We're well into 2017, but it's never too late to get started on a plan to read through the entire Bible. And it's a great idea as well. Reading through the Bible gives us a good overview of Scripture and enables us to see how the various parts fit together. It also enables us to stumble on to important verses hidden away here and there, we might otherwise miss. Some verses will merit additional study. Others we will be eager to memorize. But before we can do either, we have to find them! At FAST, we definitely recommend reading through the Bible at least once every year or two.
Reading Suggestions
How we read is important. Bruce Ware over at
Desiring God, suggests five helpful keys to getting the most out of your Bible reading program:
1.
Commit yourself to consistent Bible reading.
Don't leave it to happenstance or chance. Determine to make steady pace through the coming year, and then stick with it.
2.
Engage in both fast-paced and slow-paced reading.
Slow, careful reading is important--to let the truths you are reading sink in. But there's something to be said for stepping back and taking the big picture in by reading a long passage or even an entire book more quickly. Set aside time for both kinds of reading. Mix it up.
3.
Focus on the Author behind the writer.
It's always helpful to keep in mind that there is a God in heaven seeking to reveal himself through the pages of Scripture. Don't get so bogged down in the words of your passage that you miss what it is telling you about God.
4.
Seek informed minds and stirred affections.
Always begin your reading time with a special prayer that God would speak to you personally. Ask for insights that both deepen your grasp of truth, and move you emotionally. A healthy spiritual life requires you to engage both logic and feeling.
5.
Commit yourself to act on what you read.
Be sure to stay alert for moments of application, where the Spirit of God tugs on your heart to respond to what you read with some action. Be doers of the Word and not just hearers, or readers, only.
I'll add one additional suggestion to his list: keep a notepad handy to jot down verses you stumble across that you might like to memorize some day. (There's a place to store future verses in the Engine as well). With a vigorous reading program, you will generally find verses faster than you can learn them. Keeping a list of "future favorites" means you always have a list of verses to memorize when you have a spare minute or two.
Reading Plans
There are many different Bible reading plans available on the internet. With 1189 chapters in the Bible, you can get through the Bible in less than 10 months at just 4 chapters a day. Here's a few suggested reading plans you may find helpful, from various sites:
- Canonical Plan: Straight through from Genesis to Revelation, in normal book order.
- Chronological Plan: Read through the Bible in the order it was written. Helps put the stories of the Bible in order.
- Old and New Testament Plan: Many like a mixture of Old and New Testament passages each day. This plan reads through the Old Testament once, and the new Testament three times each year to give a nice balance.
- Blended Plan: This plan completely mixes up the order with each day of the week focused on a different type of reading. Helpful for those who like a lot of variety.
The Dashboard
I personally tend to jump around from book to book as I sense the need--but stick to one book at a time until I get it finished. That gives me the variety I need, while also allowing me to fully engage in the flow of the writer's thoughts. I also like the flexibility of being able to go slower or quicker as I wish, or as my circumstances allow.
To help ensure I make it through the entire Bible, I use the Reading Record tool in the Dashboard. There I simply check off chapters I've read so I can instantly see which books I've finished and which ones I still have to do. It also keeps track of my average reading pace, and even my projected completion date. Go as fast or as slow as you want, follow any reading plan you want, and begin any time you want. Just log in once a day and update the record. You will be through the entire Bible before you know it!
Comments
Are you in the process of reading through the Bible? What plan are you following? Have you been able to stay consistent? What helps you get more out of reading the Bible? Share a thought in the comments below.
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Posted by Dan Vis on 05/06/17 - Coach |
Thanks for the links Jason! |
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Posted by Jason Diehl on 05/03/17 |
This is great information. I just recently found a link to a reading plan that includes the SOP in a 1 year plan, been looking at following this, and I see Becky has a plan also, would be curious on that one as well.
Here is the link I was getting ready to start.
One reading plan I really like also is the Amazing Facts. They have one you can print front and back and slip in the back of your bible. It covers some Old Testament, some New Testament, some Psalms every day. And the best thing I like about it is that it splits it up into 25 readings a month but being split this way gives you 5-6 days off every month for incidentals. Let's say you do a different devotional every Sabbath. Or whatever may happen. If you read it straight through you are done in 10 months, if you take your days off you are done in a year.
