Open It!

Weekly Challenge: Choose a Bible reading plan for 2014. 

The message at church this Sunday was entitled "What can The Bible do for you?" Our pastor, Larry Lamb, spoke about our inherently sinful nature (Genesis 8:21) and the glorious fact that there is hope--His Word can change us from the inside out. Pastor Larry explained that most of us want to feel transformed, we want to find the meaning of life, we want to experience peace, we want to live like Christ, and we want to grow in our walk with The Lord. If you want these things, take a look at your Bible. Is it opened or closed? Too often we find our Bibles closed when we're in want, or more accurately, in need. The Bible is a vault of wisdom that is available to us every moment of every day, and we can take as much as we want! Much more valuable than any bank vault! In order to gain this wisdom and satisfy our wants, we need to open our Bibles and start taking from the vault, myself included. 

The first time I read The Bible in full was in 2011. Our church in Alabama challenged us to complete the 90 day reading plan. Quite an undertaking! It took me 5 months, but I finished it! This year I decided to read The Bible chronologically. Unfortunately, I got stuck in Psalms a couple months ago (on day 140 of a one year plan), and failed to continue. I've read my way through 35 percent of this plan, but need to rededicate myself to its completion so I can continue to gain the wisdom I seek. 

My challenge for you this week is to choose a Bible reading plan for 2014. You can certainly start right now, if you're not already sticking to a daily plan, but the new year is just around the corner and that's always a wonderful time to start a new goal. Here are a couple plans to consider:

1.  Read The Bible in 365 Days . Click here for the reading plan. 

2.  Complete the 90 day Bible Challenge. Click here for the reading plan. 

3.  Read The Bible chronologically. Click here for the reading plan. 

4. Download the YouVersion application on your mobile device and sign up for a wide variety of          reading plans. (This is how I read my chronological study). 

5. Subscribe to a daily devotional that will automatically send to your email, such as Our Daily Bread .

6. Visit The Journey for more reading plans, which includes several easily accessible and less intimidating plans for new readers and believers. 

7. Or, just Google "Bible reading plans" until you find an option that works for you!

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