A whirlwind of blessings with a view of the forest (not just the trees).
Like many Christians, I've read through the Bible multiple times, cover to cover. Usually, I complete this in one year, although I took two years during my first time. Every time I accomplish this journey, I discover new aspects I hadn't picked up before, I realize thrilling epiphanies and see an even clearer picture of who God is.
Last year, as fall transitioned into winter, my already challenged health showed a rapid decline. Thankfully my brain activity was surprisingly active, though my body became unusable. Trapped in bed (and in a body that wasn't functioning) for months with no end in sight, I decided to read through the Bible again. This would help me pass the long hours alone, and it had been on my heart recently.
My heart was craving this far more than I realized.
"From the first chapters, I felt drawn to wanting more. I didn't want to put it down."
This time, I chose to read the Bible chronologically, in order (as best we know) as the events occurred. What a thrilling ride.
My desire for God and hunger to know more only increased as I read, and soon I began to outpace my 90-day goal. My soul felt like it was experiencing life - like lungs breathing beautiful, pure oxygen, for the first time. My pace quickened. From the moment I woke up each morning, I reached for my Bible, opened to my bookmark, and poured myself into it. My Bible became the book I couldn't stop reading. Like both a thriller and a love story that I couldn't put down. In some ways, this is God's journal that he's written for all of us. A personal gift of knowledge and love that He wants us to know. More than know, He wants us to feel, connect, and grow. The Bible is the most beautiful love story I've ever read. Though I've read the words before, each day, I was thrilled with the anticipation of what would happen next.
Daily Reading
Before sunrise or breakfast, I'd pour through chapter after chapter, craving more. Breakfast would come, I'd take a break, then begin again. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon, I'd read. Propped against pillows, with covers pulled to my waist, and a pillow on my lap to rest my Bible. This state of physical stillness, though painful and frustrating, allowed the over-activity of my heart, soul, and mind. Unable to stand, every moment forced to the confinement of bed. Week after very long week. Pressure-ulcers from a decade of too much time unable to move, eat through my flesh. Unmanageable pain can overwhelm my body. Yet it's incredible what sharply directed mental focus can accomplish. Breathing through the pain, changing positions as carefully as possible, I continued to read. To stay focused on God's Word. All-day. Every day. Afternoon and evening came, and my reading hours were only interrupted by assistance with hygiene, food, and naps, as needed.
Almost a week into my reading, and I was nearly 20% through the Bible. Wow. I didn't expect that. Then, somehow, twelve days in, I was at the half-way point. Unbelievable. I didn't intend to read so quickly. I thought my 90-day goal would be a steep pace. But my craving continued, and my pace quickened. As the days got shorter, darker, and colder, my Bible reading ignited with speed, intensity, and illumination. The thin, worn pages of my Bible seem filled with God's personal letters to my heart - touching my soul. At times, bringing tears to my eyes, followed by laughter, rejoicing, and complete contentment. In just two weeks, I'm more than 70 percent through the Bible. It's day 20, and tears of joy, gratitude, and love fill my eyes as I read the final chapters of Revelation.
God lovingly signs off His book to us just as He began, with yet one more call for salvation through the unimaginable and loving grace of Jesus. All of the Holy Spirit's words point to Jesus, while Jesus points us to God, and God is both transcending light and unconditional love, in ways we can't fully imagine… yet.
Chronological Reading
“Layers of meaning and connections made from beginning to end. Genesis and Revelation like mirrored bookends of God's love story to all of us.”
Reading David's Psalms, as he's experiencing the moments that encouraged him to write, they come to life far more than ever before. On the run to save his life, I can almost feel his heart racing as I read his Psalm. Experiencing the life of Jesus from multiple viewpoints, each story at a time, gave me insight into how each account completes the others. Like pieces to a puzzle made more clear. Paul's numerous and precious letters came to life, bringing an even greater appreciation for the absolute miracle that Paul was, and how God continues to use his letters to reach and teach the world. Paul is a beautiful reminder of how God has a plan for us, even before we're born, including our genetics, the precise place we're born, our education, and even our field of study can all be used toward good.