You can find that one here (I print it in booklet form, front and back and fold in half for the back of my bible to mark off, I just prefer to read in paper when I can, I'm always plugged in the rest of the day) |
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Posted by Amy on 04/24/17 |
I have a devotional book called "Walking Through the Bible with HMS Richards" that I am using this year to read through the Bible. I also record the daily readings on my dashboard so that I can see my overall progress. |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/27/17 |
You are very welcome, Jill and Joy |
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Posted by joy cavins on 02/27/17 |
Becky
Thanks Becky for your testimony. This statement really impressed me:
God is so patient with us, waiting and longing to hear from us. He wants to spend quality time with us and tell us so many things. When we meditate upon the Lord, through His word, the Father himself draws close and through His Holy Spirit whispers into our ear His love and His thoughts.
When we fully grasp just how close the Father comes as we read His words, it turns from a chore into a much loved and deeply appreciated spiritual time of fully enjoying our Father's wisdom and presence.
thanks for sharing |
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Posted by Dan Vis on 02/23/17 - Coach |
Thanks everyone! I am hoping to post several reading plans in the Dashboard for members to explore and use. Not sure when I'll be able to get to this, but hopefully soon. |
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Posted by Jill Macgillivray on 02/22/17 |
Thank you Becky for sharing your experience. It speaks to my heart in a special way. |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/21/17 |
The devil wants us to look at Bible reading and memorization as another "chore" we must check off of our long daily lists of tasks we must do. I'm speaking here from my own personal experience, not saying that anyone else is doing this.
But over my many years of walking with Christ, I am finding that prayer, Bible reading and memorization are a means of being in the very presence of our Father, of speaking with Him and hearing from Him. The enemy knows this and that is why he tries so hard, and often successfully, to keep us so busy that time with our Father gets pushed to the wayside, and neglected.
God is so patient with us, waiting and longing to hear from us. He wants to spend quality time with us and tell us so many things. When we meditate upon the Lord, through His word, the Father himself draws close and through His Holy Spirit whispers into our ear His love and His thoughts.
When we fully grasp just how close the Father comes as we read His words, it turns from a chore into a much loved and deeply appreciated spiritual time of fully enjoying our Father's wisdom and presence.
I don't know if this makes sense to anyone other than myself, but I just wanted to share my experience, hoping it will encourage my brothers and sisters to see things a little differently. It's made all the difference in my own life.
That is a great verse to claim for wisdom. Another verse I love is Ephesians 2:4-74 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus., Berith |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/21/17 |
No matter how many times I've read the Bible, God continues to show me new things! It is the one book that never grows old or is fully comprehended. We will ever be learning from it, Berith, and its great that you are reading it. Consistency will come as you ask God for a deep hunger to hear from Him daily. It's food for the soul. 😍 |
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Posted by Berith Bermejo on 02/21/17 |
Becky, just read your Bible reading testimony. Such a blessing!
When the Lord was reviving me, I started with watching sermons. But the next step was to read the Bible for myself. I also took a chronological approach to see the airplane view. It has truly been a blessing to read it through.
I'm currently reading the Bible in Tagalog and it brings out a lot of details that I missed the first time I read it through in English. I'm not as consistent but I do use the Reading Record of FAST. I'm almost halfway through this time and really enjoying reading it in the local language. |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/18/17 |
Thanks, Dan. In the meantime anyone who wants the reading plans can send me their e-mail a dress, but not here. Just go to my office by clicking on my name and leave me a message there. |
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Posted by Dan Vis on 02/18/17 - Coach |
Hi Everyone! I'm planning to post several reading plans in the Dashboard area when I get some time. Hopefully we can post the one from Becky there as well. :)
Joyce, sounds like a great plan you have followed. Excellent!
I heard of one pastor describe how he looked for a different theme every year in his reading, like grace or war or angels. Resulted in some interesting sermons. Another good approach I'm sure... |
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Posted by Joyce Augustinis on 02/16/17 |
I have counted the chapters left in my reading plan and I will be done at the end of this year. I have taken 3 years to go through the Bible, but it has been worth it and I have summaries of each chapter that I can now go back and refer to. I also have a spreadsheet that shows me what those summaries and the number of chapters in each book and I can cross reference names and words and phrases. It has been so helpful in really getting a grip on the whole picture of the Bible. I'm excited to finish, but also excited to go through it again in a different way next time. |
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Posted by Gloria Bernard on 02/16/17 |
Dear Becky, Please may I have a copy of your reading plan with EGW books you used. Thank you, Gloria |
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Posted by Sonia Sterling on 02/15/17 |
I have tried many times to read through the Bible, but usually fall short along the way. However, I have been reading through the books of Samuel, and have been enlightened and blessed tremendously. Becky Rich, can you send me a copy of your Bible plan with the eight books of Ellen G. White. Reading the Bible chronologically works best for me. I would love the 1 year plan. Thank you. |
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Posted by Claudia Kaiser on 02/14/17 |
Hi Sherry Rich. I, too, would like the chronological Bible reading plan and the SOP that goes along with that plan. I would like both the 1-year and 2-year plan. Thank you! |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/14/17 |
For some reason, when I click on a picture to tag some people, the id number gets highlighted in red and says no rolacement found. Then I have to retype it by memory, thus enabling me to make a mistake in the typing, which is what I did with your id in the post above.
