As hard as it may be to believe, 2025 is coming to its end and 2026 is here. For those of you who have been following a “read through the Bible in a year” program, you are almost finished for the year.
Time to plan for next year.
I have been reading through the Bible every year for quite a few years now, and I can honestly say that it has been a wonderful blessing. I look forward to starting afresh each year.
I want to share some ideas for those who want to give it a try in 2026.
When I first started I used LaGard Smith’s chronological Bible divided into daily readings. That book has developed into what is known as The Daily Bible which also includes some devotional thoughts. I used this method for several years. I began to feel that I wanted to get into the New Testament earlier in the year.
I found a daily Bible reading schedule in a (I think) calendar book I got with a homeschool order. It included four daily readings from different parts of the Bible which made it possible to get through the entire Bible in a year. I used this method for a lot of years and shared copies of the plan with others. Schedules like this are readily available online should you want to try this method.
At some point, I started switching between different versions; using one version for a year then choosing another for the next year. I found this to be very helpful in understanding different passages. It also can cause different scriptures to jump out to us.
A new tool that was brought out several years ago is the “Reader’s Version” of the Bible. This is the Bible with no chapter and verse markings. The idea is that the reader can just read without the interruption of chapter markings. Now, there are several different versions in this format. I began using these and really enjoy them. I can highly recommend them. I have used the ESV, CSB, NKJV and ASV. There may be other versions out there in this format.
Whatever plan you choose, do something! Make the decision now to start a daily Bible reading plan. Let the Holy Spirit give the blessings that come through scripture.
If you feel like you can’t read that much in each day, choose a plan that will take you through the Bible in two years. They are available.
I expect we have all heard the saying, you are what you eat. Now, this isn’t a blog about nutrition, but I would have to agree that there is a lot of truth in that saying. What we put into our bodies becomes part of us. If we make sure to eat the foods that build muscle, bone and brain, we are most likely going to be healthy. On the other hand, if we can’t resist junk food and soda, we are heading for disease.
But, this post is not about what we eat, but instead about what we think. Scripture is full of exhortations to think about good. Consider the following verses:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is Honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)
Here we are told quite a bit about how we should think. He starts by telling us to rejoice. Rejoicing has to come from joyful thoughts. When we think about what God has done for us through Christ, when we consider the many blessings he bestows on us, we have reason to rejoice.
Next, he tells us not to be anxious. Anxiety often follows negative thinking. Then follows the well-known list of things we are supposed to think about. The result–peace.
We are constantly being inundated with things, which if thought on, can lead to anxiety and a lack of peace.
We need to feed our minds with a diet of regular meditation and study of God’s word, continual
prayer and daily worship. These will build a healthy spirit. If, however, we choose to fill our minds with mental “junk food” our spirits will grow weaker.
When you choose entertainment be sure it will build your spirit. Watch out for movies, television programs, music, books and video games which lead to spiritual illness. Temptation is all around us to “enjoy” such things. Satan tries to tell us that we are strong and a little bit won’t hurt us. Don’t listen to him. He is the father of lies.
When you wake up in the morning, start with prayer. Thank God for keeping you through the night. Ask him to bless the coming day to his service.
Meet with God early in the day by reading scripture and thinking about what he is telling you. Maybe you are someone who likes to journal, if so, write your thoughts on the scripture.
Pray throughout the day. We are told to “Pray without ceasing.” in I Thessalonians 5:17. When the Spirit brings to mind a prayer need, pray as you go about your daily tasks.
When evening comes, take time to worship before you go to bed. Before you drop off to sleep go over some memorized scripture and praise God.
Eswatini
I like to read a good novel. I have a lot of favourites. Reading a novel is relaxing and refreshing for me. Every once in a while I come across something said by one of the characters that I find thought provoking.
Recently in the book I was reading the main character is frequently called upon to sing for audiences. She doesn’t enjoy doing so and is very nervous, especially in front of a large audience. However, she has been blessed with a lovely voice and the ability to give pleasure through her singing.
As she was sharing her feelings with another character in the book, he asked her who she was singing for. He told her that since God created her and gave her the voice she had, he enjoyed hearing her sing. He encouraged her to sing for an audience of One.
This interaction got me thinking. I have heard many Christians say they do not enjoy praising God through song because they have what they consider to be poor quality voices.
Consider what God said to Moses at the burning bush:
“But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” Exodus 4:10-11 (ESV)
Moses didn’t think much of his speaking ability but God tells him that he is just as God made him. God takes pleasure in hearing us speak or sing or in seeing us serve just for Him.
Next time you are tempted to look around and see if anyone is listening to your feeble attempts to praise God in song, remember that you are singing for an audience of one.
When you feel like you can only do something small for the Lord in comparison to what others around you do, remember that you are serving an audience of One.
We must always strive to give and do our best for our master and we should continually try to improve. He created us, gave us our voices and abilities and knows what we are capable of. Let’s always joyfully do our best for our audience of One. He enjoys hearing us!
