For some time now, I have made this Bible Reading Plan available for download on my webpage. This year, with the Lord’s help, I will write a daily devotional that follows the plan.
Many years ago, I tried following a plan to read the Bible in a year and I came across a problem. Because the Old Testament has more books than the New Testament, I found I was spending too much time in the Old Testament and not enough time in the New.
The plan I developed provides a good balance between Old Testament readings and New Testament Readings because it guides you through the New Testament twice as you read through the Old Testament once. To allow time for reflection, I made it into a two-year plan.
Here are more features of this plan:
- The Old Testament books are arranged chronologically.
- The Minor and Major Prophets are read in parallel with 2Kings, allowing them to be read in their historical settings.
- The first reading of the New Testament is chronological, beginning with the Gospel of Luke.
- In the second reading of the New Testament, the Gospels are read in parallel.
Every week I will post the devotional readings for that week. If you wish to print a copy of the plan without the devotions, you can find copies of it in pdf format at the link below. I like to print and use them as bookmarks in my Bible.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TQs0_oejNJO8HInVlN1JmSClMhWcEbiG?usp=sharing
The daily devotions for the first week are included below.
January 1 (Read: Prov. 1)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Prov. 1:7 NAS)
As we embark on a new year, it is beneficial to consider and recommit to what will ensure our success. The knowledge we are promised in this verse is the spiritual knowledge that we find contained in wisdom. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” (vs. 5). What is it that we must hear? There is a beginning to wisdom and knowledge. It is like a doorway we must go through if we are to “hear and increase in learning”. Wisdom cries out, “Turn to my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” (vs. 23). It is humbling to realize that before wisdom, there is wrong thinking. We cannot just add wisdom to our wrong thinking; we must turn from it. The biggest hindrance to spiritual growth is pride. If we refuse to accept rebuke, we cannot turn to wisdom. To walk in the Spirit, we must, with humility, receive the implanted word which is able to transform our soul (Jas. 1:21).
Lord, as I begin this new year, I turn to see what you are saying. In humility I confess that Your thoughts are greater than my thoughts. I renounce all thoughts that conform to this world, and I receive Your words, planted in my heart, as precious seeds. Grant me understanding by Your Spirit, that I may bear for You the fruit of righteousness.
January 2 (Read: Prov. 2)
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6 NAS)
Wisdom is a gift! We can ask for it with confidence because God gives generously to all men who ask in faith (Jas. 1:5,6). He gives us wisdom by His word: “From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” To receive wisdom, we must be attentive to His voice, treasure His words in our hearts, and pursue an understanding of those words (vs. 1,2). On the surface, this may appear as an activity of the mind, but it is more than that. His words are “spirit and life” (Jn. 6:63). Christ Himself is the Word of God (Jn.1:1). When we receive wisdom, we receive Christ Himself, Who has been made to us “wisdom from God” (1Cor. 1:30). In Christ we receive all the grace required to live a life pleasing to God. We have His mind; we have His Spirit; we have His strength. The way to walk in wisdom is to identify with Christ, in His death and resurrection. This is more than just a way of thinking; it is an act of continual surrender and faith. Since Christ is our life, we must die daily to the spirit of this world and live by faith in Him through His Spirit.
Father, Your Word says that I can ask for wisdom and You will give it generously. I submit to the process of transformation that I may not be conformed to this world but be renewed in the spirit of my mind. My desire is that I may walk in the wisdom that is found in Christ.
January 3 (Read: Prov. 3)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5 NAS)
This verse is one of those transformational verses that should be meditated upon often. When anxieties or fears try to overwhelm you, let your soul hear these words. The word “meditate” in Joshua 1:8 means to ponder and to mutter. As you ponder these words, let the Holy Spirit make them personal to you. Speak to yourself in the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will water the spoken word, as a seed in germination. Remember, your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41). See yourself as a spirit being with a soul, living in a body. Your soul and body will come in line with your spirit when you confess God’s word from your heart.
Lord, Your words are life to me. My spirit is in communion with Your Spirit. With Your help, I rule over my body and soul. You have said that You would never leave me or forsake me, so I will not be afraid. In You, Lord, I put my trust.
