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.
Aug 6 (Read: Matt. 6 & 7)
“Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:1,2 NASB)
Jesus taught a very important principle in these verses. How we receive instructions like these determines what fruit it will bear in our lives. If we struggle with striving, we may find ourselves ignoring this teaching, or we will try to observe it and become discouraged because we keep failing at it. The best way to receive this instruction is to submit to it in faith. If we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, then we will see instructions in righteousness as liberating (Jn. 8:32). In humility, we should allow the seed of the word to be planted into our hearts. Through faith, we can look to God for the grace to obey it. He will begin to help us by increasing our understanding. Soon, our conscience will become sensitive to how well we obey in this area. We apply this word by offering mercy rather than judgment and find the same coming back to us. Prior to receiving this word, we may have criticize others, and as a result felt the criticism of others. Now, it does not seem to matter what people think or say. We enjoy instead the assurance that God is pleased with us.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for teaching me the principles of life. Thank You also for the grace to obey these principles. You watch over Your word to perform it in my life. (Jer. 1:12).
Aug 7 (Read: Matt. 8 & 9)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 8 (Read: Matt. 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.
Aug 9 (Read: Matt. 12)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 10 (Read: Matt. 13)
“But blessed are your eyes because they see; and your ears, because hey hear.” (Matt. 13:16 NASB)
The moment we are born again, God gives us a clean heart and a willing spirit (Ps. 51:10-12). He also blesses us with the ability to perceive spiritual truths. If we are careful to keep our heart pure, and with the help of a good conscience, we will be good soil for the word of God to grow and bear fruit in us (1Tim. 1:5). We will receive His instructions with humility and faith. Then, as we meditate on what we have heard, the Spirit will give us understanding (Matt. 13:23). As we put His word into practice, we will begin to bear fruit. If we submit to pruning, we will bear even more fruit (Jn. 15:2). The word, then, will be much more than knowledge, it will become wisdom. It is important that we nurture these spiritual abilities, rather than fall back into relying on our natural abilities. Having begun by the Spirit, we must not go back to depending on the flesh (Gal. 3:3). “For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” (Matt. 13:12).
Thank You, Father, for bringing me into Your family by revealing Your Son to me. Thank You for placing Your Holy Spirit in me. As a living stone, I am now being built into a spiritual house for Your Spirit. I can now see and hear spiritual truths, and You continue to teach and guide me. Lord my Shepherd, as Your sheep, I hear Your voice and I follow. (1Pe. 2:5; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; Jn. 10:27).
Aug 11 (Read: Matt. 14 & 15)
The daily devotion will be added later. Until then, please ask the Lord to give you a “wonderful thought” from today’s reading.
Aug 12 (Read: Matt. 16 & 17)
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 