“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

With the arrival of December, we know that January and a new year are just around the corner. This is the perfect time to consider the commitments you want to make for the coming year. One of the first commitments that comes to mind for many Christians is to read through the Bible (or perhaps just the Old Testament or New Testament) in a year. 

The thought of reading through the Bible in a year can seem a little scary. You may have tried it before and ended up dropping out somewhere along the way (My guess is Leviticus…). Having a plan is not a guarantee that you’ll make it all the way through the year, but having no plan is a certain recipe for failure. This post is intended to offer you a number of options, but you’ll need to find the one that works for you.

This year, I chose to use an app-based Bible reading plan, and I am on track to complete it. I am using a plan I found on the YouVersion app, and it was convenient to have this plan available on my iPad or iPhone. This method does allow some highlighting and note-taking, but your highlighting is limited to whole verses, meaning you can focus on a certain word, phrase, or partial verse. Other than that, it was very helpful. You can search for “YouVersion” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

In the coming year, I plan to use a physical Bible for my daily reading. That will make it easier for me to underline and provide more space to write notes on the pages. I’ll also have a notebook to jot down inspirations, significant verses, questions that come to mine, and insights from the text. There are Bibles designed specifically with wide margins for note taking and journaling, but I plan to use my ESV Study Bible and a notebook. I will download a Bible reading plan, print it out, and mark each day as complete when I’ve read it.

You’ll also see in the list below some Bibles designed specifically for reading through in a year. These can be super convenient, but it will mean you have one Bible for your devotion time and another to take to a small group or church. I have actually used these in assisting a previous church in reading through the Bible together as a church, but it does mean each person needs to purchase a copy of their own. There is a link below to the Amazon.com page, but you can order them from Christian Book Distributors or whatever site you prefer. You may also find it in brick-and-mortar bookstores.

So without further ado, below is the listing of Bible-reading options. I have included hyperlinks so that you can check them out yourself. Here’s a hint – don’t wait until December 31 (or January 1) to make your plan. You can start investigating the plan that is right for you right now!

One Year Bible – This is a printed Bible divided into 365 days with the designated Scripture readings. The One Year Bible lets you read from the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) each day. You can find the One Year Bible in various translations. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=one+year+bible&language=en_US&crid=3IFC1FLAB6XFQ&linkCode=sl2&linkId=a9925d1f0d43c1da1bcf67763551cfe7&sprefix=one+year+bible%2Caps%2C152&tag=hopefilledfai-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl

One Year Bible is also available through the YouVersion Bible App (Apple or Android) and through a web browser – https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/60-the-one-year-bible

Navigators Reading Plan – This plan will have readings from both the OT and NT. This plan is 25 days per month, so if you feel you can’t do 7 days every week this might be a plan for you. It is a downloadable PDF that you can print.  https://www.navigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/navigators-bible-reading-plan.pdf

5-Day Reading Plan – This option will help you read through the NT only using a 5 day per week plan. Here is the link to the printable PDF. https://www.fivedaybiblereading.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Bible-Reading-Schedule-2023.pdf

Blue Letter Bible – This website offers a number of downloadable PDF options some for one year and others for 2 years. Just print out your preferred plan and get started.  https://www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading/

Bible Project – This is a bit of a different approach to reading through the Bible and will require a bit more time each day. You read the Scripture from your preferred translation and watch the video that will provide some explanation. It is available as a printable PDF with active hyperlinks to the videos or you may find it more convenient to use the YouVersion Bible App (Apple or Android)  https://www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading/

Audio Bibles are available as apps for your mobile device or online. These can be very helpful for those who commute for work. Here is one option, but there are many.  https://dailyaudiobible.com/

Audio Bibles for Kids can be found in mobile apps or online. Here is one example. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-1-year-daily-audio-bible-f-30974179/

Still haven’t found the perfect plan for you? Here is another website featuring many more Bible reading options:  https://www.ligonier.org/posts/bible-reading-plans

Wow! There are a ton of options. Which is the best one? The one you will follow! 

Before ending this lengthy post, here is some wisdom I have gleaned from my years of attempting (and sometimes failing) to read the Bible daily –

1. Make a commitment to read God’s Word.
2. Get a plan.
3. Set a time each day for Bible reading that fits your schedule.
4. Make sure you have a way to take notes to capture insights and truths the Lord has revealed.
5. Determine what you will do about what you read. God’s Word is meant to be applied to your life.
6. Write down questions about things you don’t understand. (You can find answers to many your questions at this website – https://www.gotquestions.org/)
7. If you miss a day, don’t give up. Start where you missed and catch up as you can.
8. Enjoy it! This is a spiritual discipline, but it is not meant to be a drudgery. Listen for God to speak!