My Year Reading Through the Bible
- Candyce Carden
- Mar 15, 2022
- 3 min read
Just before Lent last year, four things motivated me to read through the Bible in one year—something never-before accomplished by this sixty-plus year-old Christian.
The four things
A minister I follow suggested adding a practice to grow us spiritually during Lent, rather than give something up. The seed was planted.
“God did not intend for His Word to be difficult to understand or intimidating. He wants us to take time to study the Bible to find the gems hidden within,” says Stephanie Pavlantos, author of Jewels of Hebrews— a Bible study I did. The study convinced me I needed more time in God’s Word. I wanted to dig my teeth into solid food, rather than rely on the milk of infants (Hebrews 5:11-14).
“Think of Bible reading as texting with God.” My pastor’s modern-day metaphor intrigued me. He compared reading the Bible to texting with his wife—how it nurtures their relationship when he reads and responds to his wife’s texts. Likewise, when he reads the Bible to connect with God, he gets to know Him better. Reading God’s text builds their relationship.
Imagine what happens if we disregard those messages from our children, spouse, parents, or friends. When we neglect reading the Bible, it’s equivalent to ignoring God’s message to us. Our relationship suffers.
“You will draw closer to God, and your life will be transformed,” Lori Hatcher asserts as she argues the best way to draw closer to God is to read your Bible. I happened upon this article by chance and saved it. Enjoy Lori’s excellent post here: “The Best Way to Draw Near to God.”
I believe God orchestrated these events so I would do what I did. I started a Bible reading plan on the first day of Lent and completed Day 365 two weeks before the current Lenten season. Starting a Bible reading plan on Ash Wednesday is odd but worked for me. (Many people start such plans on January 1.)
It’s not that I didn’t already read the Bible. I did. I read it for information, during guided Bible studies, in daily devotions, and at church. And although I’d started Bible reading plans before, I never finished one.
why I succeeded this year
Changing my intent changed the effect. When my purpose for reading the Bible became to know God better, the effect was different. We get to know the people in our life by spending time with them. To know God better and grow closer to Him, I needed to invest time in the relationship.
In previous attempts, my goal was to check a box. Reading the Bible cover to cover was something I “should” do. My reasoning was flawed, it didn’t feel right, and I quit.
Partnering with God changed the results. Before each day’s reading, I asked God for His insights, to spiritually bless me with His Word, and thanked Him in advance. Including God in the journey resulted in meaningful and rewarding outcomes.
Today, I cannot imagine not continuing the practice until I no longer have eyes and ears. The Bible is exciting. It’s filled with beautiful, lyrical writing. Adventures. Wars. Stories of redemption, rebellion, and surrender. God’s love and promises. And it nurtured my relationship with Him. My year of reading through the Bible drew me closer to my Father.
The more time I spend with God, the more time God spends with me.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
(James 4:8 ESV)
I encourage you to read through your Bible if you don’t already. In my next post, I’ll share the process that finally succeeded for me. The first time through is a little different from subsequent ones.
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