This plan 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, it follows a two-year plan.
Every week I will post the readings for that week and add the daily devotionals as time permits. 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 readings for this week are included below.
April 16 (Read: 1Cor. 12, 13 & 14)
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.” (1Cor. 13:4-6 NAS)
It is a good practice to regularly meditate on this description of agape love. Not only is it valuable instruction for how we should live, but it is also an excellent description of the nature of God, because God is love (1Jn. 4:16). Try reading this passage as a description of God’s thoughts toward you. He is patient with you. He believes in you. He does not keep a record of the wrong things you have done but He forgives you. He does not seek a relationship with you for selfish reasons; He desires to bless you and to show you kindness. Many of us have formed negative opinions about ourselves through the experiences of life. If we take time to meditate on how God sees us, it will transform how we see ourselves.
Also, if we meditate on this passage as a description of God’s nature, it will also transform our relationship with Him. We should not allow past relationships with our earthly parents, siblings, or friends influence our relationship with God. If we truly have come to know and believe the love that God has for us, we will have no difficulty in trusting Him (1Jn. 4:16).
Thank You, Father, for loving me as a loving Father should. Forgive me for not trusting You with all my heart. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me as a true Brother, for paying the price for my salvation. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being my true Friend, remaining with me even if You know everything about me. Help me, Lord, to love You the way You have loved me.
April 17 (Read: 1Cor. 15 & 16)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
April 18 (Read: 2Cor. 1, 2 & 3)
“Not that we are competent to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2Cor. 3:5,6 NIV)
Each believer has received grace from God to serve as His minister. We do not all have the same gifts and ministries, but we all have a special function in Christ. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe. 4:10). When we are called upon to serve, it is important to place our confidence in God Who has made us competent to minister. We must not think too highly of ourselves but recognize, with sound judgment, that God has placed each of us in the Body with a special function, which we fulfill by faith (Rom. 12:3).
When we first attempt to minister, we do not see ourselves as competent. Then, as we walk out in faith, we begin to see the Spirit working through us. Our ability to administer His grace grows as we continue to trust Him. After a measure of success, however, it is easy to fall into pride. God will resist us if we get proud, but He will continue to release His grace through us if we walk in humility (Jas. 4:7). We must always remind ourselves that we are not competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
Thank You, Father, for placing me in Christ with a special gift of grace that fits my natural personality and talents. I am fearfully and wonderfully made! As an act of worship, I yield my spirit, soul, and body to You as a living and holy sacrifice. You have made me competent to minister. (1Cor. 12:18; Ps. 139:14; Rom. 12:1).
April 19 (Read: 2Cor. 4, 5 & 6)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
April 20 (Read: 2Cor. 7, 8 & 9)
“As it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever.’” (2Cor. 9:9 NAS)
As restoration occurs in the Church, God is bringing back to the awareness of believers some forgotten revelations of truth. Too often, immature Christians will receive these principles with selfish motives. As a result, the message is rejected because of how it is applied. This is the case with teachings on faith and prosperity. Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, addresses one of these issues. While encouraging the believers to complete what they had determined to do in giving, he asked that it be a “bountiful gift, not affected by covetousness” (2Cor. 9:5). How often have we heard people encouraged to give finances so they could receive more finances? Is this not covetousness? Paul tells us the correct way to receive the promises of God for prosperity. He relates giving to sowing and reaping in righteousness. Giving as an act of righteousness will yield a harvest of righteousness. It will result in producing thanksgiving to God (vs. 10 & 11). There is nothing wrong with believing that God will bless us with seed for sowing and for our needs. What is important is that we pursue righteousness, not the things of this world. “Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” (2Cor. 9:10). If we have sufficient finances, we will have enough for every good deed (vs. 8).
Father, Your Word says that the man who fears You is blessed and his righteousness endures because he is gracious. Thank You for blessing me with abundance so I can have enough for every good work. My success is not measured by an abundance of riches, but by an abundance of good deeds. I choose to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. (Ps. 112; Matt. 6:33).
April 21 (Read: 2Cor. 10 & 11)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
April 22 (Read: 2Cor. 12 & 13)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Highway in the Wilderness 