Planning for a new year is often frowned upon today, mainly because many a plan hardly ever gets past January. Why would we bother writing a New Year’s plan when none of us even know what tomorrow holds? Well, the saying is true: if something is not written down, it is probably not serious. We should therefore make serious New Year’s plans by writing down our goals and desires.
This year has run by just as fast as the many before it, if not faster. It might have seemed to you like the quick, but seamless, creeping in of darkness. Different times and seasons are behind us, and by God’s mercy, a new one is before us: the new year (Ecclesiastes 3:1). You will do well to plan it.
As Christians, among our daily goals should include being found in the word of God. The word of God is profitable for rebuking, correcting, and training us (2 Timothy 3:16). Memorizing God’s word helps us fight sin (Psalm 119:9-11). Meditating on the Scriptures leads to blessing (Psalm 1:1-2). Applying the Scriptures leads to even more blessings (James 1:25). And hearing the Scriptures grows our faith (Romans 10:17). Therefore, we must plan to profitably spend time in the Bible this coming year.
Planning for our Spiritual Life
Just like we plan our meals, so should we plan for our spiritual nourishment (Hebrews 5:14). Armed with God’s word, we will better respond to arguments (2 Timothy 2:25), share the gospel (Romans 10:17), and persevere through troubled days, which are guaranteed to come (Ephesians 6:11). The word of God is the core of a believer’s life. Whether you’re only recently born again or seasoned in this journey of faith, plan to read, memorize, and meditate on the Scriptures.
Bible Reading Plan
If indeed in Christ we live, breathe, and have our being (Acts 17:28), then his word must be sought consistently. A task we would most likely fail at without a Bible reading plan. I am not implying that you put your Bible aside because you do not have any current reading plans, or that you stop reading whenever the plan feels cluttered up. However messily, aim to read your Bible every single day. With the help of an annual plan, you might even read through the whole Bible within a year.
How would you be affected if you went an entire day without a single ounce of food? You likely won’t have much strength to handle physically demanding tasks. Push that to several days, and the effect will be greater. Make it weeks or months, and the situation might even become life-threatening.
The word of God is bread for the soul (Matthew 4:4). Any amount of neglect will make us susceptible to every wind of doctrine, weaken our resolve in the fight against sin, and our faith would be akin to a house built on sand, easily swept away by tides (Matthew 7:26).
There are numerous online resources to help you read through the Bible in a year, among them the YouVersion Bible app and the KUZA app’s Bible reading plan. You can consider identifying a Bible study plan now and use either of these two approaches for your study.
- Self-study: Through these applications, you can schedule time in your day to faithfully go through Scripture. Should you feel like you’re binge-reading, which may be exhausting, consider the assurance that no single word we read from the Holy Book is given us in vain (Isaiah 55:11). The more we interact with it, the better we understand and grow. Reading for the sake of finishing is not the goal, however. The goal of reading is to know Christ and know him more, for his glory (Philippians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
- Group study: You could also consider joining a group of like-minded people to help each other study the Scriptures (1st Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13). A group would aid greatly with consistency. Studying with others can also be incredibly beneficial to our personal understanding, as we get to glean from what God is teaching others.
Memorizing the Scriptures
Beyond reading, it is even more important that we memorize the scriptures. To this day, so many of us can still recall the scriptures and truths we committed to memory back in Sunday School. When we memorize Scripture, we have it engraved in our hearts (Psalms 119:9-10, 13, 105), made readily available on our lips for all occasions (2nd Timothy 4:2), and deeply lodged in our thoughts for meditation’s sake (Psalms 1:2).
There is not a single need that the word of God would not address, and you, dear saint, could begin by committing the following scriptures to memory even as you pursue a more fruitful Christian life in the coming year.
Gospel Presentation Verses
- Romans 3:23 – All have sinned.
- Romans 6:23 – Death is the payment our sins deserve.
- Romans 5:8 – When we die, we can go to heaven because Jesus paid for our sins.
- Romans 10:9-10 – To go to heaven and have peace with God, you must confess Jesus as Lord.
- Romans 10:13 – No sin is too big for God to forgive. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord can be saved.
Identity Verses
- Ephesians 2:10 – We are created for good works.
- Psalm 139:13-14 – Known and created by God.
- Galatians 2:20- Loved and atoned for.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – We are a new creation.
- Genesis 1:27- Created in God’s image.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27 – Member of the body of Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:9- Chosen race.
- Jeremiah 29:11 – God has a good plan for me.
- Colossians 3:12 – God’s chosen people.
- Ephesians 1:7 – I have redemption, and my sins are remitted.
- John 15:5 – I’m a branch that bears fruit.
- Ephesians 4:24 – Created in righteousness and holiness.
- Romans 8:1 – Not condemned by God.
- Genesis 2:7 – Formed by God.
- Colossians 2:10 – Complete in him.
- Philippians 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven.
- Romans 5:1 – Justified.
- John 15:16 – Chosen by Jesus.
- Romans 8:17 – Heirs of God.
- Romans 6:6 – No longer slaves of sin.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 – You are in Christ.
- Galatians 3:26 – Sons of God.
- Isaiah 64:8 – We’re clay molded by God.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – Elected by God.
- Titus 3:5 – Regenerated to a new life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Righteous in the sight of God.
- John 3:16 – Loved.
- 1 John 3:1 – Child of God.
- 1 Peter 1:3 – Born again to a living hope.
Encouraging Promises
- Isaiah 46:4 – When worried about getting old.
- 1 Peter 5:10-11 – When struggling through a trial or challenge.
- Romans 16:20 – When fearing evil.
- Isaiah 40:8 – When wondering if God’s word is true.
- Romans 8:32, Matthew 6:31-33 – When struggling with the basics of life.
- Jeremiah 32:40-41 – When wondering if God is good.
- Isaiah 26:12, Psalm 55:22 – When feeling anxious about life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – When struggling with your past.
- Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 50:15 – When anxious about a decision.
- Mark 10:29-30 – When wondering if full-time ministry is worth it.
- Psalm 23:1 – When wondering if God is there for you.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 7:7-8 – When wondering if God hears your prayers.
- Jeremiah 29:11 – When questioning if God has a good plan.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 6:9 – When struggling at work or ministry.
- Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 84:11-12 – When wondering if obedience to God is worthwhile.
- Psalm 121:1-3 – When you need help.
- Isaiah 40:29-31 – When you are tired.
- Psalm 27:14, Joshua 1:9, John 14:27 – When anxious or fearful.
As we read and memorize Scripture, our aim should be to have our eyes opened to behold the wondrous things of God (Psalm 119:18).
Planning for the new year should not be a source of anxiety and distress. Especially not if we top the list of our plans with Bible reading, which implies putting our trust in the God in whom all things hold together (Philippians 4:6). Look unto Him, who is the author and finisher of your faith, to fulfill his purposes for your life (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 84:11-12). Foremost of all is that you’d find him in his word–a pursuit a few sound biblical books would help a great deal in.