK YOU! Lookin’ forward to Monday!!
I definitely want to do this sometime – hopefully next year when I’m finished with my school program. Will you do it AGAIN!? It’s not like you’ll be busy with a newborn ;)
Great challenge for people to do! I’ve read through the Bible with year plans 3 or 4 times. Once in order, once chronologically, and once or twice with the Old/New mix. 90 days is intensive, but doable like you said. For the past few months, I’ve been following a 3 year Bible reading plan. Yep. 3 years. You read just one chapter a day but spend more time reading commentary and really getting in deep into the Word, then praying/reflecting on it. It’s been SO insightful already. I love all the ways there are to study and each one brings growth. And each time brings new insights as well. I don’t ever plan to stop reading the Bible over and over and over again. It’s just soooo good.
Yes, I am going to do this with you! I read the Bible through daily devotions, but I need to start again to renew my faith. I love that it will end around Easter, too! Thank you.
I read the Bible all the way through for the first time last year. I was given a chronological version and followed that – it took the full 365 days. While I certainly want to do it again some day, because there’s just so much to learn and I really only recall a fraction of it, it had a profound impact on my faith. And I agree – I think all Christians should read through it! And doing so with others is extremely helpful so that you can discuss the meaning of certain stories – some is a real challenge to grasp!