This post last updated on July 23rd, 2023

Are You Prepared to Grow in the Word?

I don’t know about you, but there are certain times of the year when I reflect most on weeks and months that have passed. That’s usually towards the end of a year, in the middle of Summer, or at the beginning of a new year.

One of the things I contemplate the most is my Bible reading habits. Admittedly, most years I’ve either fallen behind or quit at least one Bible reading plan. Or a few. Maybe you can relate.

I’m not talking about a daily devotional or meditative reading of Scripture or commentary, I mean a good old fashioned, chapter and verse Bible reading plan.

It’s critically important to read your Bible regularly, and here’s an entire post showing you why, plus tips on how to do that.

Why We Should Digest God’s Word

You already knew that I would answer that with Scripture, right? Bible reading and study is a discipline. If you don’t do it, you will have weaknesses. The opposite is also true. If you are disciplined in reading God’s word, you’ll have strengths.

Fortunately, there are tons of great tools and resources to put more Bible study power in your hands than at any other time in history.

That’s a good thing because there are many verses that answer why we need to consistently read the Bible, here are just a few examples that Jesus gives.

1. Abiding in his word sets you free

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

John 8:31-32

2. Keeping the word of Christ unifies you with God

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.””

John 14:23

3. The word of God leads you to eternal life

“But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

John 6:63

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Matthew 24:35

I’m sure you’ll agree that Jesus gives some compelling reasons for you and I to not just read God’s word, but to know it. And to do that, you’re going to need to have a plan. My other posts cover some plans, show you how to stick to them, and you can look at some more tools to assist you.

But sometimes it’s just as important to have a why before the plan so that your actions have persistence and meaning.

Do You Have a Bible Reading Plan?

I’m pretty certain most Christians would agree that they desire to grow in understanding the Bible.

Following a daily reading plan may or may not take you to the theological depths that some people strive for. However, some things are far more important than mere knowledge. Having a sensible daily plan covers a lot of Biblical ground.

You’ll learn the background of historical events, places, and people. In other words, daily Bible reading plans most certainly prepare you for those times when you want to dig and dive deeply into Scripture.

More importantly, a Bible reading plan you can stick to will change your life as the Holy Spirit begins to minister to you through the word of God.

It’s like preparing the soil of your mind to make connections in the Bible narrative which give you deeper understanding of the context. That’s when you start to live rather than simply knowing the word.

Next Step: Find Your Plan

How about you? Do you already have a Bible reading plan in place? What do you do when you get sidelined by the busy and unexpected stuff in your life? Which Bible reading plan have you enjoyed in the past, or hope to use in the future?

If you answer no to any of those questions, here’s where you’ll find a list of great Bible reading plans!