Happy New Year to you all!
Can you believe it’s already 2024? Where did 2023 go? I know where my 2023 went–writing two 95,000-word books — Fatal Witness and Deadly Revenge and launching the first book in the series, Counter Attack! Not planning on doing that again. 🙂
I also read through the Bible. There is a story behind that. Nineteen years ago I worked in the schools, teaching abstinence to middle and high school students. At one small school, the teacher seemed different. Calmer, happier, and I asked what her secret was. Her answer surprised me.
“I’m finishing my tenth year of reading through the Bible,” she said.
Oh, wow was my response. That blew me away. I’d read the whole Bible in bits and pieces, but never from start to finish, let alone in a year. Then she did something else that surprised me. She challenged me to do the same thing. Never one to back down from a challenge, I accepted.
In my bookcase was a copy of the Chronological Bible a friend had given me at least five years prior. January 1, 2005, I opened the Bible and started the day off reading in Genesis. As the days passed, I continued to read each morning the passage for that day. It amazed me how much better my days went. That’s not to say I didn’t have problems, but I was better equipped to handle those problems.
The year ended and I had actually met the challenge the teacher had issued me. I also understood so much more about the Bible as a whole, reading it chronologically. I saw God’s love like I never had before. In the Old Testament, His people worshipped, then fell into sin, and He corrected them, and they repented. Then the cycle repeated itself. I didn’t see their sinning as much as I saw God’s immeasurable love. I saw David, a man after God’s own heart, worship and write beautiful poetry only to fall into sin. For me, Psalm 51 is one of the most beautiful that he wrote. It’s one I’ve often prayed for myself.
But I’ve read through the Bible, you say. Read it again. You’ll get something new each time you do–I should know. This is my 18th year to read it. For years I used the Chronological Bible, then in 2021, I read it in the Seasons of Reflection Bible. It gives an Old Testament selection, a New Testament selection, and a Psalm or Proverb. Last year, I also read the selection in the online Enduring Word Commentary.
So for 2024, I want to issue you a challenge much like that teacher almost 20 years ago issued to me:
Make this the year you read through the Bible. It’s God’s Love Letter to us, our how-to on daily living.
Happy New Year and see you tomorrow with more Stupid Laws!
2024 Challenge: Read through the Bible! It will change your life! Share on X
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Comments 26
I’ve read the Bible through one time but I know that I need to commit to this again! I agree that each time I read a verse, I’m given a new perspective! I’m looking forward to reading your hard work soon!
Author
Absolutely, Connie! And thanks…Fatal Witness releases Feb 6!
Your eighteenth year? That’s awesome. My daughter and her sis-in-law are reading a chronological Bible all the way through this year. I’m on a two year plan which I should finish this year, and then in 2025 read the whole Bible in a year. I’m excited for my daughter, her sister-in-law, my reading plan this year, and my reading plan next year!
Author
I didn’t plan to do that, Priscilla, but after I finished that first year, on New Year’s Day, I felt lost so I started over again. That happens each year. 🙂
Happy New Year, Pat! And to everyone on the blog! I asked for the Chronological Bible a few years ago after hearing you talk about it. I did read through it once and need to do it again. Thanks for the inspiration and challenge. I may just do it again.
Author
I hope you’ll accept my challenge, Gloria! It’s made a world of difference to me.
Congratulations on your writing success in 2023, Patricia!
This is a great post. Like you, I’ve read through the Bible in different sections at different times. Although I have an NKJV of the chronological Bible, I haven’t read through it in order, but you’ve inspired me.
Have a wonderful 2024.
Author
I’m glad I inspired you, Kay! And I hope you have a great 2024, too. Can’t wait for your next book!
Happy New Year, everyone. Pat, you’re ahead of me on number of times through the entire Bible. I do find that the more I read, the more I understand. And, the often I read it, the more I retain. All good things. One technique I’ve used for a few years is reading with a good commentary. So many times, I read something and just scratched my head. Often the issue is I don’t know the cultural context for the verses I’m reading. Without knowing that, it’s next to impossible to puzzle out some meanings. Or, you get one meaning, but miss a whole other, more subtle meaning. The one I use is called “The People’s Bible” (https://online.nph.net/books/nph-series/the-peoples-bible). It’s not cheap if you buy the entire set at once; just north of $700, though you might find it cheaper if you shop around. My set was purchased a volume or two at a time as they became available, so that was awhile ago.
Author
Thanks, Tim! I used a commentary this year pretty well every day that gave a great background and cultural history. It’s Enduring Word and online.
Happy New Year Blog family! It’s good to continue reading Pat’s blog together.
I have read through the Bible twice, but it does need to happen again. My husband and I are reading through the Psalms together each night. We’re starting on our fourth time. We finish then start over immediately. It really is amazing how much you learn each time.
Congratulations on getting those books written Pat!!! You sure worked hard on them.
Blessing to everyone this 2024. See you at the start of the dumb laws. Lol
Author
Thanks, Barbara! I’m so glad you accepted the challenge! We’ll have to compare notes!
I saw a billboard once that said: “If God wrote an editorial in the paper today, would you read it?
I randomly thought, when I face God someday will he ask me “I wrote a best seller, why didn’t you read it?”
Author
Sobering, Gail! And it’s definitely a best seller! As well as a life guide.
Happy New Year everyone! I, too , have read through the Bible several times. One year I used the One Year Bible but I personally prefer beginning at Genesis and reading straight through. I use no set plan as there are times I read more than other days and honestly there have been times I began reading on January 1 and did not complete the entire Bible by December 31. It amazes me how there are often times that day’s reading addresses certain needs or concerns I’m dealing with! That’s a God thing!
Author
Miss Mary, I so agree about how often there are times the day’s reading addresses an issue I have! I was also surprised at how often the OT reading tied in with the New Testament one. And how the Psalms and Proverbs did as well. 🙂
You inspire me so much I told my bible study about your blog. Sometimes it’s just what I need to start my day. Thanks for 2023. Looking forward to 2024!
Author
Oh, thank you, Judy! What is your Bible study group working on? I miss my Bible study group, but working full time on the books doesn’t leave much time to join them each week.
I try to do that every year!
Author
That’s great, Shelia! Keep it up. 🙂
Blessings upon blessings as you walk through the open doors of 2024!
Author
Thank you, Caryl!
Happy New Year, Pat and all my friends on this blog. I hope everyone will have a great 2024.
Pat, I have read the Bible through at least 16 times. I know I read it through once when I was a teenager. I don’t remember how long it took that time. I have a record of fifteen times since 1980. Last January, I started reading a set of commentaries that I bought in the mid-seventies. The complete Bible is incorporated in it, so each day I have made an effort to read at least five to ten pages. As of this morning, I am about a third of the way through Ezekiel. Once I complete this set (my goal is by yearend), I plan to resume reading through the Bible each year. Reading the Scripture and then the commentary has been very helpful and enlightening. This is a slower go than just reading Scripture each day, but I feel it will prove beneficial in future years as I read through the Bible.
Author
Hi, Edward! I wonder if your commentaries are the same ones I bought? 🙂 I’ve used them quite often. And reading through the Bible using commentaries does slow you down, but that’s a good thing!
Happy New Year
Author
Thanks, Crystal!