New Year, Renewed Mind
Goal
Dispense with unhelpful, negative thoughts replacing them with the best thoughts. Honest, just, pure, lovely thoughts. Thoughts of good report, virtuous thoughts, thoughts of praise according to Philippians 4:8.
A goal to be reached by recognising thoughts and thought patterns when they come about. Applying the Word of God to such thoughts to determine whether they’re valid. If not ‘Casting down [those] imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’ 2 Corinthians 10:5
The more of God’s word in our knowledge the quicker those ‘sophisticated arguments’(AMP), ‘reasonings’ (DARBY), ‘deceptive [fantasies]’ (PHILLIPPS) ‘warped philosophies’ (MSG), ‘lofty idea[s]’ (MOUNCE), ‘proud pretensions[s]’ (NCB), ‘speculations’ (NASB1995), ‘arrogant obstacles’ (NET) and all ‘intellectual arrogance’, (GW) can be CAST DOWN in Jesus’ Name.
Reading the Bible in One Year (or longer)
Knowing more of God’s Word requires taking more of it in by reading/listening. I’ve made several attempts at reading the whole Bible through various read your Bible in a year plans, and the furthest I’ve ever got to is Exodus. I’ve now decided not to follow a plan this time around or have a time limit. If I manage to finish in a year great if two years or longer so be it. Reading this way allows me to spend more time focussing on those passages I’ll come across through devotionals and Sabbath School study in addition to scripture applicable to specific situations in my life.
The Bible can be completed in a year by reading an average of 3.25 chapters (85.21 verses) a day – easily done on some days. When life gets busy reading as much as possible is the plan targeting shorter books first. I’m highlighting by theme as I go along mainly in the Olive Tree desktop and mobile apps, sometimes in my physical Bible using these Gel Highlighters. They’re wax-like, smear-proof, and don’t bleed through the pages.
Do you highlight by theme? What are your themes?
Average Reading Times of books in the Bible
| 3 John | 2m |
| 2 John | 2m |
| Philemon | 3m |
| Jude | 4m |
| Obadiah | 4m |
| Titus | 6m |
| Haggai | 6m |
| Nahum | 7m |
| 2 Thessalonians | 7m |
| Jonah | 8m |
| Habakkuk | 9m |
| Zephaniah | 10m |
| 2 Peter | 10m |
| 2 Timothy | 11m |
| Malachi | 11m |
| 1 Thessalonians | 11m |
| Joel | 12m |
| Colossians | 13m |
| Ruth | 14m |
| Philippians | 14m |
| James | 15m |
| 1 Peter | 15m |
| 1 Timothy | 15m |
| 1 John | 16m |
| Song of Solomon | 17m |
| Micah | 18m |
| Ephesians | 19m |
| Lamentations | 20m |
| Galatians | 20m |
| Amos | 24m |
| Ecclesiastes | 31m |
| Esther | 31m |
| Hosea | 32m |
| Zechariah | 35m |
| 2 Corinthians | 38m |
| Ezra | 40m |
| Hebrews | 44m |
| Romans | 57m |
| 1 Corinthians | 58m |
| Nehemiah | 58m |
| Daniel | 1h, 6m |
| Revelation | 1h, 10m |
| Mark | 1h, 23m |
| Proverbs | 1h, 35m |
| Joshua | 1h, 42m |
| Judges | 1h, 42m |
| Job | 1h, 46m |
| 2 Samuel | 1h,49m |
| John | 1h, 51m |
| 1 Chronicles | 2h, 3m |
| Leviticus | 2h, 3m |
| 1 Kings | 2h, 6m |
| 2 Kings | 2h, 6m |
| 1 Samuel | 2h, 14m |
| Acts | 2h, 15m |
| 2 Chronicles | 2h, 19m |
| Matthew | 2h, 21m |
| Deuteronomy | 2h, 24m |
| Luke | 2h, 24m |
| Exodus | 2h, 51m |
| Numbers | 2h, 57m |
| Genesis | 3h, 31m |
| Ezekiel | 3h, 39m |
| Isaiah | 3h, 43m |
| Jeremiah | 3h, 51m |
| Psalms | 4h, 51m |
From this Crossway article, I have arranged the books of the Bible according to average reading times from shortest to longest. I’ve compared this list to lists where the books are ordered by length and there are slight differences perhaps explained by other variables. For example, a shorter book may take longer to read because it is more difficult. Anyway, this is the list I’ve chosen to use. What do you think about this list? I’m quite surprised:
- 12 books can be read in under 10 minutes,
- 40- books in under an hour.
I like how Revelation follows Daniel since they go together and countless studies focus on both simultaneously.
Have you also challenged yourself to read the whole Bible? I hope this list serves as an encouraging guide as it has for me. May we learn how to use our time effectively so that we can spend more time in God’s Word learning more about Him and His Creation in order for His Will to be done in every one of our lives in Jesus’ Name Amen.
Ultimately striving for consistency is the best intention because it is inevitable that quantity will have to be substituted by quality. I may not read a full chapter or a full book but as long as I make it a habit to meditate on scripture daily, even if only a verse I’ll be making progress toward reaching my goal.