Work the Plan, and Let the Planner Work

205. That’s the number I checked off today. Over two hundred days of Bible reading.

Now before you think that I’m nailing it, I’m not. Several days (even this week), I’ve found myself catching up. Reading and listening to multiple chapters of Judges and Jeremiah so as to not be behind. Anyone else found themselves not where they want to be in their reading of the Scriptures?

The Word Does the Work

Psalm 119:11 tells us to store up God’s Word in our hearts. Why? So that we might not sin against him (Psalm 119:11b). Jesus prays that we would be sanctified in truth (John 17:17). King Jesus himself recognized that we would be made holy by God’s Word.

John tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). The writer of Hebrews tells us that the Word is sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Paul commands us to set our hearts and minds on things above not on things of this world (Colossians 3:1-2). The Scriptures command our obedience, our love, our hope. For it is in the Word of God that we meet our Redeemer, our Rock, our Refuge.

If we meet God in his Word, why would we not pursue time in his Word? One of my favorite ways to teach involves analogies. Sports analogies to be exact. In fact, I taught my middle schoolers about historical church leaders by comparing them to the different players and coaches of a basketball team. Different heresies represented different offensive plays, etc. But that’s for another day.

The best teacher himself often used analogies. In John 15, Jesus declares that he is the vine, and his Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1). In the very next verse, Jesus describes us as branches. You read that right. Branches. We are branches that God prunes so that we might bear more fruit. Pruning is painful, but it is painful with purpose—to bear more fruit.

Now how do we bear fruit? Jesus tells us in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” The secret to obedience is abiding. To abide is to remain, to be centered, to be grounded.

This then begs the question—how do we abide in Christ? Now before we go back to the gospel of John, let’s consider our lives. Do we abide? Absolutely. We are consistently and constantly abiding in someone or something. We’re thinking about, gazing upon, fixating on, pondering upon—someone or something—at even this every second.

The Work of Abiding

The good news is that God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us abide in him. So back to John 1. John tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). We abide as we behold Christ Jesus. We abide as we rest in his Word, yield to his Spirit, and depend upon his sufficiency.

But what does it practically look like to abide in God’s Word? Anyone still crushing their Bible reading plan that they started in January? Way to go! And for the rest of us, that is probably most of us, grace abounds.

We abide in what we know, what we listen to, and what we love. Abiding in God’s Word calls us to know, obey, and love the Bible. If you’re like me, and you need a list, below I’ve listed some suggestions to help you plan.

The Work of Planning

Before you get started, plan for the following:

When will you read?

Early morning Bible reading with a good cup of coffee might be the new routine you need to establish. If the kids usually wake you up, set that alarm a tad earlier. You won’t regret early morning silence and solitude. And we all know what we feel like at the end of most days. Feast upon God as your fuel for the day. Consistency breeds routine. Routines curate rhythms. Rhythms lead to rest. Do you have a consistent time? Plan for a daily time to sit and steep in the Scriptures.

Where will you read?

Bible reading on our front porch used to be my jam. My husband and I are moving this week so I’m eager to find a new spot. Whether it’s in a reading chair, your kitchen table, or your back patio, find a consistent place.

What will you read?

If the Bible intimidates you, and you don’t know where to start, you’re in good company. Before you just start in Genesis and start to read cover to cover, consider reading through the Gospel of John. Consider starting a Bible reading plan. You don’t have to wait until New Year’s Day to start a plan.

Will you read with anyone else?

Want to know a fun fact about many of the commands in the New Testament. They are second person plural commands. That’s “ya’ll” for everyone who isn’t a Texan like me. God calls us his people to pursue him in community. Consider reading the Bible with a friend, your husband, your children. Hold one another accountable and encourage each other in this pursuit.

What do you need?

If it’s been awhile, pull that dusty Bible off the bookshelf. I always encourage ladies to read a non-electronic version of the Bible rather than scroll on their phone’s Bible app. After all, we do enough of that already. I’d recommend either the ESV or NASB translation. Maybe snag a journal, pen, and highlighter to complement your Bible and coffee.

For those of you who want to jump in without a detailed list of what to read each day, consider reading a book of the Bible in one sitting. An epistle like Galatians or a shorter book like 1 John will help you see Scripture in context. No matter what kind of plan you follow, don’t get lost in the weeds and miss the forest. Consider how what you are reading points to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Look for the story of redemption in the pages of reading. Use resources such as an ESV Study Bible and Christ-Centered Expositional Commentary Series. Listen to the Bible while you drive to work, fold laundry, or make dinner.

Remember that there is God who speaks to us through his Word by the Holy Spirit. You are not simply just reading the Bible but meeting with our personal, powerful God.

The Work of Prayer

We always want to approach the Scriptures in a posture of prayerful humility and longing for more of Jesus. In the same way we plan to read the Bible, we ought to plan to pray. It is easy to get lost, confused, and discouraged in Bible reading. Our prayer life can often feel just as disoriented. Intentionality in prayer deepens our awe of God and grows our intimacy with God. We seek our generous Father who delights to hear from his children. God is both our help and our hope.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

In his book When I Don’t Desire God, John Piper gives a helpful, Biblical prayer guide to use before reading Scripture known as the I.O.U.S. acronym.

Ask the Holy Spirit to:

Incline you entirely to his Word and not to selfish gain (Psalm 119:36).

Open your eyes to see the beautiful wonders of Christ and glories of the gospel (Psalm 119:18).

Unite your heart to fear his name, knowing that your desires are ever divided (Psalm 86:11).

Satisfy you with his steadfast and unfailing love (Psalm 90:14).

The Word of God working by the Spirit of God changes the people of God.

Let’s work the plan, and let the Planner—God himself—work. After all, we are the branches, and he is the Vinedresser.

We become like that which be behold.

Plan to behold glory.

Plan to become like our King Jesus.

P.S. You may also enjoy our 2-part blog series on spiritual growth. You can find Part ! here!