Following a Bible reading plan: one day after another
"Where do I start?" It is the first question of many Bible readers. Opening at random quickly leads to giving up: you land on a difficult passage, lose the thread, get discouraged. A reading plan solves the problem: it tells you what to read each day, in a coherent order. The app offers some, in the Study tab. This quest invites you to read the portion of the day.
What it looks like in your day
The principle is simple: a small portion, each day, in sequence. To make it stick, here are a few landmarks:
- Choose a plan suited to your level. If you are starting out, take a short plan (one or two weeks) centered on a Gospel or on the psalms. If you are consistent, you can aim for a longer plan.
- Tie the reading to a fixed moment. After coffee, on public transport, before sleeping. Habits stick when they attach to an existing gesture.
- Read the portion of the day, without trying to understand everything. The goal is to follow the thread.
- Note one sentence that strikes you. Just one: the one that surprises you, comforts you or questions you. It forces you to read attentively.
- If you miss a day, don't catch up on everything. Pick up at the portion of the day. A plan is a guide, not a debt.
A one-week plan might look like this: Monday, the beginning of the Gospel of Mark; Tuesday, the sequel; and so on until you have read a complete account. You will see that the text takes on meaning when you follow it in order.
If you are in a hurry, the portion of the day can be read in five minutes. If you are a beginner, favor regularity over length. If you are shy about an ancient text, know that millions of people are reading the same passages at the same time as you.
What the Bible says
The psalmist compares the word to a lamp:
“נ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
A lamp lights only a few feet at a time: just what is needed to take the next step. That is exactly what a daily plan does: a small light for today. Another verse of the same psalm voices a request that can accompany your reading:
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
"Order my steps in thy word": you ask God to help you move through the text, step by step. The believers of Berea, too, read the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), with diligence and a critical mind. Regularity is part of the biblical way of reading.
Pitfalls to avoid
Reading to tick a box. It is tempting to want to "finish" the portion quickly. Better to read less but be present. If you realize you retained nothing, reread a passage.
Getting discouraged at the first gap. A missed week doesn't ruin a plan. Pick up where you are and keep going.
Comparing your speed to others'. Some read in three minutes, others in fifteen. Everyone has their own pace.
Staying on the easy passages. Plans sometimes lead you toward difficult texts (genealogies, laws). That is normal. Don't systematically skip them: read them at least once, even without grasping everything.
Forgetting to apply. A plan can become an endless reading exercise. Sometimes take a moment to ask yourself: "What am I doing with what I read this week?"
Today, open the Study tab and choose a plan or continue the one you started. Read the portion of the day and note one sentence.