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14) (ESV)
This passage in Titus is one of my recent memorization projects. I used to think I couldn’t memorize scripture. Oh, I had memory verses and did some memorization but nothing consistently. Then quite a few years back, I found a memorization program and tried again. I found it worked well and even when I completed the program I continued choosing passages and writing them on 3×5 cards and memorizing them. I review several of the passages daily so as not to forget them.
One thing I really love about memorizing scripture is the way the passages come to my mind at various times. Often as I am getting ready to fall asleep one or more will come to mind and if I wake up in the wee hours before it is time to get up. This has been a true blessing to me.
This morning the above scripture was what came to mind before it was time to get up for the day. As I was pondering the scripture I settled on the idea of being a people for God’s own possession.
We all have various possessions. They are more or less valuable to us for different reasons. Some we paid a lot of money for and some were just found items. So we understand possessions. When we moved here we paid a lot of money to buy a car so we would be able to get from place to place. That car is valuable to us and we take the best possible care of it. When it gets dirty, we are sure to get it washed. If something breaks on it, we get it repaired.
As I thought about what this scripture says about being God’s possession, I thought of the price God paid for us. It says the grace of God appeared and brought salvation. The grace of God became man and was killed, buried and rose again. That was a price beyond belief and way beyond what we might pay for a house or a car.
God cares for us as we care for our possessions. He trains us. He is polishing us up. He is preparing something wonderful for us. We have a purpose. Most of our possessions have a purpose, even if it is only sentimental. This passage says that we are to be zealous for good works.
We are like a finely crafted piece of furniture that has been made by a master craftsman. He has sawn, nailed, sanded, stained, varnished, polished, waxed–everything to make us what he wants us to be. We must be fulfilling our purpose, proclaiming the skill of the master.
Just some thoughts that went through my mind early this morning. Maybe they will bless you.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2 (ESV)
This is Jesus speaking. He is using something that was very familiar to his audience—grape vines. Most of us have never been growers of grapes. But many of us have done some form of gardening or maybe even had some fruit trees.
Jesus compares himself to a vine and says that we are the branches. We are that closely connected to our Lord. Just think of it. What a blessing! When we put on Christ in baptism we are part of Him. He gives us the life and nutrients we need so that we can produce fruit.
If you have ever had a garden or an orchard you know that sometimes a branch seems to be connected and ought to be producing but it just isn’t. If we are good gardeners we will cut that branch off so that it doesn’t waste the strength of the plant.
Sadly there are those who appear to be connected to our true vine but they are not producing fruit. Jesus says that the Father will take that branch away. Such a sad thought.
Consider this scripture: Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 (ESV)
But we have a patient, compassionate Father. Consider this parable: And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine-dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground? And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 (ESV)
What kind of fruit are we supposed to produce? I remember hearing as a child that the fruit of a Christian is more Christians. We were supposed to reach out to the lost and lead them to Christ. Now, I firmly believe that we are meant to share the gospel with the whole world in hopes that all will come to praise God. However, I do not think this is what is meant by bearing fruit.
We are all familiar with this passage: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
These are the fruits we are to produce in ever-increasing amounts. The Father gives us the written word, prayer, worship and all other “Christian disciplines” as the fertilizer to help us produce those fruits.
Now what happens when we are producing fruit? The Father prunes the branches that bear fruit so they can bear even more fruit. Ouch! This must be the most difficult time to practice being thankful in all things. Sometimes the pruning involves suffering. None of us desires suffering. But all the pruning we go through is meant to help us produce more fruit; to be more like Jesus.
Let us strive to be fruitful branches. Let us rejoice in the pruning. Let us long to be more like Him.
This morning my reading was in Nehemiah. One thing I really appreciate about reading through the Bible every year is how something different always jumps out at me.
Today I wondered about the months. Hanani came to visit Nehemiah in the month Chislev and told him of the sorry condition of the people of Judah and the destruction of the wall around Jerusalem. The scripture says that Nehemiah was completely cast down by the news. He was grieving and praying.
Reading on we see that Nehemiah had the important job of cupbearer to the king. He went to serve the king his wine in the month Nisan. The king noticed his sadness and questioned him.
I expect that all of those who are reading this are familiar with the story. I began to wonder just how far apart Chislev and Nisan are. In all my readings of this book I never really thought about the time.
I looked it up and found that Chislev is the ninth month of twelve in the ancient Hebrew calendar. Nisan is the first month. Nehemiah waited FOUR months before appealing to the king. Why?
He spent his time in weeping, mourning, fasting and praying. He was waiting on the guidance of the Lord. I can imagine him grieving and trying to figure out what he could do. When he finally did talk to the king, he had a clear plan ready to present. He said the hand of his God was on him for favor.
How often do we rush ahead without waiting on the Lord? That doesn’t work out very well. Consider when Saul got impatient for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice to the Lord. He got tired of waiting and offered the sacrifice himself. Nothing good came from that.
Nehemiah was highly successful at the task he was given. He succeeded against terrible odds in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. He did not let anything get in the way of doing his job. I believe that his time of waiting on the Lord was the reason for his success.
No matter how difficult it may be, wait on the Lord, but don’t wait without weeping, mourning, fasting and praying.