You are likely finishing up your Bible reading for the year or thinking about what your Bible reading plan might look like in the coming new year. Yes, people—it’s fixin’ to be 2023 in a few short weeks.
I’ve been thinking about a Bible reading plan for next year, too. The problem with most of the standard “read-through-the-Bible-in-one-year” plans is that they are overwhelming. Some of them aren’t well thought out and unfortunately—like our new year’s fitness routines—quickly veer off course and into the ditch.
I find myself drinking water from a fire hose. It seems like a daunting amount of information to process in a mind that is already processing a lot.
Can you relate? What to do…
The Devotional Guy™
5 Suggestions for Reading Scripture More Intently and with Greater Intentionality in 2023
1. Decide to read smaller chunks. Don’t worry about reading the entire Bible in 365 days. Break it down to an amount that you can commit to and make part of your routine. Try fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the evening.
2. Slow down and read more intently and intentionally. Chew more. Really meditate on what you’re taking in. Read and study the amount best suited for you. If one chapter is to much, then read a smaller section (periscope).
3. Throw in a Psalm and a some Proverbs. The Wisdom books —- are always good additions to any reading plan. Make these nuggets of wisdom part of your conversations with others.
4. Put it on your calendar. Set aside time each day to read your Bible. Schedule it. Send yourself a calendar invite if you need to in order to make it happen. We schedule those things that are important to us.
5. Think about what you read throughout the day. One benefit of reading smaller sections is that it makes Scripture easier to digest and reflect on throughout your busy day. Meditating on His word helps us grow closer to Jesus and become more like Him.
During this Advent season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and anticipate His return, we continue to desire a closer walk with our Lord. One way we do that is through spending time reading and studying God’s word.
May God bless you richly and abundantly during this wonderful Advent season.
Blessings,
Rainer Bantau
The Devotional Guy™
#bgbg2#BibleGateway#Advent
The Devotional Guy™ 
These are some great tips, brother. Teachers call approaching something in small steps “chunking it.” It works!
Someone showed me a cool way to read through Psalms and Proverbs every month. You read whatever Psalm that matches the day of the month (today would be Psalm 10) and then add 30 and read that one—until you run out of Psalms for the day. (10, 40, 70, 100, 130). For Proverbs, you simply read the chapter that matches the day.
I hope this makes sense.
Blessings, brother!
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Great idea, David. I’m glad to know there is a term for what I’m suggesting. “Chunking it” hits the nail on the head. Blessings 🙏
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I use the One Year Bible, it lays it out in chucks for me each day. OT, NT, Psalm and Proverb. This will be my 2nd year using it, and I love I don’t have to look on my chart to see what’s next. Just read and absorb the Word of God. p.s. I love use of the verb “fixin’ to”!
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Amen. Thank you for reading and sharing your insights and experiences. I’ve used that plan before myself. Blessings 🙏
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Oooops, I see I misspelled chunks and said chucks!
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I’m quite behind in my wordpress friends and their posts, and yet I finally sit down to work through my backlog of lists yet to bread, and this is perfectly timed for me.
I know we’ve chatted about this before – the issue of plans that make you read the bible v reading your bible as you want to. and the issues of both approaches.
But you touch on that ‘intentionality’ of reading scripture, which is the part that really massages an ache in my heart.
Thankyou Rainer.
These words are extremely helpful.
Andy B
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You are welcome, my friend. I am happy to know that my post struck a chord with you. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Blessings 🙏
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