by Kaye Johns

For years I tried to read the Bible every day, and I never made it, not even close. There were two reasons why. One, the Bible I had was a version I couldn’t understand. Getting a modern paraphrase made all the difference in the world. I’ve used the Life Application Living Bible for many years, and the notes are wonderful for first-time Bible readers. It’s not my serious study Bible, but for daily devotional reading it has served me well.

Two, I made the mistake of trying to read the whole Bible beginning to end, Genesis through The Revelation. The Bible is made up of books, like a small library, and they do not have to be read in sequential order. What does make sense is to read them like books -- staying with one until we finish it.

I followed Tim LaHaye’s reading plan from his book, How to Study the Bible for Yourself, and found it very helpful. He recommends reading about fifteen minutes a day, or three to five chapters at a time, in this order:

• 1 John -- seven times
• Gospel of John -- twice
• Gospel of Mark -- twice
• Nine short epistles of Paul, Galatians through Philemon -- once each
• Luke, Acts, Romans -- once each
• Entire New Testament, beginning to end -- twice

 

LaHaye also gives a plan for reading the rest of the Bible, but feels we should first be grounded in the New Testament.

If we are not following a reading plan to take us through every word of the Bible, we are in danger of worshiping the God we underline in our Bibles, God as we want Him to be, rather than as He truly is. We must understand the whole body of truth.

Always open the Word of God with a brief prayer, asking for His guidance as you read. You can trust Him to speak to you from any book, any chapter, any verse and make it relevant to your life.