One of the most common goals for Christians who wish to deepen their faith and grow closer to God is to read the Bible through in a year. It’s an admirable goal, as understanding the Bible necessitates a cover-to-cover reading.

Yet, it can also be a challenging goal, as speed reading the Bible can interfere with proper understanding. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for Bible readers to struggle to get through the Old Testament, particularly Leviticus, and then fail to adhere to a regular reading schedule thereafter.

Because of these and other challenges, it’s helpful to have some actionable strategies for how to read the Bible in one year.

There are plenty of compelling reasons to make reading the Bible part of your usual routine. Instead of taking a piecemeal approach — by reading isolated verses here and there — reading the Bible in its entirety can allow you to develop a broader, high-level view of the narrative.

Other spiritual and personal benefits of reading the Bible in one year may include:

• Spiritual growth: Regular Bible reading sessions can foster spiritual growth and deepen your relationship with God.
• Self-discipline: Making a commitment to reading the Bible consistently, such as on most days of the week, can help you develop self-discipline. Self-discipline, in turn, may help you in other areas of life.
• A more complete faith: Many Christians have favorite Bible passages that they return to many times. Others may read the Bible with the intent of focusing on specific theological issues, while giving less attention to the rest. Reading the Bible in its entirety in one year can enable you to build a more complete understanding of it and strengthen your faith.

How long does it take to read the Bible? It varies for everyone, but it is certainly possible to read it in its entirety in just one year if you take a consistent approach. Do remember to avoid speed reading or rushing through it, as this approach won’t offer sufficient time to reflect on what you’ve read and consider how to apply the wisdom to your own life.

1. Be Realistic in Your Goals

If you make a plan to read 10 chapters every day, you will certainly fall short at some point in time. Oftentimes, we may be overly excited about our goals, and when we fail to live up to them, it can result in total abandonment of those goals.

Instead, focus on setting realistic goals and reasonable expectations for your year of Bible reading. A slow and steady approach is best for consistency. For instance, instead of committing to reading every day, perhaps you could set aside five days per week for reading. Alternatively, instead of reading for 20 minutes on designated days, read for just five to 10 minutes every day of the week.

2. Be Intentional

Make a plan and stick to it. Developing a plan can help you maintain a consistent approach and schedule.

Set aside time in your schedule to read the Bible, whether in the morning, on your lunch break or in the evening. You could even devote a few times a day to reading for five minutes. Regardless of which scheduling approach you choose, be intentional about your Bible reading plan.

3. Find an Accountability Partner

Enlisting a friend to embark on your Bible reading project with you can help provide greater accountability for both of you. Make a plan together to read through certain passages each week. Get together and share your thoughts over coffee and discuss what you’ve read that week. This strategy for how to study the Bible also brings the added bonus of fellowship with other believers.

4. Read Faithfully

Don’t consider this something that you have to do, but something that is a privilege to do. You should not read just to check something off a list, but because you want to know God better.  

Keep your ultimate goal in mind. You should not read the Bible so you can win a Bible trivia game or so that you can impress your friends. Read because you love God. Another part of reading faithfully is paying attention. Don’t finish your reading for the day and forget what you just read; reflect on it and try to better understand God’s wisdom.

5. Get an Audio Bible

Many of the books in the Bible were intended to be read out loud or can benefit from this approach. Consider putting an audio copy of the Bible on your digital devices so you can listen to the Bible while engaging in other tasks.

6. Download Helpful Bible Apps

There are several apps that have reading plans that will guide you through reading the Bible in a year. There are free versions available, or you might decide to purchase a paid Bible app. Downloading an app may help you stay on track with your scheduled reading sessions, as you’ll be reminded of them each time you look at your phone or other digital device.

7. Pray for Perseverance

Don’t neglect to pair your regularly scheduled Bible readings with prayer. Pray each day that God would help you persevere in this goal for His glory and for your good.

Remember that the Bible is God’s word. Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). Scripture is the very Word of God.

During the course of the year, it’s likely you’ll encounter some problems from time to time. These obstacles may throw you off track temporarily, but it’s important to avoid letting them become long-term or permanent hindrances.

Some common challenges may include the following:

• Busy schedules: Life is busy, and a packed schedule is typically full of competing priorities that may derail your scheduled Bible reading sessions. Give yourself grace if you miss a few reading sessions, but do try not to make it a regular occurrence.
• Feeling stuck: It’s not unusual for a Bible reader to feel stuck on certain books, particularly Leviticus. You may find it difficult to sustain your attention when reading through lengthy genealogies and laws, for example. If you wish, skip ahead to read some of your favorite passages to give yourself a break. Then, go back to your original place and continue your cover-to-cover reading. This strategy may help sustain your motivation.
• Disengagement: It’s possible to feel somewhat disengaged from what you’re reading if you view it as a chore or a checklist to complete. Remind yourself of why you decided to read the Bible in a year and focus more on developing a deeper understanding of the Bible, rather than simply getting through it.

The College of Theology at Grand Canyon University is committed to the full inspiration of the Bible as the true and authoritative word of God. GCU’s Christian identity and heritage shapes our missional focus and fosters a supportive learning community for our students.

You can further your understanding of the Bible at GCU, where we offer multiple bachelor’s degrees dedicated to the Word of God. Apply today for enrollment in our Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies with an Emphasis in Biblical Studies degree or our Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies with an Emphasis in Apologetics program.