How are you doing?  Are you sticking to your goals, or are you beginning to slip?  If you’re struggling, I may be able to help you with one of your goals.  A lot of people begin the year with the goal of reading the Bible more faithfully, but lose their way within a few weeks.  If that’s you don’t kick yourself.  My experience is that the issue has less to do with desire and more to do with approach.  I have 5 suggestions below that can help set you up for success so that you can reach your goal.  This can be the year that you stay the course, and you’ll be glad that you did.

1 The Right Translation – There are a lot of opinions on this, but I’m going to keep things simple.  Your best bet is an easy to read translation that’s faithful to the original text.  You can always consult a pastor or another leader in your church if you need help, but the end result you’re going to want is a translation that you can easily read and understand.  It really makes all the difference.

 

2 A Solid Plan – I have heard from so many people who have started off great with Genesis, but then got lost and quit somewhere around Leviticus.  Now, I’m not saying that Leviticus isn’t worth reading, but if you’re not ready for it there are some better options.  There are a lot of Bible reading plans out there.  Many can be accessed for free online and through Bible apps.  Use one!  Find something that works for you and that interests you (yes, reading the Bible can be interesting) and you will have a much greater chance at success.

 

3 Find Something to Take Away – It does no good to put the time in to read your Bible if you’re not going to learn and grow from it.  Once you’ve finished with your reading for the day take a moment to reflect on it and zero in on one thing to apply to your life.  Hang on to that throughout the day and it will stick with you long-term and help enrich your faith.

 

4 Get Accountability – Find someone in your life who cares about your spiritual growth and ask them to keep you accountable.  This can be done in a small group at your church or by asking a friend or spouse to ask about your reading on a regular basis.  This will help keep you on track and give a new level of depth to your reading as you share what you’re learning with someone else.

 

5 Allow Yourself to Miss – A fall doesn’t have to become a failure.  When you miss a day forgive yourself and then get up and get going again.  Having a set time each day will help you to be consistent, but even the best of us will still sometimes miss a day.  It’s OK, just don’t let it turn into a string of missed days.  Pick back up the next day and continue on.

 

In addition to the above, I’ve written a devotion book that is designed to help you establish the habit of spending time in God’s word every day. It will challenge you to put into practice what you’re reading and also help you to learn more about the amazing God we serve.  Click here if you’d like to check it out.

 

I hope this helps.  What do you suggest?  What works for you?  I’d love to hear about it.