My Bible Reading Plan for 2026
Reading the Bible cover to cover in a year has always been a dream of mine since I was baptised in 2015. And in 2025, I finally did it. I want to share the plan that worked for me so that you can experience the joy and depth of reading through the entire Bible in 2026.
How This Plan Came Together
A friend of mine who studied at seminary shared a chronological order of the Old Testament with me. I found a structured New Testament reading plan. Another dear friend of mine combined both on a document to create a daily schedule that pairs readings from the Old and New Testaments. This dual approach gave me a broader picture of God’s story every single day.
By following this plan, you can read the entire Bible in one year. It’s not as intimidating as it sounds, especially if you treat it as a rhythm rather than a rigid rule.
A Realistic, Grace-Filled Approach
Let me be honest with you: there are hard days. I’ve had hard weeks where I can’t read my bible or even felt like praying. So on good days, I read ahead as much as I could. On bad days, I fell behind. And that’s okay.
The key is to start again. Don’t feel guilty. Don’t try to “catch up” 14 chapters in one go. Just return to the present day’s reading and keep going. Trust me, God is not keeping score. He just wants to meet with you in His Word.
Reading vs. Studying
In the beginning, I made the mistake of trying to study every passage while reading. That quickly became overwhelming.
Now, I keep my reading plan separate from my study time. When my church organises hermeneutics classes, or other special studies like say, Historical or Cultural Context of the Old Testament or say, a Psalms study; I attend those for deeper study when I can.
If a passage or the whole book from my personal reading plan stirs my curiosity, I note it down and come back to it later for personal deeper study. I have separate moments where I explore verses in its original Hebrew or Greek translations; listen to sermons, or dig into online commentaries to study the bible that way.
Just reading the Bible in a year is about exposure, not exegesis (meaning =critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture). Keeping these goals seperate make it less overwhelming for me.
Helpful Resources for Deeper Study
If you want to understand more about what you’re reading thne consider going to authority sources instead of a quick ai google search. Here are some of my go-tos:
- BibleProject.com: Great animated overviews and visual guides. They also have a free app!
- Bible.org: Deep theological articles and studies.
- Blue Letter Bible: For Greek/Hebrew definitions, commentaries, and tools.
Use these sparingly so that your reading plan remains manageable. Let study be a side-project, not a stumbling block.
Tips for Staying Consistent
- Read first thing in the morning: Before your day starts, before you pick up your phone and distractions hit.
- Listen to the audio Bible: Bible apps like YouVersion and Dwell are amazing or just lookup the speaker icon on BibleGateway.com
- Use a physical Bible: There’s just something grounding about it. (more on this later 🙂
- Print out your reading plan: Mark off each day. It’s satisfying!
- Journal along: Not long entries—just a verse or thought that stood out. What attributes of God did you notice… reflecting on what I read is a powerful way to internalise and remember it!
- Read with a friend or group: Accountability makes a huge difference. Plus you get to learn interesting nuggets from each other and together you get to see the awesomness of our YhWh God!
Final Words of Encouragement
This is not a race or checking a box. This is about creating a disciplne to improve a relationship. Don’t worry if you fall behind. Don’t let shame steal the joy of being in God’s Word.
Also, don’t expect fireworks every day. Some days you might feel like nothing hit you—but your spirit is still being fed. Just like daily food, not every meal is memorable, but every meal nourishes.
So whether you’re new to reading the Bible or returning with fresh intention, this plan is for you.
Let 2026 be the year you read through the entire Bible—and experience how it transforms your heart, renews your mind, and anchors your soul.
If you’d like to download the printable Bible Reading Plan I used, [click here].
Let me know if you’re joining me for 2026. I’d love to walk this journey with you!
Blessings,
Elizabeth | @honestlizhere