Over my lifetime, I have used a variety of Bible-reading schedules, and it is commendable to read the Bible through in a year. Nevertheless, spreading the reading over two years breaks things down into more manageable bites for me and gives me more time to digest what I've read.

In recent years, my favourite method for reading the Bible has been to use the NLT Two-Year Bible for my daily Scripture reading. It rearranges the Bible into 730 daily readings that each take seven minutes, consisting of passages from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms, and a verse from Proverbs, without having to flip back and forth through my Bible. Unfortunately, it is now out of print. However, a search of the Internet will come up with other two-year Bible-reading plans. The two-year plan that appears with the PresbyCan Daily Devotional begins this coming January 1 and 2 with readings from the first chapters of Psalms, Proverbs, Genesis, and Mark.

In my current Bible-reading plan, the daily divisions are simply a means of covering the Bible over a span of two years and are not intended to be synchronized as to content, but I am often surprised at the interlinking of a day's passages. It is possible that the psalm for the day will allude to something that happened to King David in that day's reading in 1 Samuel, and so on.

My favourite part of the day's reading is often the concluding verse from Proverbs. Proverbs is full of pithy one-liners — some of them even being laugh-out-loud funny — about all sorts of everyday experiences. I often end my morning's reading with a smile on my face. How could anyone help but be amused by these two gems?

Proverbs 26:17 – Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. (NIV)

Proverbs 30:33 – For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. (NIV)

Yet, if I could summarize the book of Proverbs in one word, it would be wisdom. Wisdom is defined as "having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment". God graciously granted wisdom to King Solomon in answer to his request. Though Solomon often stumbled on his life's journey, he wrote many of these proverbs through godly inspiration. It is my desire to take to heart the wisdom that I find in the book of Proverbs and have that wisdom rub off on my daily actions.

The book of Proverbs is a highly applicable book with practical advice for living, but the Bible from cover to cover is God's instruction book for how we should live a life that pleases Him.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (NLT)

As we regularly and diligently read God's Word, let's be certain to both heed and obey His instruction.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank You for giving us clear and true guidance for daily living through Your Word, the Bible. May we take it to heart and live and obey it. Amen.

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About the author:

Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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