What I Did Last Year

About this time last year I decided I should read the Bible cover to cover.  So I started at the beginning as you would with any book and quickly found that once I got into Leviticus and Numbers that I needed to find another way to accomplish my goal.  I was already using a Bible app call YouVersion so I signed up for a plan that would lead me towards the goal of the Bible in a Year. 

The introduction to the plan reminded me that the Bible is God’s love letter to each one of us.   Each day started with a devotional that asked the reader to follow this pattern: 

• ASK-God to connect with you, slow down, pray for God to be present
• READ- the selected section of Scripture slowly, take note of what stands out for you
• REFLECT-how might God be speaking to you, thank God for speaking to you through His word
• RESPOND-speak directly to God for what you have learned, look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered

I wish I could say I was able to keep to the daily schedule but I was able to finish the readings in a year and two weeks!  
Now comes the best part, the blessings that came to me.  

• Weekly Bible study at church became more interesting as I was able to see how one part of the Bible we were studying related to the whole of God’s message.  
• Sunday sermons began to fit as part as a whole and I was excited to see what I would learn next. 
• I have become very curious about the story of God’s people in the Old Testament and I can see how this part of the Bible relates to me as a Christian.

During this journey through the Bible I also found some aids to help me meet my goal.  I found that the Bible app I use would also read to me so I listened to the Psalms as well as reading them.  The poetry opens up when heard aloud.  When I had a question about something I was reading I would search for explanations and found that the videos produced by the Bible Project were excellent in helping me to see the whole picture.  In fact there is a video available for each Book of the Bible that relates what is happening in the book and its relationship to God’s plan revealed to us in His Word.

This year I am using other YouVersion plans to Delve into the Old Testament.  I have completed one on Covenant History, and will continue with a study of the Prophets and the Writings.  There is so much information available, it is free, easily accessible and will feed your soul.  Why not give it a try?