As we look toward a new year, do you start a new Bible plan? Do you read through the Bible in a year or start a new Bible study?

I do a combination of both. It is so important to be in His Word consistently whichever direction you decide to go with it.

Things I have found helpful as I walk through the Word:

• I have found that sometimes doing a chronological Bible reading as opposed to reading it from Genesis to Revelation is good.
• If you can, either turn off notifications while using an electronic Bible or use a paper Bible. This will help keep distractions to a minimum.
• If you are not able to hold a Bible, there are many apps with audio Bibles. There are some resources that go through Scripture chapter by chapter. J. Vernon McGee’s Through the Bible and Through the Word are two that I am familiar with that can be of help.
• For Bible study books to guide you through Scripture, use trusted sources that use the Bible as the main text. Blue Letter Bible has many helps for studying God’s Word on your own.
• Having a plan to go systematically through a study or through the Bible is better than a hit and miss approach. It helps you take the verses in context as well as being more likely to do it.
• At the same time, don’t get so focused on completing a plan in a certain time frame that it becomes just something to check off of a to do list or that you are not listening to what God is saying as you read through. Remember the important part is to truly meditate on the Word and read God’s Word. The point isn’t to check something off your list.

Bible study and memorization is so important. It can and does change our lives. I encourage you to pray and ask God to help you to find a method that works for you, if you don’t already have one.