<\/p>\n
Do you find reading the Bible to be intimidating? Have you ever sat down to read it, but weren\u2019t sure where to start? Please don\u2019t feel bad; it’s hard to know where to start. However, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way. You can read the Bible in a year, and here are some tips on how to get started.<\/p>\n
The Bible is a heavily influential and widely read book. Its text can provide wisdom, guidance, and comfort. However, approaching the Bible can be a daunting task for most people due to its length, but don\u2019t let that stop you. The Bible is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each book teaches about different things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u25cf Old Testament-The Old Testament is sacred in Judaism and Christianity and contains historical accounts, wisdom, poetry, prophetic warnings, and literature. Therefore, it conveys the covenant between God and the people of Israel.<\/p>\n
\u25cf New Testament-The New Testament focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus and the early Christian church. It contains the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), the Acts of the Apostles, epistles (letters) from key figures, and the book of Revelation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re new to the Bible, it\u2019s not a single narrative. It encompasses various literary forms, including history, poetry, and prophecy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Choosing the correct translation for you is also very important. There are various versions of the Bible in multiple translations. For example, I find the King James Version of the Bible complicated to read and understand. I adore my Chicken Soup for the Soul New Living Translation Bible due to its easy readability. But to each their own. Here is a breakdown of some of the different translations of the Bible.<\/p>\n
New Living Translation (NLT)<\/p>\n
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (MSG)<\/p>\n
New International Version (NLT)<\/p>\n
Common English Bible (CEB)<\/p>\n
New King James Version (NKJV)<\/p>\n
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)<\/p>\n
English Standard Version (ESV)<\/p>\n
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE, Catholic)<\/p>\n
King James Version (KJV)<\/p>\n
New American Standard Bible (NASB)<\/p>\n
Amplified Bible (AMP)<\/p>\n
A one-year Bible that will help you read the Bible in a year. Also known as a chronological Bible, this type of Bible allows you to read the highlights in chronological order as they occurred. Last year, I listened to a podcast called The Daily Bible Podcast, hosted by Tricia and Michelle. They go through the Bible chronologically, and I read along with them. It was a fun and informative experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s essential to set realistic goals for daily reading. Before you even open your Bible, think about how many days a week you want to read, how much time you have each day, whether you will have to get up earlier or stay up a little later, how many chapters you want to read a day, etc.<\/p>\n
If you can only read for fifteen minutes and get through a chapter a day, that\u2019s perfectly fine. This is not a sprint. You want to absorb and meditate on what you are reading, not just check it off your to-do list. This is your personal time with God, a chance to connect and talk with Him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And yes, there will be days when you don\u2019t get to it. Life happens, so don\u2019t feel bad. Make sure you pick up where you left off and keep going.<\/p>\n
For example, you could start with prayer, read for fifteen minutes, then read a section of a devotion, and then end with prayer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When reading the Bible, consistency is key, and it doesn\u2019t have to be consecutive days. If you only have time to read on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, that\u2019s okay. As long as you read two to three times a week for at least fifteen to thirty minutes, this is a good start.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, there are several factors to consider before establishing a reading schedule.<\/p>\n
\u25cf How many books do you read in a month? This will help you determine how long it may take to complete the Bible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u25cf What time of day is easiest for you to read? Some people have time in the morning, while others prefer to wait until they get home and unwind for the night.<\/p>\n
\u25cf What genres or topics do you usually gravitate toward? There are all kinds of things going on in the Bible, from battles to grand love affairs (for those who love stories) to wisdom and guidance in life (for those who prefer instruction)<\/p>\n
\u25cf What are the most significant barriers to your reading? This could be noisy street traffic if you live in the city, rambunctious kids if you have a family, or any other distraction.<\/p>\n
Once you have answered these questions, you can better determine when the perfect time to read is for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reading the Bible in a year doesn\u2019t mean you have to go it alone. There are numerous resources available to help you. This includes;<\/p>\n
