Selecting a Bible Reading Plan
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna,
which neither you nor your ancestors had known,
to teach you that man does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
—Deuteronomy 8:3
The Lesson of Daily Manna
Moses indicates that God’s miracle of providing daily manna had a dual purpose. Manna gave daily food for the body and offered a deep lesson for the mind. Manna’s 24-hour expiration date taught Israel to seek God for food every day to nourish their physical nature. They could not live on yesterday’s manna. That manna had rotted. They needed new manna for each new day.
Moses says in Deuteronomy 8:3 that the experience of daily manna collection also taught God’s people to view God’s Word as food for their spiritual nature. We live on bread at least, but not on bread alone. God’s Word is our ultimate source of life. Believers who recognize this truth prize God’s Word and make it a daily priority. We cannot live on yesterday’s manna. We need a fresh encounter with God’s Word each and every day.
Hungering for God’s Word
I love the story about devout Jewish people fleeing communist Russia just after World War II. These refugees reached their old village in Poland, came to their burned-down synagogue and found old Bibles and Bible commentaries in the rubble. They stopped to read them. Just then another Jewish fugitive ran past and called out,
“Are you forgetting that you are fleeing for your lives? The Soviets are closing the frontiers. The American zone is still far off. Hurry. Flee.”
An old Jewish rabbi waved him off, saying, “Be still. One must learn God’s Word.”
Moses would have applauded him. We need God’s Word to live right, love true and follow close. We need it to know Him and rest in His sweet love for us. We need His Word every day, even on the busiest or most difficult days.
-> Do you have a plan for reading God’s Word? Do you have a strategy for engaging the Bible daily?
Finding a Bible Reading Plan That Fits
There are many good Bible reading plans available online. Each one helps believers grow in their understanding of Scripture and stay rooted in daily engagement with God’s Word. Below are several trusted options to consider as you seek to make Bible reading part of your everyday rhythm.
1. The M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The well-known M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan takes you through the New Testament and Psalms twice each year and the rest of the Bible once. It involves reading about four chapters a day. A friend of mine from South Dakota has followed this plan for several years and loves it. It is a wonderful plan though quite challenging.
2. The Biblical Storyline Plan
Three years ago a pastor friend invited me to join an online group using a Bible plan found on the YouVersion app. I highly recommend the Biblical Storyline Plan. This plan follows the grand narrative of Scripture and helps you see how God’s story unfolds from Genesis to Revelation. One of the greatest benefits of reading through a plan like this with others is the encouragement and accountability it provides. Sharing comments on the passages and insights from daily reading helps everyone stay consistent and grow together.
3. The Whole Bible in Under 2 Years Plan
In about eight days I will finish another YouVersion plan called the Whole Bible in Under 2 Years. I have enjoyed doing this plan with Maile and Alia for the past two years. This plan follows the chronology of the Old Testament and helps readers trace the sequence of events and see how everything connects. It also pairs New Testament passages that echo similar themes, creating a fuller picture of how Scripture fits together. It has opened my eyes to parallels I had never noticed before.
Keeping It Simple and Consistent
Some Christians find a full-year plan intimidating and that is understandable. While I believe every Christian should read through the entire Bible at least once in their lifetime, we do not need to complete it every year. The main goal is daily engagement with God’s Word. Always collect today’s manna!
(The YouVersion app also offers a “Hear the Word” feature for those who prefer listening rather than reading.)
Exploring More Reading Options
YouVersion provides many reading plans, each designed with a specific discipleship goal in mind. Here are a few more worth exploring:
- 30-Minute Daily Reading Plan: A daily plan that immerses you in God’s merciful character, what it calls “the culture of heaven.”
- 30-Day Plan through Paul’s Letters: A focused study through the Apostle Paul’s letters that strengthens understanding of gospel truth.
- What is God Like: A 21 Day Reading Plan: A devotional-style plan exploring 21 names of God to deepen knowledge of His nature and character.
Visit Bible.com or open the YouVersion app to explore these and many others. Choose a plan that fits your current season of life and helps you engage Scripture daily.
(The site also offers many devotional plans. While those can be encouraging, I believe direct engagement with Scripture is most vital. Devotional insights are helpful but only God’s Word itself is true spiritual manna for your soul.)
Daily Bread for the Soul
We need God’s Word to survive this world and to thrive in our relationship with Him. Different Christians have different needs and capacities for reading, but every believer needs daily engagement with God’s Word. We do not all need to follow the same plan, but I encourage everyone at Connections to select one. May we all enjoy the sweetness of God’s Word every day in 2026.
As an old hymn exclaims,
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life,
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Pastor Rob Byker
Senior Pastor, Connections Church
