I’m always surprised by the start of the New Year. Strange how it sneaks up just as you’re recovering from Christmas festivities, eh? It’s something I always think it would be good to plan and organise myself for, but once the frantic preparations for Christmas are finished, it’s all too easy to collapse in a heap of self-indulgence and sloth (my default mode, I fear).
But this December I want give myself a little time to think about plans for 2013. I have a BIG thing looming on the horizon for the Spring, which will means that I will need to be organised and on top of things at the beginning of January rather than sometime in mid-February. I want to make sure (as far as possible, notwishtanding my sinful slothful inclinations) that my devotional life has a good rhythm. I’m enjoying John Piper’s devotional e-book this Advent – and managing to actually read it almost every day.
The start of a new year always seems like a good time to think about reading through the whole bible. I am an eternal optimist in this regard. I started using the Daily Bible app on my tablet this year, and the M’Cheyne bible reading scheme that it enables you to use. I’ve found it helpful but it’s a big chunk to read – four chapters a day. Nate Treguboff has posted a good selection of whole bible plans, which includes the M’Cheyne and another for Slacker and Shirkers that I used on and off (mainly off) in 2011.
Tim Chester has just posted his bible reading scheme for 2013 which is less prescriptive than other schemes. It gives a reading for the week, rather than daily readings. I like this idea as it could be used in conjunction with a shorter devotional book. His scheme takes you through the Old Testament once every 3 years and the New Testament twice in the same time. If you’d like to start with the complete 3 year plan he’s also posted that.
So the Plan for Jan is a light devotional read in the mornings (suggestions welcome) to prompt prayer and a bible reading slot using Tim Chester’s plan at some stage in the week. I’ve thought that I could probably usefully listen to the allocated chapters using Bible Gateway’s audio facility, whilst I’m cooking or baking. I do spend a *lot* of time in my kitchen…
The Vicar's Wife 
I started reading from the beginning in 2009. The OT goes on and on and ON. Up to Amos and had hoped to finish OT by the end of the year.
Upside is: I’m REALLY looking forward to the NT!
Have you been using Glen’s “King’s English”? It really is superb. Copies available from me…
We’re enjoying Piper’s Pierced by the Word in staff meetings at the moment. Might be good for morning devotional readings. 2/3 short pages (it’s a little book) and a prayer.
I’ve previously enjoyed Cover to Cover – mainly in the NIV, but more recently I read it in The Message. I like to continue my Encounter with God readings alongside, so it’s not an ‘every year’ thing.
I have a list of bible books I’ve printed out … I start at the top of the list (they’re not in bible order, just an arrangement of my own to avoid boredom!) and take as long as I like to read through each book, then tick it off. It means I read the whole bible but am under no pressure to stick to a daily programme. I usually read at bedtime, but can do it any time of day. So if something strikes me, I spend time with it. Or if it’s a narrative, I can read the whole thing in one setting. It takes me about 18 months to read the whole list, then I simply print it out again and start over. I’ve found it very useful. Just a different way of doing things.
It still takes discipline to ensure I pray from what I’m reading though – that’s often where I fail.