\u25cf Study Bibles:<\/strong> A study bible features commentaries, footnotes, maps, and charts that shed light on difficult passages and provide background information.<\/p>\n \u25cf Commentaries:<\/strong> These are academic resources written by theologians and experts.<\/p>\n \u25cf Concordances and Lexicons:<\/strong> A concordance is an alphabetical index of Bible words regarding where they appear. Lexicons focus on the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Lexicons provide definitions, usage, and nuances of the words, which enhance understanding of the text’s original intent.<\/p>\n \u25cf Online Resources and Apps<\/strong>-Some popular sites and apps for Bible study include BibleGateway, YouVersion, and Blue Letter Bible.<\/p>\n Reflect on what you read after you finish reading your Bible for the day. Journal your thoughts and feelings, and then pray about anything that comes to mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some common challenges when reading the Bible include;<\/strong><\/p>\n \u25cf Difficulty understanding language and context<\/p>\n \u25cf Feeling overwhelmed by length and complexity<\/p>\n \u25cf Struggling with application to modern life<\/p>\n \u25cf Inconsistent reading habits<\/p>\n \u25cf Encountering difficult passages<\/p>\n \u25cf Lack of motivation or interest<\/p>\n Difficulty understanding language and context<\/strong><\/p>\n \u25cf Choose a modern translation<\/p>\n \u25cf Study cultural background: Familiarize yourself with the historical and cultural contexts of the passages. Refer to the footnotes and the surrounding context.<\/p>\n \u25cf Use commentaries and study guides.<\/p>\n \u25cf Set attainable goals<\/p>\n \u25cf Break it down: Read the Bible in manageable sections (ex, 1 chapter a day or three chapters a week)<\/p>\n \u25cf Use reading plans<\/p>\n \u25cf Reflect on your personal experience. Have you ever felt like the person you\u2019re reading about? Have you ever been in a similar situation? This will help things be more relatable to you.<\/p>\n \u25cf Join a study group: Getting different perspectives from people will help with understanding<\/p>\n \u25cf Keep a journal: Write your thoughts, questions, and insights as you read. This can help bridge the gap between historical wisdom and modern life.<\/p>\n \u25cf Establish a routine<\/p>\n \u25cf Create a comfortable environment<\/p>\n \u25cf Use technology to help you<\/p>\n \u25cf Pray for understanding.<\/p>\n \u25cf Explore different interpretations by looking at different theological perspectives.<\/p>\n \u25cf Accept uncertainty: Not every passage will be clear or relatable. Let your questions remain open.<\/p>\n \u25cf Incorporate creative methods by using art, music, or writing to make your Bible reading more interesting.<\/p>\n \u25cf Engage with multimedia resources: Check out a podcast, documentary, or video that explores Biblical themes and stories to get a fresh perspective<\/p>\n \u25cf Connect with Community: Studying the Bible with others can inspire discussions, activities, enthusiasm, and accountability again.<\/p>\n As you read the Bible, create milestones and rewards for yourself. This will help you stay motivated to keep reading. Treat yourself to something small after you\u2019ve read for two weeks. Or treat yourself to something every quarter for continuing to read and grow closer to the Lord. You could even read through the Bible with a friend this year and then plan your own celebration bash at the end of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Reading the Bible is no easy feat, especially if it\u2019s your first time, so don\u2019t be afraid to celebrate the small wins and have a party when you complete your goal at the end of the year. This means you\u2019ve grown closer to the Lord day by day, book by book, and verse by verse, which is a huge win.<\/p>\n Photo Credit: \u00a9iStock\/Getty Images Plus\/Jantanee Rungpranomkor<\/span><\/em>n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Carrie Lowrance<\/strong> is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children\u2019s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she\u2019s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you find reading the Bible to be intimidating? Have you ever sat down to read it, but weren\u2019t sure where to start? Please don\u2019t feel bad; it’s hard to know where to start. However, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way. You can read the Bible in a year, and here are some tips<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[1366,45,1560,165],"class_list":{"0":"post-16373","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-christian-living","8":"tag-beginners","9":"tag-bible","10":"tag-read","11":"tag-year"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16373","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16373"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16373\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16373"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16373"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16373"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Incorporating Reflection and Prayer<\/h2>\n
Tips for Overcoming Common Challenges<\/h2>\n
Tips to Overcome These Challenges<\/h2>\n
Feeling overwhelmed by length and complexity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Struggling with the application to modern life<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Inconsistent reading habits<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Encountering difficult passages<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Lack of motivation or interest<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Celebrating Milestones: Completing the Journey<\/strong><\/h2>\n