How to Use a Bible in a Year Plan to Know God Better - PRACTICAL tips!
1. Pick the Right Bible-in-a-Year Plan
Not all Bible-in-a-year plans are structured the same way, and the right plan can make a big difference in whether you actually stick with it. I personally like a plan that moves through different sections of the Bible throughout the week instead of staying in one section for months at a time. It keeps the reading varied and helps you see different parts of Scripture side by side.
The downside to a plan like this is that each day’s reading will not feel equal in length or difficulty. Some days may be short and easy, while others have a much heavier reading load. When I come to one of those longer days, I simply split it up instead of forcing myself to finish it all at once. A Bible reading plan should give you structure, not make you feel trapped by the schedule.
Here is the Bible-in-a-Year plan I personally use: Michael Coley’s Bible Reading Plan
2. Schedule a Catch-Up Day
Life is going to interrupt your Bible reading plan sometimes, so plan for that before it happens. Instead of feeling like you have to squeeze extra chapters into an already busy weekday, schedule a regular catch-up time. Maybe every other Saturday morning your spouse watches the kids while you head to a coffee shop with your Bible and spend an hour catching up on anything you missed during the week. If you are already caught up, use that time to slow down and study something you wanted to understand better. Building margin into the plan can make it much easier to stay consistent without feeling constantly behind.
3. Help Out Future You
One of the easiest ways to stay on track with a Bible-in-a-year plan is to work a little ahead when you have the time. If you know tomorrow will be busy, read part of tomorrow’s assignment today. And when you hit one of those long, difficult reading days, look ahead at the week and find a lighter day when you can finish what you did not get to. A little planning can keep one hard day from turning into an entire week of feeling behind.
4. Attach Your Bible Reading to a Habit You Already Have
Bible reading is easier to keep up with when it already has a place in your day. Too often, we plan to get to our reading at some point and then do not think about it again until our head hits the pillow.
Instead, attach your Bible reading to something you already know you will do. Read with your morning coffee, during your lunch break, or while the kids nap. It can also help to have a backup time in mind. Did your toddler refuse to nap, so your usual Bible-reading time disappeared? No problem—maybe your husband agreed to give you an hour of quiet time when he gets home. Having a backup plan makes it much easier to stay consistent when the day does not go the way you expected.
5. Use an Audio Bible on Busy Days—But Don’t Let It Replace Reading
Not every day will give you a quiet place to sit down with your Bible, and that does not mean the day has to be a total loss. On especially busy days, listen to the assigned chapters while you drive, fold laundry, make dinner, or go for a walk.
Just be careful not to let audio become your only form of Bible reading, because it comes with its own challenges. It is easy to press play and realize ten minutes later that your mind has wandered and you have no idea what you just heard. Use audio as a backup tool for busy days, not as a permanent substitute for slowing down, reading the text, and thinking about what it says.
6. Keep a Messy Bible Notebook
Keep a notebook nearby while you read and give yourself permission to make it messy. Write down questions, things you want to look up later, verses that stand out, connections you notice, or random thoughts that come to mind while you are reading. It does not need to be organized, pretty, or something anyone else will ever see. The point is simply to have a place to capture what you are thinking so you can stay engaged with the text and come back to anything you want to explore more deeply later.
Ready to Get More Out of Your Bible Reading This Year?
A Bible-in-a-year plan can give you structure, but understanding what you are reading is what makes that time truly valuable. Bible 101 walks through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, helping you understand the major people, events, books, and themes so the Bible fits together more clearly as you read.
It is self-paced, so you can use it alongside your Bible reading plan without adding another rigid schedule to keep up with.