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Project 89 – a Gospel reading plan that has transformed my life

    Three things happened back-to-back that changed the trajectory of my bible-reading life (and my whole life, actually).

    It first started with a post I wrote last year about morning devotional books I liked. I am not a morning person and yet I saw the value in starting the day with truth, so I did what I’ve always done and chose a morning devotion to start the day.

    There is nothing wrong with this, per se. Quick readings with scripture and truth and application have their place. And for us busy moms (especially you moms of littles where it feels like you never have a minute to yourself!) those devotional resources are priceless.

    But then a reader left a comment that made me pause. She said something along the lines of “is this really all we’re willing to give Jesus? All we have is just an obligatory 5 minutes to read and then just move on with our day?“. 

    It could have come off as critical and I could have responded defensively. But instead, it totally convicted me.

    She was right.

    Is a quick get-it-done reading all I was willing to give? And was it working to grow me deeper into the knowledge and trust in who God is and who I am and how then I should live in this world?

    Another thing happened around the same time: I felt the Lord asking me to quiet the noise.

    There are endless resources for amazing teaching and inspiration and I was consuming a lot of it. My desire to grow and learn was at an all time high and I was responding by drinking it all in. These things, again, are SO good. Podcasts and books and instagram and blog posts with testimonies of how God has worked and what He is like are invaluable.

    But I felt like I was just hearing second hand about who God is and what He does and not experiencing it for myself.

    I longed to know what He wanted to say to ME!

    The third moment happened in passing on a Sunday at church. I was chatting with a friend and she told me about something she had read that morning in the book of Nehemiah. I commented, “hmm I’ve never studied Nehemiah.” And her reply caught me off guard: “oh, I’m not studying, I’m just reading.”

    I realized then and there that my approach to the Bible was off. I saw it as something to study, to dig through, to come to academically and in a group. It was for smarter theologians or well-practiced readers who understood original Greek and Hebrew and ancient culture. I was consuming teaching ON the bible, craving knowledge about God, seeking out wise teachers – all good things – but it was like a watered-down, second-hand kind of experience with God and He was asking me to quiet all that noise to just be with Him. 

    At the same time as all of this was going on, my spiritual director suggested a new way of understanding who Jesus is through daily reading through the gospels.

    She introduced me to Project 89.

    The practice was developed by an organization for church leaders called Centered. My spiritual director’s husband leads the team and we have good friends who work with them so it felt like a trustworthy place to start.

    Here’s the premise of Project 89:

    Each day, you read one chapter of a gospel, starting with Matthew, then moving through Mark, Luke and John. There are 89 chapters total (hence the Project 89 title).

    The best part, though, is that you do not just read. You also journal in a guided way.

    This is the journal I used and it is now one of my most beloved possessions.

    Here’s how it works:

    With a blank notebook (at least 90 pages, lined, unlined, spiral bound, stitched, whatever you like), create a table of contents with the chapter, date and room for a title you will give the chapter after reading it.

    So at the very beginning, you’ll have a running list of all the chapters for Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It took me four pages in my notebook.

    Once you complete a reading, you’ll add in the title and date.

    Here’s how my title pages look:

    I didn’t give my pages numbers, but you could if it helps you keep better track.

    You’ll notice a few asterisks next to particular chapters. Those were my own little way to mark particular days when I felt like the Lord spoke special things to me.

    On each day of reading, you’ll title a new page with the chapter and date. Then read and take notes and journal as you feel led.

    At the end of the reading and journaling, give the day a title. It could be a concept that sticks out from a verse or a plot line or what the Lord taught you.

    Here are a few sample pages of my daily notes as an example:

    Some days were less journal-y than others. Sometimes the chapter didn’t totally connect, and honestly, sometimes I was less engaged and just rushed through.

    But as long as my heart and mind were present and I invited the Holy Spirit into the practice, He was so faithful to speak and show and bring up questions and offer answers.

    I started Project 89 on June 1, 2018 and finished on January 3, 2019.

    In theory, it would only take 89 days, but it took me 7 months. And honestly, I feel totally okay with it. In fact, I am so sad it is over. It became a way for me to slow down, to speak to God, to hear from God, to get to know His character, to find myself in parables and recognize my inability to measure up and Jesus’ incredible, upside-down ways that set us free.

    As I look back through the journal, I can see so clearly the messages I needed to hear directly from God.

    I needed to know His character – that He is good, kind, compassionate, responsive. I needed to be honest about my shortcomings – that as much as I try not to, I still get very tangled up in the worries of the world. I needed to spend time with Him and prioritize this practice in my busy life. I needed to remember His promises. I needed to slow down and talk to Him and listen.

