Abide | 365 Days in the Word - Daily Readings From the Old and New TestamentsSample

The mission of every Christian is to be with Jesus and become like Him—for the sake of the world. That all starts in one place: God’s Word. To be with Jesus, we have to first spend time with Him. God wants us to know Him—not just know about Him—and studying Scripture is one foundational way we grow in our relationship with Him.

And so, we embark on Abide—a year-long Bible reading and reflection plan. We hope that this next year of studying together is marked with a hunger for God's Word and a deeper faith with every passage read.

Here are some thoughts to remember as you jump in:

• Stay with it. As with any reading plan, you must stick it out! If you miss a day or fall behind, don't be discouraged! Pick your Bible back up and keep going!
• Dive deeper. Challenge yourself to dive deeper into the reading in a guided journal—reading, examining, applying, and praying through the Scripture each day. See more about this method below.
• Don't do this alone! You'll read this truth a few times in Scripture this year, but God has made us for community! As you take His Word in and allow it to transform you, share the journey with others and tell them how God is at work!

Matthew 4:4 says this: “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Here we see that Scripture serves so great a purpose in our lives as believers that it’s both life-giving and life-sustaining. We can take in many things during our days, but nothing so transformative as the very Word of God.

We look forward to reading through the Bible with you. We pray that God uses this journey through Scripture to lead you to be and become more like Him for the sake of the world.

You’ll take a few minutes to read through today’s passages in just a moment. Before you do, start with a simple prayer like this:

“God, I invite you into this moment and ask that you open my heart to Your Word. Help me to know you deeply through it, and let your truth transform my heart, mind, and soul today.”

Once you finish your reading, take a few moments to walk through P.R.A.Y.

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P - PAUSE to be still. Meditate on what you’ve just read, allowing it to sink in.

R - REFLECT on Scripture. What was God saying to you today through His Word? Speak aloud a verse to remember, and maybe even write it down.

A - ASK for God’s help. The challenge is to be with Jesus and become more like Him. How does today’s Word challenge you to do that?

Y - YIELD to His will in your life. God lovingly invites you into the beautiful plan He has for you, His church, and the world. Take up His invitation to live differently, understanding His plan is beyond anything we could ask or imagine.

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We encourage you to write some thoughts down each day so that you can reflect as the year goes on, being reminded of what God is teaching you and what He is doing in your life and the world around you. Share the journey with someone else, too. Proverbs 27:17 proclaims, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”—don’t do faith alone.

We’re praying for you each day.