It’s that time of year! Lots of posts about resolutions and reforms. New habits to develop in place of habits that haven’t helped all that much last year. I have started and stopped my share of resolutions believe me! But I am here to tell you it is possible to make lasting changes! It all happens one choice at a time. One moment at a time.
You’ve heard this before so I’m not going to reiterate the process of change but I do want to share the most incredible great habit I have finally formed and have seen the long term benefits from: daily Bible reading for 365 consecutive days.
I am having the most amazing experience this year. But I need to back up a tad to give you some perspective. In 2011 I challenged myself to do something I had never accomplished. I had started and stopped countless times, but that time I was going to finish. I had called myself a Christian for 30 years and had never read the Bible all the way through front to back Genesis to Revelation. I know I know what kind of person hops around and cherry picks the books to read out of the whole Book? Apparently I’m not alone. Lots of people start a daily Bible reading plan and stop part way through. Three years ago I said, I’m doing this and with the help of a great app You Version I was able to read the Bible all the way through. I got jazzed about completing something as daunting as that was since I had started and stopped too many times to count. My enthusiasm carried me into the next year and I did it again! Two years in a row!
Well last year I hemmed and hawed during the first week of January; was I going to simply read the Bible through again? Wouldn’t that be boring to just do the same thing? Then I saw that You Version had a Bible reading plan called Reading God’s Story: the Chronological Bible. I decided I was going read that plan to change it up.
Well since I took the whole week to decide if and then what I was going to do, I am still finishing the chronological Bible. But, this year our former church is reading through the Bible in a year together, so I chose a different plan and started on Jan 1. So here is where the amazing experience comes in.
Right now I am reading the last book of the Bible in my last year’s plan while reading the first book of the Bible in this year’s plan. The beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega. Our pastor Tim encourages us to read the Bible looking for Jesus whether we’re in Genesis or Leviticus or Psalms or the minor prophets. Look for Jesus and His influence. He’s there throughout the book.
As I am reading the promise to Abraham I read of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It’s an amazing trajectory from beginning to end but I have to say, the last book is as exciting now as reading C.S.Lewis’ The Last Battle in Chronicles of Narnia. I guess what I am trying to say is the Book is full of adventure, intrigue, Mystery, suspense and Love. You should read it!
I have goosebumps! I was not very successful last year with my reading plan, missed a lot of days, but I had resolved to start over on January 1; then I happened to browse the YouVersion plans and saw this very same one you mention here. So, I have started over with the Chronological Bible plan for reading the Bible in a year. At some point or another, I have read every book in the Bible, but not necessarily in an organized “get through it in a year” manner. Somehow I happened on your link through Jeff Goins’ blog: ta-da! Another goal this year: to plant seat in chair and WRITE, not just READ about writing!
Another “God thing”: I have Colossians 3:17 written on a post-it note on my computer at work. He’s definitely guiding me to new paths.
Shauna your comment has made my day! I’m thrilled to hear God’s connection points for you as He is gently leading you forward. Thanks so much for sharing! Happy daily reading!