IN THE BEGINNING

We’re all excited about what lies ahead for us in 2021, for we are never a people without hope and optimism.  I pray that as we reflect on the coming year, our mind is not just wishing for good things to happen, but we’re mainly thinking of what good things God plans for us to accomplish this coming year. 

Among the good things you’re planning to accomplish, I want to encourage you to give priority, and intentionality, to your personal spiritual nourishment, and more specifically how you will go about your daily bible reading.  

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

In this connection, what do you think God has planned for you to do and for which He would just so love to bless you?  After all didn’t he declare in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  What then is His will for you in this area of your seeking God in scripture?  If you sense that God wishes to take you on a different journey through the bible compared to past years, and if you’re seeking ways to be more intentional, more systematic, and more fruitful in your bible reading than ever before, I have one basic suggestion to offer:  follow a READING PLAN.

What is a reading plan?

A reading plan is basically about what specific scriptures you intend to read on a day-to-day basis.  It is a sequence of bible readings scheduled over a given period of time and that you intend to follow accordingly. 

There are many plans that you can download from the internet, most of which are created by bible publishers, or church groups and ministries.  There is actually a reading plan for every person, whether young or old, whether a new convert or a mature disciple. 

Plans vary in length, from a few days to a month, a quarter, or the whole year.  Some plans let you read just single-verses at a time accompanied by a devotional.  Others let you read through entire books, broken down into chunks per session, ranging from a few paragraphs, to entire chapters or two.  Some plans also let you read portions of a combination of books (say, Old Testament plus New Testament) each day.  Most of these reading plans aim to get the reader to finish entire books, or even the entire bible within one year.  And then there are some short readings plans that are focused just on particular pastoral needs or situations.

Don’t leave it to chance

As you can see, these reading plans are a valuable tool for those who don’t want to just leave their daily bible reading to chance, or to a whim.  There has been serious thought put in the development of these reading plans, so that it takes the guesswork out of one’s bible reading selection.  However, these plans require a commitment, and a strong desire to get to know God.  In fact, these plans have been created for those who “delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate on it” day in and day out.  

If you believe that you are this person, someone who is hungry for God’s Word, but not wanting to leave your bible reading selection to chance, and if you need help in looking for a good plan, click on this link where I have enumerated some plans that you can consider.  MY SHORT LIST OF READING PLANS

In the beginning

Today is the start of a new year, and I must admit that until late last night (even after the noise of the fireworks greeting the new year was over), I still had not decided on what reading plan I would follow starting today, January 1.  Here I am preparing notes for this article, and hoping to release this by today, and I had not discerned yet what reading plan I myself will follow.  I’ve just finished 2020 reading the entire bible following a one-year through-the-bible plan, and now I find myself waking up this morning without a plan.

I hesitated to start afresh, and go through this year, starting with Genesis 1:1 again, because I wanted something different this time.  I did enjoy my journey through the entire bible all of last year, but I didn’t feel ready to recycle.  But even after all my research about different reading plans, and surrounding myself with different devotionals, googling everywhere, and checking my bible apps — I simply couldn’t decide which to follow; nothing seemed to “click”. 

Then I remembered a funny video about a man (presumably from an African nation) giving a speech and clumsily struggling to recite the phrase, “In the beginning …”  (Check it out here, if you like a good laugh.  https://youtu.be/206vcenbWNI.  Turns out, by the way, that this is fake, and the voice was just dubbed.)

Now I look at myself and see how funny I am, also struggling to begin, like that man in the video, with many devotionals on my desk, and a lot of open tabs in my browser about all sorts of reading plans.  I felt just like that man giving a speech fumbling to get past the opening line.

But guess what?  As soon as I prayed, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done” I was able to finally pin down my reading plan for 2021.  Praise God!

My point?  I end where I began this article:  God has a plan for you and for me.  Why not ask Him to guide you, and to tell you how He desires for you to seek Him and His word? 

May your beginnings this 2021 not be a fumble, but be blessed as you allow God to continue to be the ruler of your life.

WHAT NEXT? Need help in looking for a reading plan? Check out my short list of suggested READING PLANS.