Read The Bible With Me in 2024!

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The best thing about 2023? My daily practice of beginning my day by reading the Bible. This year, using The Bible Recap plan, I completed my 6th trip through the entire Bible.

This year has not been easy. I feel like I’ve been on the scrambler at the county fair, spinning and jerking from one place to another. Who I am (adoptive mom, foster mom, not a mom, administrative assistant, stay at home wife) and what I do each day has changed quickly and abruptly.

The only consistent and certain thing about every single day of 2023? God’s Word. It is so comforting to know that every time I step into those pages, I will find the same thing. I know these stories. I know how it starts. I know how it ends.

I know that in every circumstance, God will be “a stronghold for the poor person, a stronghold for the needy in his distress, a refuge from storms and a shade from heat.” (Isaiah 25:4)

There were many days that I read those familiar passages and felt absolutely nothing. I struggled through so much of this year. Yet I could still claim this truth: “You are near, Lord, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.” (Psalm 119:151-152)

I wrote verses on index cards and posted them on my bathroom mirror as daily reminders of the truth I needed in my heart.

God’s Word carried me through a year of uncertainty, difficulty, and change. If I didn’t do anything else right this year, I can confidently say that I know God better than I did on January 1st.

Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:25)

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8)

Why do I love The Bible Recap reading plan?

1 – Reading the entire Bible chronologically is a game-changer.

It’s like watching your favorite TV series from start to finish over and over. As I read the Bible chronologically, I begin to anticipate exciting or sad events. I can quote verses along with the speaker and I find myself weaving Scripture verses into my everyday conversation.

Eventually I begin looking for small details that were hidden by the author. I’m not satisfied with short verses that people share on social media. I want to read the verse in context and explore the full meaning! The more I read it – the more I love it.

There might be heroes and long story lines in TV shows – but there’s nothing that compares to the grand narrative of the gospel. Reading the entire Bible chronologically each year has given me an understanding that changes the way I read every single verse.

2 – The Bible Recap podcast brings new insight to challenging passages.

I love Tara-Leigh Cobble’s approach to Scripture. Here are a few things I’ve learned from The Bible Recap Podcast that radically changed the way I read the Bible:

• Consider the culture of the day in which this part of the Bible was written and allow that to influence the way I interpret it.
• Don’t scream where Scripture whispers and don’t whisper where Scripture screams (don’t take things out of context).
• Hold difficult to interpret passages with an open hand.
• Look for God’s character and activity on every page. He’s where the joy is!

I delight to do your will, my God, and your instruction is deep within me. (Psalm 40:8)

How can you join me in reading the Bible in 2024?

My mom and I would love for you to read along with us in 2024!

—> Click here to join our group in the Bible app. This is how you’ll know what to read each day. There’s no required interaction in this group or things you have to do – but I’ve found that it’s good to have the accountability of being in a group as I read.

With the Bible app, I like to listen to the Scriptures being read audibly. You can also just read it through the app or use the daily guide as a reference for following along in your Bible. I personally prefer to read using either the ESV or CSB versions.

There are a few resources that you can use to aid your understanding as you read:

• The Bible Recap podcast: a 7(ish) minute podcast that gives the context, historical background, and other details to help you understand what you read. This is such a blessing to me – many times bringing me to tears by the end of the episode.
• The Bible Recap book: This is a condensed version of the podcast, with a 2-page spread for each day’s reading. It’s nice to have for reference or if you’re not a fan of podcasts.
• The Bible Project YouTube videos: These are super helpful to watch before beginning a new book of the Bible. They kind of give the who, what, when and where for each book. I don’t agree with every aspect of their theology (particularly in reference to the end times), so keep that in mind as you listen.

Please don’t let this list overwhelm you! I’ve read the Bible in a year several times without any of these tools and was deeply enriched and helped. You’re not going to understand it all, but that is okay.

—> Click here for even more resources to help you read the Bible and stick with your daily reading plan

Who’s in? Leave a comment and let me know and then click here to join our group in the Bible app. Email me if you have a specific question about the Bible reading plan and I’ll do my best to help you.

I’m praying that at the end of 2024 we’ll all be able to gratefully say to God: “You are near, Lord, and all your commands are true!” (Psalm 119:151)