Reading Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation, while Genesis and Exodus are still fresh on my mind, completes the balance; the beginning and the end, it illuminates an understanding of both so much more. Like pieces of a carefully designed puzzle, they complete each other. The days of Noah, his three sons, and their offspring are all tied back in during the end times. Israel and his 12 sons, their tribes, and the permanent covenants between God and the nation of Israel are also fresh on my mind as they come to their beautiful fulfillment in Revelation. There is purpose, completeness, and perfection here beyond full comprehension, and I'm grateful for the enormous revelations I experience as I read. So much of the end brings us right back to the beginning. And I see more and more of this big picture each time I read through the Bible. The book ends of the beginning and end, are so beautifully woven and balanced far more than I realized previously.
Fast-Paced Reading
“The pieces fit together like a puzzle - I'd never seen the box cover until now!”
This fast-reading through the Bible was by far my most memorable. A journey I'm tremendously grateful to experience. The tragic circumstances that brought my body here, leaving me so physically challenged, God has used for good. Of course He has, because that's His character. His is a story of love - completely unwavering and unconditional love.
I love a good, in-depth, word-by-word study, including the Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible. But even the most tedious, in-depth Bible study becomes more powerful if you have a clearer view of the big picture. The perspective of a broad overview is only accomplished with a full read-through - every word - cover to cover (in whatever order you choose).
Personally, having read through the Bible numerous times over the last 40 years, I more than highly recommend it. If you haven't done it yet, you should! If you have, you should do it again! Each time there are new rewards and a great number of epiphanies.
Rubber Meets The Road
“How can we say we believe in the Word of God if we haven't even read it?”
Do you have a favorite book that you've read over and over again? Each time, you pick up new details and the added layers of insight and meaning. What if someone told you they read a few lines of your favorite book, and they tried to carry on a conversation with you about that book? How well could they truly understand the book, if they've only read a few of their favorite sentences or chapters? Could they really even know what it's about? Or have a genuine conversation about it?
Or, if you read a book so slowly that you wait years between chapters, will you truly ever comprehend the whole? Perhaps, without seeing a clear view of the overarching themes and finding the many places where the Bible translates itself, you actually misunderstand the individual sentences. There is so much more here than most people realize. More than a book written by humans, this is the inspired Word of God. The layers of meaning and insight grow with every reading, every study, for the length of your entire life (and so much more). These words have the power to transform you for eternity. All things really do come together, questions answered, and wisdom is granted by simply reading this book. It will blow your mind and change your life. Absolutely.
Get Started
To get you started, here are a few reading plan ideas. I highly recommend either the Canonical Plan (reading straight through from Genesis to Revelation) or the Chronological Plan (roughly in the order that the events occurred). Both of these are fantastic. Personally, my next time through I'll be choosing the Chronological Plan again. You can print out either reading plan and keep it in your Bible, or read the Bible on your phone or computer. Either way, checking off each section as you read allows you to see your progress and know what percent of the Bible you've read. Helping you feel accomplished every step of the way! Every percent is a tiny celebration. If you follow either of these daily plans, you'll read through the Bible in one year.
Go at whatever pace suits you best. I recommend reading the Bible in one year. Once you've done that, try a faster reading, perhaps a 90-day plan (complete four of the segments every day). See what you notice that you hadn't in the previous reading. Jot down notes of your insights or epiphanies along the way!
Enjoy this beautiful and enlightening journey!! May the blessing begin.
Here's a link to several Bible reading plans. Enjoy!
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I tell you these things, not to convince you, but to spark curiosity and encourage you to dig deep and explore these issues for yourself.
As always, don't take my word for it.
Examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are true.
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,
for they received the word with eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
- Acts 17:11
Written by Lori Grimmett, a student of Biblical studies for more than 40 years,
and of Biblical theology and eschatology for more than 25 years.
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