8 Bible Reading Plans to Help You Grow Your Faith

Did you know that a simple, regular habit can not only transform your spiritual growth but also change how you think and act?

That one simple habit? Reading the Bible at least four times a week. According to a study done by the Center for Bible Engagement, people who followed this practice experienced profound spiritual growth: they were “less likely to feel spiritually stagnant and to feel that they can’t please God” in addition to having “significantly higher odds of giving financially, memorizing Scripture, and sharing their faith with others.”

It’s not just about living well; it’s also about growing a deeper relationship with God. We can’t please God through our actions, but by confessing our sins and believing in Him. When we put our trust in Him, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and our actions begin to more closely reflect God’s desires for us.

So, there are countless benefits to reading the Bible regularly. In addition to increasing positive thoughts and behaviors, it can also decrease negative thoughts and actions, including “feeling bitter, thinking destructively about self or others, having difficulty forgiving others, and feeling discouraged.”

In short, reading the Bible is a truly transformative experience, and it starts with four days a week.

Do you want this kind of transformation for yourself but aren’t sure where to start?

Maybe you’re reading the Bible but have a hard time making it a daily practice. Maybe you’re looking for ways to dive deeper and learn more about what you’re reading. Or maybe you’re feeling isolated and want to read the Bible with others to hear fresh perspectives and cultivate a rich community.

No matter where you are on your journey, a Bible reading plan could be a great first step to unlocking deeper understanding of the Bible and a stronger relationship with God.

Faith Radio—which shares clear Bible teaching and compelling conversations through radio programs, podcasts, and more—offers eight Bible reading plans on YouVersion, a renowned Bible app with almost a billion downloads across the world.

Faith Radio’s YouVersion Bible reading plans focus on a variety of topics, including books of the Bible (Proverbs, 1 Peter, 2 Timothy), Christian holidays (Lent, Holy Week, Advent), and topics like identity (God Says I Am).

Here is a preview of some of the studies you can read right now on YouVersion individually, with your spouse or a friend, or with your small group.

Topics:

· God Says I Am: Embracing Peace & Walking in Power – Discover your true identity in Christ! When you can embrace the peace that comes with knowing who you really are, you can walk in God’s power and spread that hope to others around you. Are you ready to get started and find out what God says about you?

Books of the Bible:

· Proverbs: The Art of Wise Living – The book of Proverbs invites you to pause and reflect, providing wisdom and insight into human experience and our relationships with God and each other. No matter what stage of life you are in, every day gives you a new opportunity to grow and learn. As you build your life, let the book of Proverbs inform, teach, and guide you in the art of wise living.

· 1 Peter: For His Glory, By His Grace – Christians today desperately need to hear 1 Peter’s message of hope amid suffering. While you may not face the severity of persecution others endure, you have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience suffering. Together, for the glory of God and through His grace, you can face suffering with hope and joy.

· 2 Timothy: Endure, Encourage, Equip – From a cold, damp cell in Rome, Paul pens the most intimate letter found in the New Testament in a final effort to fortify Timothy, his fellow servant of the Gospel, before Paul’s impending death. Paul’s letter to Timothy is personal and full of wisdom, warnings, and encouragement as Paul teaches Timothy to be ready to spread the Gospel in and out of season. The question is, are you ready?

Christian Holidays:

· Lent: A Journey Through Seven Spiritual Disciplines – This Lent season, we invite you to slow down and realign your focus on the sacrificial love of Christ. Over the next forty-six days, you will embark on a journey through seven ancient spiritual disciplines. Each week, you will be introduced to a new discipline that you can add to the previous weeks. Every longer devotional will be followed by daily Scripture readings and prayers to help you go deeper.

· Holy Week: A Journey from Jesus’ Death to Resurrection – You are beginning a journey through the most important week in history. Come along with us and recline with Jesus at the Passover table, linger in the silence of Holy Saturday, and experience the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection. Each day, we’ll look at what the gospels say about the events of Holy Week and walk through a simple prayer. We’ll follow the S.O.A.P. study method: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

· Unexpected: Five Women in the Lineage of Jesus – Jesus’ story on earth starts long before He was born. It begins in the wombs of women whose stories are complex, messy, and often unexpected. Join us as we dive into the lives of five incredible women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary—who made up Jesus’ lineage and discover how they made a mark not only within their lifetimes, but also in the years and years to come.

· Advent: Exploring Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy – When you think about Christmas, the words hope, peace, love, and joy probably come to mind. But you might wonder, “What is the heart of these themes, and where are they in the Bible?” Join us as we discover what those themes mean for you this Advent season through daily Lectio Divina Scripture readings and weekly reflections to take you through the four weeks of Advent.

However you decide to read the Bible (using one of these plans, a daily devotional, or simply a chapter a day), be encouraged that any time spent in God’s Word is valuable! As He says in Scripture: “… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

As you dive into God’s Word this season, may you find strength, encouragement, and a deeper sense of God’s love and care for you.

From their radio programming to podcasts, from live events to online studies, Faith Radio seeks to lead people to Christ and nurture believers in their spiritual growth through Christ-centered media. Faith Radio is part of Northwestern Media. Find out more at MyFaithRadio.com.