12 practical suggestions for reading well in 2020

(modified from an article by George H. Guthrie – written by Phil Perez)

1. Read prayerfully – Reading the bible is a spiritual exercise, and you need spiritual power.
2. Read joyfully – Allow your reading to bring joy to your life.
3. Meditate on what you are reading – When we chew our food it digests better.  When we wolf it down it gives indigestion.
4. Read for transformation – The bible is not merely meant to inform, it is meant to transform.
5. Read with perseverance – Commit yourself to being consistent the next 10 weeks to get started.
6. Read realistically – If you take just 20 minutes a day you can get through the whole book in a year.  
7. Read at a consistent time – Try to make a distraction free setting if possible.
8. Read with a commentary – Have tools that help you understand.
9. Read with a pen in hand – Underline key passages, make notes in the margins, notes on a computer.  Whatever helps.
10. Read in light of the immediate context – We need not just big picture but also little picture understanding of the bible scenes.  
11. Read as part of the community – Interact with those from DeKalb, Lansing, and Fort Wayne regarding how the word has struck you.
12. Read the overarching story – Let this be a year you understand more how each book fits within the themes of the whole bible.