This doesn't happen with every name, just some. The times, it doesn't happen I can just start typing a message to them. I'm not sure why it's not that way with every name, only some.
Anyway, thanks again for teaching me how to post a link. |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/14/17 |
Qing, I got it. Thanks. It's great to learn new things. 😘 |
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Posted by Qing Ling on 02/14/17 - Coach |
Ah it's fine sis. Becky . Just go ahead and paste the whole link in text if it's easier. The icon with white hand pointing upwards is the function to use to make a link if you want to try :) |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/14/17 |
Hi Qing! We are here at the same time, because I just saw your message after I posted mine. Thanks for sending a link to Sherry. That is so much better than my feeble attempt to answer her question. I'm going to have to learn how to include links. 😏 |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/14/17 |
Send me your email, Sherry, in my office, and I will be happy to send you the Bible and SOP reading plan.
The airplane view that Qing mentioned was previously mentioned above in a post by John. He said that HMS Richards used to do what he called an airplane view, where he read through the whole Bible in the month of January. Qing, I believe, was talking about listening to it, with audio.
Ive found, and believe she did also, that listsening to the Bible in a month is easier than reading it, because one can be doing other things while listening, such as housework, driving. etc.
There are many great audio Bible versions to be found online, that are not monotone, but enhanced with music, etc. I found many just by googling it. |
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Posted by Qing Ling on 02/14/17 - Coach |
Sherry, check out this link. It explains the bible in one year reading plan that the app allows you to subscribe to. All free. Using the YouVersion bible app, I stream the audio play function of the NLT version which even has music background for some parts of the reading to make it more pleasant I guess ?? The KJV version audio is awesome too with a real deep voice. Check it out. Once you open the reading plan in the app, and go to the Bible reading page, tap the audio icon and it will automatically read that portion of scripture to you. Then you click next to progress through each portion of scripture allocated for the day's reading until it's all complete and tada you're done! Even if you don't use the Bible reading plan, the Bible app will still have the audio button in any page of the Bible that you turn to, and you click play to listen to each chapter.hope that helps. |
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Posted by Jessie Butterfield on 02/13/17 |
I have a bible app on my iPad. I read 3 chapters every day. I'm going from Genesis to Revelation. I started last May. I'm in Matthew now. When I get through the bible, I'm going to read through the bible again, but I'm going to choose a different reading plan. I'm not sure which one yet. Before I had my iPad I read the bible online. I'm so thankful for the screen reading program on my computer. I'm also thankful my iPad talks. This makes it easier to read the bible, because a braille bible would take up 5 feet of shelf space. |
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Posted by Sherry Olson on 02/13/17 |
Becky I would love to have the SOP and Chronological reading plan also (2 year)
Qing Could you explain to me more fully the NLT airplane audio you mentioned? I am in my car a lot so I would love something to listen to, but the audios I have found are read by very monotone people, and I have a hard enough time staying awake while driving!! :)
An amazing Bible app that I have on my PC is the e-sword by Rick Meyer; you can download multiple commentaries ,as well as Bibles, you can do study notes and put your Bible verses in them with just a click of the mouse. The easiest one I have found to use, I am sure there are others, but I love this one. www.e-sword.net |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/13/17 |
Jill, and Delene, I will ask Dan if he can help me post the reading program, if I email it to him, because I am not computer literate enough to know how to do that. Or if you send your email to me in my office I will be happy to email it directly to you. Just let me know if you want the two year program, which is less reading every day, or the more intense one year program I developed. |
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Posted by Delene Drescher on 02/13/17 |
Becky,
Would you please send me a copy of the Chronological Reading Plan with the SOP readings as well?
Thank you! |
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Posted by Jo Zumbluskas on 02/13/17 |
I am reading through the Bible with the General Conference Revival and Reformation program. In addition I am studying the book of Romans with a group. I find it a special blessing to do a book study, going through it wholly in the beginning, then breaking it down into a chapter a week. In the process, I find special verses that speak to me and precepts that I see I need to apply to my life. |
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Posted by Qing Ling on 02/13/17 - Coach |
Suzi you make a good point about us being taken away from our bibles rather than the other way around!
Sherry, Raquel, how awesome that you can share in this precious activity with your beloved!
