Reading the Bible in 2007

[blhowes]

Yes it IS very convicting when you read of some of the greats like say Paul Feinberg who used to read it through 4 times a year by reading 1 hour a day. I have simply started to set aside TIME to read & not worry about how much I get through when I DO read. In other words no other set goals other than time.

That sounds like an excellent idea. I'd be curious at the end of the year how many times you ended up reading through the Bible.

Also just for me, not sure if this will help anyone though I've heard several say it's a good idea...when I'm reading I break down Leviticus. In other words say I'm in Genesis 8 or whatever I go & I read 1 chapter from Leviticus. That's all..the reason? I had started & I know several others who started reading the bible through & died in Leviticus. So I simply decided to break it down & make it more palatable. As for the Psalms & Proverbs I still do those monthly.

That's another good idea. Personally, I haven't had that problem with Leviticus, though at times going through some of the geneologies in the OT I've struggled. What's helped me is the belief that all scripture is profitable, and that God inspired every word for a purpose. When I get to the geneologies, or other parts that may be considered 'slow reading', I ask myself as I'm reading, "God put this here for a reason. What was that reason?" Though I still can't answer those questions, the curiosity alone helps me through those sections. (if only my mind knew the tricks I play on it...)

 

[ChristopherPaul]

Yes it IS very convicting when you read of some of the greats like say Paul Feinberg who used to read it through 4 times a year by reading 1 hour a day. I have simply started to set aside TIME to read & not worry about how much I get through when I DO read. In other words no other set goals other than time.

This is the approach I take, that is simply read with no set objective other than reading and digesting the content. I am not quite there with the discipline to read the entire Bible 4 times in a year, but it is certainly a good practice to aspire to.

Personally I tend to get hung up with goals and objectives like the daily reading plans that I end up rushing for the sake of reaching my goal instead of concentrating on actually retaining and meditating on the passage that is being studied. Because of this flaw, the "Feinberg" method you describe suits me much better.

Also just for me, not sure if this will help anyone though I've heard several say it's a good idea...when I'm reading I break down Leviticus. In other words say I'm in Genesis 8 or whatever I go & I read 1 chapter from Leviticus. That's all..the reason? I had started & I know several others who started reading the bible through & died in Leviticus. So I simply decided to break it down & make it more palatable. As for the Psalms & Proverbs I still do those monthly.

This may not be the case for you, but to me this method seems like a way to simply plow through Leviticus just for the sake of saying that you read it. For me, such is what I need to be mindful of.

 

[turmeric]

That's a lot of my problem, I don't see the point of reading just to be able to say you read it. I'm just trying to read 5 Psalms at night, and I find my mind wandering...my pastor says the spiritual disciplines are hard. What I don't get is why it was so easy when I first got saved. Maybe because I didn't have a job?

 

[MICWARFIELD]

My church is using the M'Cheyne's reading plan, and I'm beginning to like it better than others I've used in the past.

Mike

 

[3John2]

Actually quite the contrary regarding Leviticus. I get a LOT more from reading 1 chapter & absorbing it's content than to read several in Leviticus & have my mind wander or as you said simply say "you read it". Reading through it is only part of it. I guess someone with a lot of time on their hands can say they read it through 7 times in a year (I once heard someone say that) but the thing is how much do you absorb? That's why I break down Leviticus. Perhaps others can stomach that book better than me. I must admit I can't.

 

[thegracefullady]

I've started using this website for a daily reading plan. You pick whichever plan you want (they have a plan based on M'Cheyne's plan, but I chose the One Year Bible plan) and they email your daily reading to you each day.

Help! I have to get up at 5 am each day just to get to work and school. That's when I used to get up to read Scripture. When I get home I just can't make myself do it. I've had a lovely 2 weeks off for the holidays and a nice spiritual feed, but the schedule starts again tomorrow...

It's been very helpful to me with my schedule, and I hope it'll work out as well when school starts up again. Meg, I also have to get up at 5 in order to commute to school, but I've found that having a daily reading later in the day is more helpful for me. Lunch break and commuting time (4 hours total daily) was great for spending time in the Word.