Choosing a Bible Reading Plan

Following a plan is a great way to establish a daily Bible reading routine, but how do you know which Bible reading plan to follow? With so many plans to choose from, it’s easy to get confused. How do you choose the right Bible reading plan for you?

The first step in choosing a Bible reading plan is to pray and ask God to help you make the decision, but there are also some factors you should consider based on your lifestyle and personal preferences. Here are some questions to ask yourself before choosing a Bible reading plan that will help you choose the right plan for you.

What time of day will you read the Bible?

The time of day you plan on reading the Bible will influence the type of plan you follow. Determine the time of day you’re most alert and more likely to be consistent in your Bible reading and choose a plan that will fit into your routine based on your responses to the following questions. 

How much time will you spend reading the Bible each day?

Before choosing a plan, be sure to think about your daily schedule and determine how much time you can devote to reading the Bible each day. Once you determine the amount of time you will spend reading the Bible daily, you can choose a plan that will fit in that time slot. Remember it doesn’t matter whether you decide to spend 5 minutes a day or 30 minutes a day reading the Bible. As long as you are spending time reading God’s word and choose a plan that is doable based on your daily schedule, you are on the right track.

How much of the Bible will you cover?

Do you want to read the Bible in its entirety, or do you want to concentrate on reading just part of it? There are so many options to choose from when choosing a reading plan for the Bible. Some may choose to read through the entire Bible in a year, while others may concentrate on reading just the Gospels or Psalms. Some may read the Bible straight through while others choose to read through portions of the Old and New Testaments at the same time. Pray about it and decide what you would like to cover and choose a plan that corresponds.

Will you read the Bible or study the Bible?

Is your goal to simply read through the scriptures or do you plan to spend time digging deeper into study? If you plan on studying the Bible more thoroughly, you will need to choose a plan with less reading time to allow more time for study.

Will you follow your reading plan all year or just for a season?

Decide if you want to commit to a plan for the long haul, or if you would rather follow a shorter plan for only a few weeks or months. If you have a short attention span and like variety, if you like the sense of accomplishment you get from completing small goals, or if you’re not sure when your schedule will change and you’ll have less/more time to spend reading each day, you will want to choose a shorter plan. If you prefer to digest the Bible in small chunks over a long period of time, choose a one-year or even two-year Bible reading plan. Decide what works best for you and go with it.

As much as I believe in following a Bible reading plan to help you establish a habit of daily Bible study, I urge you to pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you through the reading of His word. Don’t let reading the Bible become a formality, chore and task on your daily to-do list. Instead, let it be a time of study, reflection and communion with God. Look forward to spending time with Him each day as you read your Bible and always be open to what He is teaching you through His word.