Becky great testimony. Before the days of bible apps I would copy a chapter into Word doc and start highlighting particularly meaningful (to me) verses, and also adding my own comments...pretty much writing up my own commentary on the Bible!:) but nowadays with synchronized bible app accounts, this can all be done on mobile and even on pc/web.
Pam, have you checked out the 'bible in one year' reading plan? They have their own app but YouVersion also offers their plan in their bible app. I found their plan very manageable with mix of old and New testament and also in theme/topic. Long chapters also sometimes broken into parts so they are more easy to digest in one sitting.they include a devotional reading but I left that part out because I just wanted to get through my reading plan and I managed to do it in 11 mths, with some periods of rest due to extra busyness. Listening in audio with NLT was great for the airplane view....while I multitasked with driving or dishwashing. Especially when going through the books with genealogies and many many names...
When I read /study and memorize,I tend to do it in KJV for the sake of consistency. I was blessed by LISTENING to the Bible, especially in a modern translation also, because I guess some of us are more auditory processors and also I would gain new insights because of the slightly different words used in NLT.
I haven't planned to read through the Bible again this year but I just might try that airplane view chronological order sometime this year...but probably not in one month! |
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Posted by Jill Macgillivray on 02/13/17 |
Becky, Can you email to me, or post for all, a copy of your intense reading plan that includes the 8 EGW books? |
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Posted by Raquel Reyna on 02/13/17 |
Hi, everyone. I have started the Bible reading in chronological order this year and I hope to finish by December. Also two of my daughter's have a Bible reading plan too. Thank you Lord! You are working in their hearts. Prayers are being answered. Thanks for the encouragement! |
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Posted by Stephen Gutierrez on 02/13/17 |
This year I am reading through the Bible, while reading through the conflict of the ages series. Currently in Exodus, and reading through patriarchs and prophets. It is been rich blessing. I plan to using the reading record as well, to track progress. Thank you for these amazing tools that you have available. And thank you for your faithfulness! Praying for each of you!! |
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Posted by Becky Rich on 02/13/17 |
For those above i'd like to share my testimony as I'm amazed as I see how God has led me in the past and is continuing to lead me each day. Perhaps this will encourage or inspire someone else.
I came to a point in my life, during a period of severe trial, where I was as desperate to know GOD as a drowning man is to have air or as a person lost in a desert might be to have water. I HAD TO FIND GOD!
The only place I could think of to find Him was in His word. So I started a systematic, daily reading of His word, rising at 4 in the morning so I could have a few quiet hours with him. My state of mind at that time did not allow me to concentrate well, so I started writing down what I was reading, in order to grasp the words I read.
Eventually, I wrote the entire Bible by down, learning slowly as I went slowly. It takes time to write. I then realized I can type much faster and so did my second reading doing just that. But now in the same allotted time, I could type a chapter in the Old Testament AND a chapter in the New Testament! So my learning increased.
Eventually I came to the knowledge of God's incredible Love for me, and His desire to heal me from a very painful childhood. I had a morning where I experienced His Love particularly, where He fulfilled in me the reality of Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you., touching me and emotionally restoring me to health. I KNOW God is real, and actively involved with us today, just as He was with the people in Bible times!
It's God's desire to have us healthy, physically, spiritually and emotionally, though not always in that order! He desires most our restoration to His image! But longs to provide for us in ways we cannot begin to imagine until by faith we grasp hold of His promises!
Since the day of my healing I've encountered many hurting women. I encourage them to get to know the God of the Bible, through a deep reading of His word. I encourage the hurting to look up God's promises and memorize them, starting with Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.. While a casual reading may suggest this is talking about basic needs such as food, clothing or housing, I'm convinced it means ANYTHING we truly need.
After a few years of reading and typing the Bible I've "graduated" into other plans, such as topical study, blended plan, and old and new reading, but what I love most and have followed the last 10 years is an intense chronological plan that involves reading 8 of Mrs. White's books along with the corresponding chapters of the Bible.
She brings out a depth of meaning from the Bile that I was unable to grasp as fully in my own reading. The books are Steps to Christ, Christ's Object Lessons, Desire of Ages, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, Acts of the Apstles, The Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Prophets and Kings.
I found a plan that allowed me to do this in a two year period, reading for about 20 minutes from Monday to Friday. But since I love to hear from God 7 days a week, and I love to read from the new as well as the old, I developed this reading into a more intense one year program. Since the New Testament is shorter than the Old, I have the joy of reading it twice each year! It involves more time, of course, but rising early gives me that time before the day begins. I personally cannot imagine not doing this.
I also now use the Reading Record that Dan mentioned to keep track of my progress as I go. It's a helpful tool no matter what plan we use to read.
