Plan to be in the Word this Year

If you have not had a Bible reading plan, this is the year to do it. Like most things, without a plan you will quickly end up wandering somewhat aimlessly. That isn't to say God doesn't use our "unplanned" devotional or Bible reading time, but it is to say that having a plan can be very beneficial.

For the past few years Beth and I have worked through the Bible in two year increments. We read through the Old Testament in two years and the New Testament once each year (so by the end of two years we had read the OT once and the NT twice). This year we are doing something similar, but we are using DA Carson's "For the Love of God" series.

DA Carson's "For the Love of God" Series
One nice thing about this is that you don't have to buy the books to use it. It is available online at the gospel coalition here. You can even sign up to have the daily readings and Dr. Carson's one page devotional emailed to you.  Here is a description of blog:

For the Love of God is a daily devotional designed to walk a person through the Bible in a year while assisting the reader in discovering the riches of God’s Word. Originally published by Crossway Books (volume 1 in 1998 and volume 2 in 1999), this “blog” is really not a blog at all, but a free digital version of the devotional provided by TGC and Crossway. Our hope is that this daily devotional will deepen your understanding and appreciation of God’s Word—for the love of God.

The Bible reading plan is based on Robert Murray M'Cheyne's reading plan and is designed to take you through the Bible in one year (You can find M'Cheyne's plan here).  But, you can use it much like I described our two year plan above.  Simply read the first two passages listed for each day's readings this year along with Dr. Carson's commentary*.  Then, next year, read the second two passages listed in each day's readings along with Dr. Carson's commentary.  This should take you through the NT and Psalms once a year and the OT once in two years.

I have to be honest, this will be the first year I've tried this particular plan.  So, the DA Carson blog emails might not work out completely like I am thinking, but as best I can tell it should.

Navigator's "Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan"
Another option is to pick up the "Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan" from the church foyer.  You can read through the whole Bible in a year or divide the readings in half and finish the whole thing in two years. To access this plan online click here.

Make a Plan
Whatever you do, make a Bible reading plan.  You don't have to have it cover the entire Bible, but I strongly encourage you to read through the entire Bible if you have not done it.  So make a plan for the new year and then discipline yourself to stick with it.  Growth in godliness requires discipline.

If you have any suggestions or resources for Bible reading, please share them in the comments section. 

*This is assuming you start in 2012.  If you start this plan in 2013, you will probably need to start by reading the second two passages each day if you want Dr. Carson's commentary to relate to that day's reading (I believe they go through the first volume one year and the second volume the following year and so on).