Do You Read Your Bible Every Day?

My dear friend Christine has finished her 2024 Bible-reading plan, and I invite you to download it, print it, and put it inside the front cover of your Bible. (Scroll to the very bottom of this page.)

Christine writes…

Just as our physical bodies need its necessary food to operate at optimum levels and in best health, so our souls need its necessary food to operate at optimum levels and in best health.

If we do not have our necessary food, for the body or for the soul, we cannot grow into maturity.

And just as our bodies need their necessary food daily – one meal a week will not keep it in optimal health – so do our souls need their necessary food daily, for one meal a week in the Word of God will not keep it in optimal health.

• The Word of God is as sweet to our souls as honey is to our bodies!
• The Word of God is a living word, freshly speaking to us daily.
• The Word of God creates and strengthens our faith.
• The Word of God contains truth to free us from slavery to sin and lies.
• The Word of God gives us necessary wisdom to teach and direct our ways.
• The Word of God washes our hearts and minds from the world’s lies, just as a daily bath washes our bodies from dirt accumulated through the day.
• The Word of God protects and preserves us from traps and snares.
• The Word of God plants seeds of truth in the hearts of the next generation.

Scripture says…

• But [Yeshua] answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
• Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby… (1 Peter 2:1-2)
• And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
• More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;
  Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)
• How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)
• Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O YHVH God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
• And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. (Ezekiel 3:3)
• “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
• For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
• So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
• Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. (1 Peter 1:23)
• And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. (Psalms 119:45)
• And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)
• The law of YHVH is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of YHVH is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of YHVH are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of YHVH is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of YHVH is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of YHVH are true and righteous altogether… Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9, 11)
• Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
• The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
• For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
• All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (John 15:3)
• Messiah also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing… (Ephesians 5:26-27)
• Also it shall be, when [the king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear YHVH his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
• Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip. (Psalm 17:4-5)
• How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. (Psalm 119:9)
• Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11)
• Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:11-15)

I like Christine’s Bible-reading plan because it’s simple to keep up with, even though I have a busy life. I get up in the morning, take my shower, feed the cats, make my coffee, and then sit down with my Bible and planner.

On weekdays, we read 2 chapters each day from the Old Testament, a Psalm or Proverb, and 1 chapter from the New Testament. On weekends, we read the Torah portions and continue with the Old Testament and Psalms or Proverbs. The Old Testament readings are chronological, and I feel like the entire Bible really starts to make sense! Christine’s website has daily study notes, too — which have greatly added to my understanding of Scripture.

I’ve lost track how many years I’ve been reading my Bible using Christine’s Bible-reading plan. I know I first started reading her blog around 2006 or 2007… and I distinctly remember reading her daily Bible studies since at least 2014. So it’s been a LONG time!

I’ve seen other Bible-reading plans online, even by other Torah-following believers. I’ve had concerns about some of the things that are taught, and frankly, most don’t have much meat to them. I think that if you want to really GROW in your walk with Yehovah, THIS is the plan to help you.

My new Redeeming the Time Planner matches Christine’s Bible-reading plan in 2024, but sadly, they all sold out on the first day. However, you can still pre-order a planner that starts in April.

I’ll be praying that you are finally able to stick to your Bible-reading goals in 2024 — and that it transforms your life!

Blessings,

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture in this blog post taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.