My 30-Day Challenge

All Scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction

for instruction in righteousness,

that the man of God

may be complete,

thoroughly equipped

for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:16-17, NKJV

In case any of you were wondering, I did it!

I'm not saying this to brag or to be boastful or bring attention to myself, although I am happy about my accomplishment.  I'm not even saying this to indicate in any way that I think anyone else has to do it.  But I did it, and now that I've done it, doing it again doesn't look like such a big task.

In January I set out to read the Bible through in a month.  At 1189 chapters, that's roughly 40 chapters a day for 30 days.  But in January I spent alot of time driving that set me back on my reading.  So halfway through on January 31, I started over in February.  Which was the month I spent mostly sick and in bed for some reason, so I started over again in March.

Thirty-one days later, last night between 9:30 & 10 PM, I read the final eleven chapters on my reading schedule, the last chapters of the Book of Acts.  In thirty-one days, I read the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.  I skipped nothing.  I read the genealogies.  I read the Levitical Law.  I read the repetitive overlapping gospel accounts.  I read the prophecies.  I read it all.

Of course, I've read it all before, multiple times over.  But it's been a long time since I intentionally read the entire Bible, cover to cover.  And my goal has usually been to read it through in a year.  This was the first time ever I read this much this quickly from the most important book ever written.  And what a thrill it was.

Ingesting such large amounts of Scripture, which took several hours a day, had a profound effect on me in several ways. 

First of all, I got emotionally involved with what was happening on the page.  I tensed over the reunion of Jacob & Esau, and over Joseph's reunion with his brothers.  I empathized with Job.  I wept at the sin of David & Bathsheba and all the heartache that followed.  I hated Judas Iscariot (or at least hated what he did) when he sold Jesus out for pocket change.  I grieved over the crucifixion and rejoiced at the resurrection.  I literally laughed out loud at several funny incidents.  And I couldn't help myself from getting excited when the heavens opened and a white horse, and He that sat upon Him was called faithful and true!  Wow!  The Bible really gets into you, if you'll let it.

Secondly, inputting the Scriptures into my heart in such a fresh and voluminous way gave the Holy Spirit alot to work with when I discussed the word with others, and when I preached.  I could remember where things were, who said what, how it fit in with other Bible statements.  It was awesome!

Thirdly, it allowed me to overcome a mental roadblock that has been in my mind, and is in the minds of alot of Believers out there:  the roadblock to reading that says the Bible is hard!  I will admit that in the beginning, it was hard to sit still long enough to read two or three chapters, much less ten or twenty or forty...or eighty on those days I had to catch up from missing a day.  And there were alot of eighty chapter days.  But the more I forced myself to read, the less of a struggle it became, until finally two or three or ten chapters wasn't enough.  I wanted to keep on reading.  And the more I pressed through with my reading, the easier it was to read and to understand what was happening on those pages.  I saw things I'd never seen before, understood things I'd never understood before.  It was great!

And having finished on March 31st, late last night after midnight on April 1st, I picked up my Bible and started over again.  I read 5 chapters of Genesis last night, 5 more this morning.  And it just didn't seem like enough!  My goal this time is to read the Old Testament through in 90 days (a little more than 10 chapters a day) and to read the New Testament through 3 times in 30 days (a little less than 9 chapters a day).  My ultimate goal for 2012 is to read the entire Bible through 4 times this year.  Now that I know I can do it in 30 days, I look ahead with anticipation at devouring the word.

And since I'm reading less each day than I did in March, I'm also going to be adding some important study time to my reading schedule.

That Bible is a really great Book!  You should read it sometime, and let it change your life.