How to Read through the Bible in One Year-The Chronological Bible

morning and night chronological bible

Y'all have heard me talk about reading through the Bible using the Chronological Bible before, I know.  But I just have to toot its horn one more time. I have received some emails/messages from friends about how do I do it over and over OR what do I do when I read through it again; so I thought I would share a few ideas about how to make the Chronological Bible reading work year after year.Let me just start off and say that I love reading through the Bible this way.  It weaves the stories together and you feel like you are reading a novel.  For instance, when you are reading through the stories of David in Kings and Chronicles, you also read through the Psalms. When you read through the Gospels you read all the versions of the miracle back to back.  When you hit Acts, you read the Epistles that match with what is happening in Acts.  Love.The  deciding factor for reading this version of the Bible was the first year I read through it and hit Leviticus.  Now that is not the most scintillating book, but I was struck with the repetition of the phrase,

I am the LORD your God.

Chronological Bible

Over and over I read that and underlined it. I was encouraged by God's reminder to them that He was their God and then His instructions would follow.  I need those reminders that He is who He says He is. That He is looking out for me.  We all forget don't we?  Thank you, Leviticus, for the reminders.So here are some tips for reading through the Chronological Bible.  Hope this helps.

I mark it up.

Showing the years in my CB

Chronological Bible-4

I underline passages that speak to me and write a notation for the year. Like this                                           It is amazing when the next year I read and I see my underlining and think, "I don't even remember that!" Or, I put another  year marker by it because it still speaks to me.I also grew more bold and wrote bigger in the margins with things that I wanted to remember.  Like the word GRACE or Thankful for this.  This year I plan to get some of these to draw a little in my Bible.  I know there is a whole world of Bible journaling out there where people decorate their Bibles.  Going to try a little of that.

I Write it down

I buy a little journal or spiral notebook to keep with my Bible, and I write the date for the day in it and write longer thoughts about my reading.  Just something that causes me to think or a question I have, or a praise for something I read.

I Look it Up

When I am in the Old Testament and have a question about something in Ezekiel, I look up the passage in one of my Bible commentaries and read what a scholar has written to try and understand what I am reading.  I also have looked on the internet in John MacArthur's website at his sermons that correspond with the passage and listened to that during the day. Dallas Theological Seminary also has resources that I have used to try and understand some of the more difficult books.

I ask a Question

I have several gals who are reading through the Bible with me and sometimes when I get stumped, I email or text them to ask my questions.  They are so helpful to respond and tell me their thoughts or questions.  Love that idea of community and reading with a group of gals.  It also like a little accountability group for me.  I know they are reading, so I keep on plugging through, too.

I tell a Friend

In my little community of Chronological Bible Readers, I will often share a verse that meant a lot to me in an early morning text.  I love the connection I feel with them when I do that and they share randomly with me.  Really makes me feel like part of the Body of Christ. Like I am not alone out there reading.I also use texts to send out to gals that I mentor when something has jumped out at me.  I will make  a visual and send it out.  I use the You Version Bible app because it lets you highlight a verse, copy it and text it.  It also lets you put a pretty background on it and send as an encouragement.  I love the feeling of connection I get when I do that and I hope that it encourages the gals that receive it.

I use the Kindle version when I travel

Instead of lugging my big Chronological Bible around on a trip, I use the Kindle app and have downloaded a version so that it is at the ready.  I found this was easier than trying to read it on my phone with just the Bible app and my notes about where to read.  A lot of times the Chronological Bible skips around between different books and it makes it hard to do that on the Bible app.  I am all about easy and the Kindle version of the Chrono Bible is easy.  Now, I will say, it is not the same translation as my hardcopy  Chrono Bible.  I don't worry about that. At all.  I just read the day that it is and go on.

I do not stressed if I get behind

If I do get behind, I just read a bunch of days when I have the time.  I also have just skipped to the day that I am living.  I figure that I will read it all again next year and will catch the days that I missed then. God just wants me to spend time with Him and wash over my brain with His Truth.  I think He gets it when I get behind, and I have learned to not sweat it.

Join me?

So will you join me this year?  Let me know in the comments, and I  will add you to my community of gals reading through the Bible.  It is such a great, great way to read through the Bible and be encouraged.  Let me know if you want to join...I am reading the older NIV  Tyndale version, but you pick the version you want and we will mostly be together.  Let's look for Sursees together.I have to say a big thank you to my friend, Paige, who introduced me to this wonderful Bible several years ago. She encouraged me to give it a go and I have loved it.  xoxo