Some people say you should read the Bible from beginning to end. There are reading plans that help you finish it in a year, sometimes even faster. Many claim it’s a life-changing habit. I’ve done it once. But to be honest, I don’t feel the need to do it again.
Instead, I keep coming back to a few specific passages. I’ll read them over and over. Sometimes 20 times in a single day, until they sink in.
Not every part of the Bible feels relevant to me right now. Detailed instructions for building the temple or long lists of names in the Old Testament are important, but they don’t always help me feel closer to God. In fact, they can pull my attention away from the verses that speak to my heart.
There’s only so much Scripture I can really carry with me. I’m not trying to memorize the whole thing. I want to hold on to a few key truths that stay with me when I’m afraid, lost, or struggling. I don’t want information. I want fellowship. I want intimacy with the Lord. That kind of trust takes time. It comes from focus, not from covering as much ground as possible.
Some people grow by reading the whole Bible in a year. That’s great. But I’ve learned it’s okay to go at my own pace. I don’t want to rush just to check a box. If one passage speaks to me, I’ll stay with it for as long as I need to. Sometimes that’s days. Sometimes it’s weeks. I believe God can use even a single verse to change my entire life.
Jesus didn’t quote full scrolls when He taught or when He faced temptation. He used short, powerful truths. That’s what I want too. A few verses so deep in my heart that they guide my life.
So no, I don’t follow a Bible reading plan. I read with purpose. I read with my heart. And for me, that’s enough.
Here are some passages that I have read many times:
- Psalm 23: 500+ times
- Philippians 2: 100+ times
- 1 John: 50+ times
- Matthew 5: 50+ times