Reading Through the Bible

On December 2, 2019, I started a reading plan to read through the Bible chronologically in a year. It’s something I’d never done, and I really felt like 2020 was the year for it.

I had no idea the ways that it would carry me through this past year.

Just yesterday, I finished up the plan. There were some days that I didn’t read at all, and there were some days that I read multiple days on one day simply because I just couldn’t pull myself away from it. As I think on it, these are the things that I am walking away with:

• A new understanding of the fact that the Bible is alive and relevant.

• The goodness of looking at the character of God throughout the entire Bible, rather than in pieces.

• I love the Torah.

• Reading through it chronologically gave me the tiniest taste of what it was like to wait for the Messiah to come. I loved feeling the anticipation, the hope, and even the exhaustion as I waited to get into the New Testament, to finally hear Jesus’ voice.

• Joy is found in reading the scriptures.

• Although daily time with God in scripture was already a part of my rhythm, reading through it chronologically made it feel like I was reading one huge story. I looked forward to it in a different way.

Along with these words I can put to it, there are also feelings and thoughts I can’t quite put my finger on. There is mystery in the freedom and transformation and new foundation built in me by the Holy Spirit through this process.