By: Amy Hafner

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

Ten years ago I said yes to an invitation, and I’m so glad I did. I accepted mostly because I liked the person who asked me, and because everyone at church said I should, which is probably not the best reason to commit to anything. But I had no idea how much that little three letter word would become one of the best decisions of my life. The invitation was simple. “Read through the Bible with me this year.”

I didn’t do it perfectly by any means, but I have done it pretty consistently for the past decade. Its words have woven into my heart, opened space for the Holy Spirit to speak, humbled me, shaped me, and transformed my life. And since you’re reading this right now, I would love to offer a few things I’ve learned along the way and invite you to join me.

Here are three things to consider before getting started.

1. Pick a place

Your chair. The kitchen counter. The car line or a coffee shop. Choose one spot that quietly tells your mind and heart: this is where I meet with God. Pair it with the time you chose so it becomes even easier to show up.

2. Pick a plan

You cannot go wrong. Pick one and start. (you can do a quick amazon search to find them)

Tyndale One Year Bible

This is what I use. It gives you a little Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs every day. I like it because when you get stuck in the repetitive parts of the Old Testament, you also have something deeply applicable to read. Pro tip, if it’s your first year, start with just the New Testament.

The Bible Recap

You read chronologically, then listen to a short podcast explaining what you just read. Perfect if you want help understanding the big story.

The Chronological Plan

Follow events in the order they happened and watch God’s story unfold like a timeline.

The best plan is the one you will actually follow.

3. Pick a person

We grow stronger together. Invite a friend, spouse, small group, or coworker to read with you. Trade a simple text each day: “Done.” “I loved this verse.” “I struggled today.” Accountability is really encouragement in disguise.

When the going gets tough

The first year I attempted this I missed probably fifty days. That’s almost two months. But guess what? I still read for about three hundred days, which is three hundred more days than I had ever read before.

So here is what I’ll say… if you miss a day, do not go back. All my type A friends just cringed, but seriously, give yourself grace and keep moving forward. The goal is not perfection, it’s pursuit. The only way to finish is to keep turning the page.

Let’s do this

Pick your time.

Pick your place.

Pick your person.

Pick your plan.

And get ready to see God move in your life in ways you never expected.