And a way we can do it together.
The Bible I never read
Growing up with the Bible, it wasn't until I was around 23 that I read through all the pages of the Bible. That's a clear sign that I did not take Bible reading seriously. Or if I was serious, I was not systematic enough. Or perhaps, nobody told me how to read the Bible well.
Guilty
Sticking to our Bible reading plans is a new year resolution we are all guilty of not keeping(at least once). Most of us have failed at keeping different new years resolutions over the years and have lost the excitement or sense of the need of taking a serious resolution again. In fact, we don't anymore consider the new year to be a God-given springboard of opportunity(which it is) to make new decisions and changes. But remember, if His mercies are new every morning(Lamentations 3:22-23), His mercies are new every year too, including the coming 2023. So, I urge those who have failed - it's time to do the next right thing after any failure - to try again!
Here's a plan
I've been using the YouVersion Bible app for the last 7 years. If you are not aware of it, they offer 2,869 Bible versions in 1,868 languages for free. Yep! And I'm guessing you'd already have it on your phones.
Along with these, they also provide a large(really large) collection of Bible reading plans. You can check them out. The founders of Alpha International, Nicky & Pippa Gumbel have provided a free plan - Bible in One Year - 2023, which I'd highly recommend for all.
What does it include?
Each day includes passages from a Psalm or Proverb, the New Testament, and the Old Testament along with a daily commentary from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel. The devotional insights given(and narrated) by Nicky Gumbel are captivating to listen to and practical to apply to our daily lives.
How I used it?
You can follow along by reading the text or listening to the audio commentary along with the daily passages. I preferred listening to the commentary in the morning and reading the passages in the morning and night.
How do I start?
YouVersion Bible App
Install and create a free account on the Youversion Bible App(skip if already done)
To do it together with me and other friends(accountability!), I've scheduled a plan beginning from January 1st, 2023. Simply click here to join now.
Bible in One Year App
Alpha provides a completely free and dedicated app for the plan. Download the Bible in One Year app for iOS or Android devices and read along each day. If you prefer to do it alone, this would be the right alternative. Do check it out.
The Goal
I want to remind you that what matters is not the plan or the app or the method - but the goal of knowing Christ through His word and becoming more like Him. No matter what your new year's resolutions are going to be, I hope this will be a goal we pursue wholeheartedly and together.
The last bit of motivation for you to start the plan this new year comes from what Nicky Gumbel put on the BiOY website - "365 Days in the Bible - That's 365 days well spent!". So, go ahead - join or start your plan and invite your friends too!
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