Tips for Choosing the Right Bible Reading Plan for Yourself

An open Bible with highlighted verses and notes written in its wide margins. A ninety-day reading plan lies on top of it.

Struggling to stay consistent with your personal Bible study time? Without a clear plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lose momentum. A reading plan can bring structure, purpose, and satisfaction to your study of scripture. You can choose the right reading plan for yourself by considering your goals, your schedule, and study formats.

Define Your Goals

Before choosing a Bible reading plan, it’s important to clarify what you hope to achieve. Are you aiming to read the entire Bible, focus on specific books, or explore certain themes like faith, grace, or wisdom?

Your goals might also depend on your current season of life. If you’re going through a tough time, a reading plan that focuses on hope and encouragement could really speak to your heart. If you’re in a season of gratitude or celebration, a plan centered on praise might be the perfect fit to reflect your joy.

You can enhance your study by using a wide margin Bible, which provides space to jot down insights and reflections directly in the margins. Taking notes as you read can help you process verses more deeply. The notes also create a personal record of what God is teaching you.

Assess Your Time Commitment

If you commit too much time to a reading plan, you might become frustrated or feel guilty when you can’t meet your goals. On the other hand, under-committing might leave you feeling unchallenged. Choose a plan that fits your schedule, whether it’s a five-minute devotional or a more in-depth study. You should also decide if you’d rather follow a flexible plan with no deadlines or a structured one with a set timeframe for completion.

Here are some examples of Bible reading plans and their timelines:

  • Blended plan: Read a mix of Old and New Testament passages each day.
  • Forty-day Gospel focus: Dive into the life of Jesus by reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John over forty days.
  • New Testament in six months: Read through the New Testament at a steady pace over half a year.
  • Psalms and Proverbs in a month: Reflect on wisdom and worship by reading through Psalms and Proverbs in thirty days.

Choose a Plan Structure

Bible reading plans use different structures for approaching scripture, so you can pick one that fits your learning style. Reading the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation allows you to experience the complete narrative of God’s plan as it unfolds in canonical order. On the other hand, reading the Bible by sections lets you focus deeply on specific themes or books.

For something different, you could try a chronological plan, which organizes readings in order of historical events. This approach can help you understand the flow of Biblical history in a fresh way. Whatever structure you choose, the most important thing is finding a Bible reading plan that matches your interests and keeps you motivated to read.

Your time in the Word is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your spiritual growth. Whether you read straight through the Bible or focus deeply on specific sections, the key is to stay consistent. Each verse you read with an open heart can guide you, encourage you, or strengthen you in ways you didn’t expect.