One Chapter a Day

Each New Year, Christians throughout the world start new Bible reading plans. It’s a wonderful opportunity to start fresh in God’s Word. Some make the commitment to read through the Bible in a year. Some choose to follow a longer plan, reading one book of the Bible for a whole month, focusing on repetition. The goal in any Bible reading plan should be to know what God’s Word says – to be saturated with the truth so that it spills out of us in action and conversation. No matter which reading plan you choose, the very act of reading God’s Word is beneficial…scratch that…I mean, VITAL. Some very helpful books on this topic are How to Eat Your Bible by Nate Pickowicz, Women of the Word, by Jen Wilkin, and Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible, by Michael F. Bird.

I’ve tried multiple reading plans over the years, but have finally settled on a plan that works well for my attention span and reading/study style. I use my own three-year plan, reading one chapter a day. This year, I recruited my family to join in. We’re all reading the book of Job currently, each of us on different chapters as we miss days here and there (life happens).

The blog posts I share here are my personal notes on the chapters I have read in Job. I’m currently reading Job 18, however, my blog posts run well behind that schedule. Here’s a glimpse into my process.

Step One: Pray.

It is important to start your time in God’s Word with prayer. This step is easy to skip. The Bible is open in front of you, and you just want to check the reading off your list and move forward with your day. But don’t skip this key step. It settles your mind right into the Word in front of you. It opens your heart to the truth. It shuts up the noise and chaos around you and zooms in on Scripture. Before you read, pray for understanding, for focus, for wisdom. Pray to be changed by the passage. Pray to know God more because of the passage. Pray for God to search your heart and show you any sin you need to confess. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and consider.

Step Two: Read the Chapter, and Write in Your Bible.

Read the chapter, and take notes in your Bible. Yes, it really is okay to write in your Bible. Imagine your children or grandchildren finding your Bible one day with all of your notes in it. What a treasure! I use an ESV, Single Column, Journaling Bible from Crossway. During the initial reading of the chapter, I write in my Bible. A lot. I underline key thoughts, circle verse numbers, draw boxes around sections that are catching my attention, and mark up the margins in my journaling Bible. As I’m reading, if another passage comes to mind, I look it up and add the reference in the margin. Often a quote will come to mind, so I’ll add that to the margin as well. I’ve also been known to draw pictures and color shapes around words and passages. In short, I do whatever is needed to draw my mind and heart into the chapter so that I’ll remember as much as possible for as long as possible.

Step Three: Read the Chapter Again, and Write Notes in a Notebook or Journal.

Now, read the chapter again. This time, take more detailed notes in a journal or notebook. A simple spiral bound notebook or journal works great to record thoughts on each chapter. I admit, I’m drawn to leather bound journals, but a fancy journal is not necessary…a composition book works great. This is where I add personal application and struggles; where I vent or complain, and where I work out my own challenges on paper. It offers space for honest dialogue about the chapter, including questions about the meaning, intention, or purpose of the chapter.

Step Four: Consider Any Questions About the Chapter, and Look for Answers from Trusted Sources.

After I have read, re-read and taken notes on the chapter, I do some research on any questions I might have about what the chapter is saying. I may look up maps of the locations, or try to understand why phrases were translated certain ways. For example, in Job 13:15, there is an alternate translation offered in the notes of my Bible. I did a little digging to find out why there are two different translations of the same phrase, and tried to determine if my thoughts on the passage change based on either translation. I happen to be married to my pastor (*wink*), so I have another in-house theologian available for discussions about the text. And, like I said, our whole family is reading the same book, so we’re able to converse about each chapter as we read it. The supper table is a great place for this sort of conversation. “Please pass the salt, and what did you think of Eliphaz telling Job he’s being judged for being a sinner?” It makes for lively talks over spaghetti.

Step Five: Pray…Again.

I try to end my reading and study time as I began, with my heart turned towards God. This is when I confess any sins He brought to mind during the reading, and this is when I pour out my heart to Him. Sometimes, I’ll listen to worship music that follows the train of thought from the passage. I have several playlists connected to different books of the Bible that I’ve studied over the last couple of years. These songs are helpful to maintain a mindset of worshipful learning throughout my day. Listening to Scripture focused music reminds me of the truths I’ve been feasting on each morning. This leads into step six, meditating on what I’ve read and learned.

Step Six: Meditate on the Truths From the Passage (and “accidentally” memorize it in the process!).

Choose a verse or even a phrase from the chapter and meditate on it throughout the day. Write the verse in your notes. I will sometimes write the verse on a notecard so I can carry it around with me to look at off and on. It works well to set it on the kitchen counter or stick it to the refrigerator. I seem to be pulled to the kitchen all day long as a mom and the family cook. I’ve also tucked the notecard into my cell phone case as a gentle reminder. I check my phone constantly throughout each day – emails, texts, calls, social media – the verse is there to draw my mind back to what I read in the morning. As I read the verse throughout the day, over and over, I find that my brain starts to recall it better and better. I end up memorizing the verse!

Step Seven: Do What it Says, and Teach it to Others.

Now is the time to practice what we have learned. This is the obedience part, where become doers “and not hearers only.” As I’m reading through a book of the Bible, I find myself talking about it to others. It comes up in various ways. This is a great outward exercise for the truths I’m internalizing. In a recent conversation with another mom friend, I found myself sharing some thoughts on depression from the book of Job. It turned our minds toward Scripture in the middle of a difficult topic. As God works understanding, knowledge, and faith IN to us, we must work it out…exercise it, act on it, obey it. It’s an ongoing overflow of faith from the inner person to the outward expression. This is how we live our faith out loud. Over time, we see change – a growth in our character; we move from self-exaltation to a deep longing to glorify God in all we do and say. This is a lifelong process, and the steps are many times small and slow.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Philippians 2:12-13

After reviewing these steps, it makes even more sense that One Chapter a Day is a good method for me. My brain needs process time. There are big truths on every page of God’s Word, and I don’t want to be in too big of a rush that I miss any precious piece.