January 4 (Read: Prov. 4)
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 NAS)
There is so much pressure on us to conform to the expectations of others. Even if I care little about the opinions of men, and care greatly about what God thinks, I must guard against insincerity. God desires truth in the inner man. What matters more than what I think or say are the intents of my heart. It is imperative that I know the condition of my heart. If unbelief has lodged there, I will doubt God’s promises. If selfish desires are hidden there, I will put my own interests above that of others. If kindness and truth are not written on the tablet of my heart (Prov. 3:3), I will love with words, but not in actions and in truth (1Jn. 3:18). When I ask God to search my heart, I can trust Him with what He shows me. He loves me and will help me to be sincere. From my heart, I want the life of Christ to flow out, not the works of the flesh.
Thank you, Father, that you have placed your desires within me. You have given me a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Help me Holy Spirit to guard my heart. Give me sensitivity to your promptings. Thank you for the ability to obey the instructions of my Lord. I trust you, Father, to complete in me the good work that You have begun.
January 5 (Read: Prov. 5)
“My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding.” (Prov. 5:1 NAS)
In wisdom we find many things: knowledge, understanding, discernment, discretion, etc. This verse emphasizes again that even if God gives wisdom freely, we must give attention to it to possess it. Wisdom is complete. If we obtain knowledge, we also must obtain understanding. It is not sufficient to just obtain knowledge; we must also have understanding. When we ask God for wisdom, He opens to us a door. We must enter in and sit at His feet. We must “incline our ear” to understand. The experience of His manifested presence is wonderful, but we must not be content with the experience alone; we must attend to what He is saying. His Word must become His life in us, because wisdom has works. “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (Jas. 3:13).
Father, I pray that you may give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You. I pray that I may be able to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love. I pray that I may be filled to all the fullness of God. May Your Word in me cause me to become spiritually mature, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 1:17; 3:18; 3:19; 4:13).
January 6 (Read: Luke Chapter 1)
“Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son.” (Lu. 1:13 NAS)
When the angel appears to Zacharias, he is no longer expecting an answer to his prayers of long ago. For how many years did he and Elizabeth pray to have a child of their own? Now, as they have gotten older, he seems to have resigned himself to having no children. God, however, has not forgotten his prayer. Sometimes, our prayers are delayed because God has a greater purpose than our own expectations. Do you have prayers that seem to have long gone unanswered, or promises that have not yet been fulfilled? When I read this verse, I am reminded of prophetic words I have received concerning ministry which have not yet been fulfilled. It encourages me to realize that God’s timing is not the same as ours. The child Zacharias and Elizabeth would have was part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world. His birth had to coincide with the birth of His Son. God’s desire to bless Zacharias and Elizabeth was greater than what they could even imagine. God does not love us any less. As you meditate on His love, let Him refresh in you those dreams that seem to have passed you by. It could be that the delay is because God still has preparations to complete in you, or in others involved in their fulfillment.
Father, I thank You that Your love is greater than what I can comprehend. Refresh in me those dreams I have long ago asked and hoped for. I believe Your desire to answer my prayers and to fulfill those promises is greater than what I have believed. Please help me to be strong in faith. I choose to again place my trust in You concerning these things.
January 7 (Read: Luke Chapter 2 & 3)
“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Lu. 2:19 NAS)
People have different responses to what God is doing around them. The shepherds were at first terribly frightened by the appearance of angels, but they responded in faith and went to see the child Who was Christ the Lord. Then, after seeing the baby, they went back glorifying and praising God. All who heard their testimony wondered what these things could mean. Mary did not wonder, she treasured these things in her heart. To praise and glorify God is good, but is it a lasting response? How often have we rejoiced in seeing God work, then when the feelings are gone, we begin to doubt. When we treasure something, we hold it close so as not to lose it. We take time to look at it, admiring its beauty. This is what we must do with what we see and hear from God. His words must be treasured in our heart. As we ponder them, the Holy Spirit will help us to understand their full meaning. When needed, He will bring those treasured promises back to our remembrance (Jn. 14:26). In due season, those words will comfort and encourage us to hope and believe.
Thank You, Father, for those things You have chosen to reveal to us. Your words are spirit and life; they accomplish what You have purposed for them. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping us to understand and to be reminded of God’s promises. You, Lord Jesus, are the Living Word. In You, we have access to all the goodness of God.
Highway in the Wilderness 