How to Use This (Customizable) Devotional

Happy New Year! This year I’ll be reading through the whole Bible instead of only through the Old Testament. But you don’t have to. I’ve chosen a Bible reading plan that you can customize to help you take the next step in your own spiritual life (the Bible reading plan, by the way, can be found and downloaded from http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101).

So here’s how it works. Each day, there will be four readings—for example, today’s readings are:

Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

And each day I will mark the readings with the following abbreviations: OT (Old Testament), NT (New Testament), ALL (Everyone). It will look like this:

ALL - Psalm 1:1-6
ALL - Proverbs 1:1-6
OT - Genesis 1:1-2:25
NT - Matthew 1:1-2:12

Notice that I rearranged the readings, putting the 2 readings labeled ALL on top. Those two readings will usually be the shortest, because they come from the Psalms and the Proverbs. I’ve put them on top because I would encourage everyone who doesn’t have another Scripture reading plan to read at least these two Scriptures each day.

The rest of the reading plan is just as simple. If you would like to read through the Old Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled OT, in addition to the ones labeled ALL. If you would like to read through the New Testament in a year, then read through the Scriptures labeled NT—and I would encourage you to continue reading the Scriptures labeled ALL, too. And some of you will want to read through the entire Bible—just join me in reading each Scripture each day.

I’m sure that there will be some who read this plan days, weeks, or even months after we’ve started it. No worries! Join us wherever we are. Don’t worry about “catching up.” If you stay faithful in your reading, starting now, you’ll have plenty of time to read the Scriptures for yourself.

Which plan have you chosen?