However, we read, consistency is the key and time spent with God is never wasted. He is coming soon for a people who love and serve Him, and we will have eternity to sit at His feet and learn from His lips.
Cc:Suzi, Pam, Marilyn, Darci, John, Sherry, Marsha, Dan, Diane |
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Posted by Diane Castanon on 02/13/17 |
I have been reading through the Bible with the General Conference "Revived By His Word," and since the GC session in 2015, "Believe His Prophets." I find it interesting to read the comments by other readers about the scheduled chapter, which we all receive in our email.
This format, one chapter per day, allows me to contemplate the chapter and verses that jump out at me. Prayer has been key to understanding what I am reading, and my love for the Word has deepened. |
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Posted by Dan Vis on 02/13/17 - Coach |
Glad everyone enjoyed this post today. :) Using the Reading Record gives you the flexibility to read online or offline, use any reading plan, go at any speed you want, and start any time of the year. Definitely recommend using it to ensure you make it through the entire Bible. Then when you finish, delete your record and start over. Really great tool to help with that. :)
Love the approach you are using John. Airplane approach combined with in depth book studies. That's kind of what I do, though I've never read the Bible through in one month! |
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Posted by Marsha on 02/13/17 |
We have been reading the Bible through with the Church body as part of the Revival and Reformation project. We did that the first time also, now on the second pass an what a blessing it has been! |
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Posted by Sherry Olson on 02/13/17 |
I am doing the chronological reading plan with my husband, who has never committed his life to Christ, but has agreed to do this with me. We have days we don't get it done, but we do try to make up some as we go along. I have never read the whole Bible, and learning to meditate on scripture is new for me also. I am so enjoying FAST even though life interrupts me some days, I try daily to go over my Bible verses, and always have my devotional time with the Lord. And God is good, He strengthens my mind so I can hide His Word in my heart that I might not sin against Him. My one word resolution for this year is Focus, so God's Word is my focus this year, memorizing, meditating, sharing what I learn. I struggle too with getting everything fit in to my day, but I am not going to give up, too much at stake to do that! |
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Posted by John on 02/13/17 |
Great topic Mr. Vis!! Thanks for the admonition. I take a blended approach. HMS Richards used to do what he called 'an airplane view of the Bible' once a year. He read through the whole Bible in the month of January. That of course takes significant investment of daily time. I tried it last year, though not consistently, so it took me 11 months! Lol. My original plan was to do the airplane view, then follow it up during the rest of the year with following Peter Gregory's method of studying all the Bible books thoroughly and one at a time, as outlined in his "How to Study the Bible" course. I'm still on that plan, though the Journey has me pleasantly sidelined :-). I'm trying to work my way to including all of it. I'll have to claim James 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. |
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Posted by Darci Ziegler on 02/13/17 |
I feel like there are so many things I want to read and study during my personal devotion time. There isn't time for all of it. Obviously reading and studying the bible is what all of it should be but just to read it straight through is another thing. I have been thinking for some time that I will listen to it on audio that way I can do other things during my personal devotion time and listen to the entire bible during the year also. Thanks for the reminder or push in that direction. |
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Posted by Marilyn Gates on 02/13/17 |
Our Sabbath School class is using the Old Testament and New Testament plan. We read through the week and discuss on Sabbath morning. It is very helpful to hear the insights that others share since we are all in different situations. We have become closer friends because of the sharing that has taken place. |
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Posted by Pamela Kendall on 02/13/17 |
I read through most of the Bible once when I was in elementary or high school but for some reason I skipped the minor prophets. Almost a year and a half ago I started again to read through the Bible in from Genesis to Revelation. I finished Daniel just before REVIVE started. I have taken a break and am focussing on the Journey class right now, but I don't really want to stop at the minor prophets again. I was doing my Bible reading while eating breakfast but now I am doing my memory verses during that time. I'm thinking of a way to continue my reading plan.
I did feel that my Bible reading was not doing me a lot of good because I was doing it without meditation on the word - without much thought. Now I have learned tools for meditation from fast - but I need to figure out how to organize my devotions with enough time for everything I want to include in my devotional time.
I have also recently started listening to an audio Bible on my way to work and am in Numbers now. |
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Posted by Suzi Woods on 02/13/17 |
I haven't been consistent in my Bible reading in the past! I don't think I have ever read it through! I want to systematically do that! I have been told I know my Bible but I know I can do better! May God help me be consistent! I am greatful for Fast keeping tract of our reading !! But I also love to hold my Bible! Strategy of the enemy has been to take our Bibles but now he makes so busy he tries to take us from our BiblesMay God help us to be diligent in our reading ! Blessings to allSuzi |
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