I just finished reading through the Bible, and on the first of January I plan to start again. Beauty and wisdom, peace and insight overflow its pages. Every minute I spend in the Scriptures yields dividends. Below are nine reasons I read every word of the Bible every year.

I gain an expansive view of God. Left to myself, I shrink God into my own image. I prefer a God who reminds me of me, who approves of my lifestyle and choices, and who hugs me despite my subtle disregard of his ways. No such God exists in the pages of Scripture, but how will I know if I don’t go take a look?

The discipline of daily reading develops my faith. Regular reading creates a habit and builds spiritual muscle. I did not choose to live the Christian life on a lark. As a serious and devoted follower of Jesus, I hope to continually grow deeper and broader in my faith. Bible reading forms the foundation of that growth.

I discover something I’ve never noticed on a daily basis. This may be my favorite part of reading the Bible. I discover faithful heroes and intriguing villains, fresh thoughts and challenging ideas every day.

God surprises me. Not always in a comfortable way.

God wrestles with me. Or better, I wrestle with the God of the Bible. The Lord uses the Scriptures to point out my pride or vanity or loose talk. I don’t like it. At times I despise it. But I appreciate the fact that words in the Bible roll me around in the dirt on occasion.

I wrestle with the Scripture’s approach the world. I don’t understand parts of the Bible. Why did the child born from David’s sin with Bathsheba have to die? Seems so unfair, but that’s what God wanted. I grapple with my understanding and beliefs about God. I believe questions fuel our faith, just as questions fueled the faith of many in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit blows fresh in my life. The Holy Spirit changes, comforts, challenges and builds us, particularly paired with the wisdom of the Bible. The combination of Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture transforms my heart. Nothing else works in such a supernatural way. I fight temptation, I gain compassion, and I get beyond myself when the Holy Spirit uses the words of God in my life.

I brag to my friends. Let’s face it—not many people read through the Bible. Let the practice slip at a dinner party and notice the reactions.

My soul swells. The psalmist tells us, Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers (Psalm 1). I want such a life and it only comes by meditating on the scriptures daily. Comfort, hope and peace develop in such an environment.

I encourage you to join me and read the Bible cover to cover in 2024. You can do it! If you spend 30 minutes a day on social media, you can read the Bible through in a year.

Start the journey—your soul will thank you.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez