Summer Reading Plan

I’ve never been good at following the Bible reading guides that take you through the Bible in a year, which usually includes reading a passage daily from both the Old and New Testaments. I start out with good intentions, then get behind when I have to miss a day or two. It’s hard to catch up once that happens, and then the whole reason for reading the Bible turns into a challenge of just trying to read the daily requirement. We don’t put that kind of pressure on ourselves for any other book we read for insight or reflection.

And if we’re not spending that time with God because we really want to,
what does that say about how we really feel about Him?

I do believe we should read the Bible daily, even if it’s only a few verses in a quiet time set aside to focus only on God and His Word. He doesn’t have a chance to speak to us through His written Word or to speak into our heart, if we don’t sit still and spend time with Him. I also believe we should have some kind of reading plan, whether it’s to read through the Psalms, the Gospels, or other books of the Bible, by reading a few passages at a time and reflecting on them. Skipping around from one day to the next can make it more difficult to stay focused, except when studying a specific subject and looking up the related passages.

Often our choice of Bible reading will be to seek out and read about a specific subject because of issues we are facing in our life. Or we might just want to learn more about what God’s Word says about something.

Regardless of our method, there is no substitute for time spent reading God’s Word,
and no measure for the positive impact it will have on us.

This summer I have decided to read through the New Testament, and I’m even going to follow a guide. I know, I opened this post saying those don’t usually work for me, but this one is different. This guide is set up with weekly passage selections, and is designed to make it easier to stick with it. Not only that you have a whole week to read that section, but also the longest section is at the beginning, then tapers off. Sort of like we are inclined to do, start off doing great with a new resolution, then we fall behind and are tempted to just give up. The sections are divided as weekly, which you can divide into your own daily sections, but the point is to make it easier to set your own reading pace.

Actually, the main point of “Reading the Entire New Testament in the Summer of 2011” is to get into the habit of reading the Bible. We can’t know what God has to say to us if we don’t read His Book.

There are hundreds of other people from around the world committing to this summer reading of the New Testament. The official kick-off is designed to be Sunday, June 5, 2011, the first full week of June. But you can start as early as today if you want to get a head start on the first section.

The Bible is on my recommended reading list, and the New Testament is on my summer reading list. I hope it will be on yours too, and you will join me in this great summer adventure!

You can get more information and download the free pdf reading guide here: http://www.timothyreport.com/newtestament.html

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