On January 2, 2010, I began the process of reading the Bible through in 90 days using the YouVersion.com online plan. If I stay on track, I’ll finish with Revelation 22 on April 2. 

There are certainly other ways to read the Bible other than ‘in 90 days’, but here are the reasons why I’m doing it this way (and why I think it will be helpful to do this every year) : 

 

1. If God made sure his words were recorded for us, why wouldn’t I want to read all of them numerous times?


2. Reading large portions of Scripture regularly slows me down so I can think about life from an eternal perspective. Still within the first 20 days, and I’ve had tearful moments of revelation and times of seeing things with fresh eyes.

 

3. In my daily life, I am constantly bombarded with images, philosophies, thoughts, reasonings, and attractions from the world, my flesh, and the Enemy. I need large quantities of God’s thoughts, empowered by his Spirit, to resist them.

 

4. I trust my own thoughts too much at times and it’s good to be rebooted with God’s thoughts as much as possible. 


5. Each time I read through the Bible, I’m humbled as I realize how little I actually know and understand God’s Word.

 

6. Reading a lot of the Bible helps me more easily see how it all fits together, and gives a fresh perspective to the biblical narrative (which perhaps was never intended to be 'nibbled on' in the first place.)


7. As a worship leader and student pastor, I want people’s faith to rest on God’s Word, not my music or my opinions. I want Scripture to be the overflow of my heart, not something I occasionally use for a desired emotional effect or dig into because I have to teach a lesson.. 


8. As a husband, father of three, and resident of planet Earth, Scripture is my primary how-to manual to marriage, parenthood, and life. You and I should be able to recite it better than the USAmerican pledge of allegiance… if my allegiance is to Christ.


I know reading completely through the Bible sounds pretty ambitious or intimidating. But if I can do it, so can you. There are multiple plans out there from which to choose.


What are you currently doing that's challenging you spiritually?