    Because just as I had so hoped, He did have things to say to me.

    At the end of it all, I can honestly say that this one spiritual practice has transformed my life.

    I have done a lot of work over the past year to grow and heal and understand my identity in Christ. There has been incredible freedom and healing which I’m more than excited to share as the time comes. But at the center of it all, I deeply believe that spending time in the Gospels in this very intentional way has been the biggest difference-maker.

    If this is something you’d like to do, may I share a few things that I think are imperative:

    FIND A QUIET PLACE

    I’m not great at getting up way ahead of the kids, so instead I found a crack of time in between sending my middle schooler off to school and starting the morning routine with the elementary kids. I crawled back in to bed in my quiet bedroom with my journal and bible app to do the daily practice.

    Some days I would bring my journal along with me and do the reading in my car if I had some time before barre class or as I was waiting during a kid’s sports practice.

    The essential part – at least for me – was being alone, without noisy distractions or interruptions.

    BEGIN WITH AN OPEN, MINDFUL POSTURE

    This sounds sort of woo-woo, but stick with me.

    It’s super tempting to just run through the motions and treat it like an item on your checklist. Sure, you’ll get something out of it, but what if there’s more?!

    Begin each time by getting quiet and still, close you eyes, open your hands and exhale.

    When I meet with my spiritual director, we begin each session like this. We sit in silence with our eyes closed and hands open for a minute to let the pressures and to-do list roll into the background and be present and open in the moment.

    We also light a candle to represent the presence of the Holy Spirit during our monthly meetings. I didn’t add the candle portion to my daily reading, but you certainly could if it helps you get into the mental and spiritual place where you will be most open.

    ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF HOLY SPIRIT

    The Holy Spirit is with us always, so I don’t know how I feel about saying we need to invite him in, but acknowledging His presence is vital.

    My prayer each time I began might sound something like this:

    Holy Spirit, you are here. I am here. I am thankful for this time to be with you. Quiet my heart, open my eyes and ears. Show me through the Word what you want me to know. Show me what you want me to do. Show me who you are and what that means about who I am.

    READ IN A TRANSLATION THAT IS NOT SUPER FAMILIAR TO YOU

    I love my NIV study bible. But for this practice, I read each day in The Passion Translation version. IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL.

    Even though the stories might be familiar, reading them in a version that is not your regular go-to makes you read the words and not just skim over them. It puts new words and maybe slightly different perspective that makes you stop and think and pay attention and reflect on familiar scriptures in new ways.

    I read using the BibleGateway app on my phone. I started each day with The Passion Translation and then would switch to the Amplified version (another favorite) or The Message or The New Living for added clarity and perspective. I love reading the same story in different translations to help me understand and comprehend better.

    WRITE DOWN WHATEVER MAKES YOU PAUSE

    If I read a line in the chapter and it caught my attention for whatever reason, I wrote it down. Sometimes I would elaborate with added thoughts or questions, sometimes I would stop and look it up in a different version, sometimes I just continued on.

    The point of journaling is to mark down what is speaking to your soul and interact with it. You might ask for deeper understanding. You might see a thread running through where the same things keep popping up. Now that I’m done, I love having this journal to go back through and see the repeating themes.

    The journaling and titling each chapter acts as a way for you to think and comprehend instead of just reading but not really letting the words sink in.

    KEEP GOING

    Like I said up there, I didn’t finish in 89 days. But I didn’t quit or feel defeated when I missed a few days. The longer I stuck with it, the more I craved it. I anticipated meeting with God and growing in my faith.

    It really is a relationship, you know? The more time you spend together, the deeper and purer it becomes. And when you skip being together, the more you miss it.


    Well, there it is. The single most impactful spiritual practice I’ve ever done.

    I’m so sad it’s done. I know that’s weird because I could just start again. But it’s just this sweet, special one-time thing that I know can’t be replicated and I hold it so dear. I am so grateful for the ways it has grown my faith and trust in God.

    I pray, more than anything, whether you do this Project 89 practice or any other scripture reading, that you will more fully understand who God is, who you are and what that means as you walk out your daily life.

    I’m on the journey with you, friend, and so thankful that we have a loving, good God who promises this:

    “Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you.” James 4:8a (TPT)

    xo,

    Emily

    92 thoughts on “Project 89 – a Gospel reading plan that has transformed my life”

    1. Thank you for sharing this. Each of these suggestions was wise, thoughtful, and in some ways offered permission to do what one’s heart might be telling us to do. One that especially resonated with me was the idea to read a translation that is different than one is used to; I’ve been thinking of doing this but haven’t wanted to spend the extra money, which seems silly, considering that the cost is about the same as an impulse stop at the grocery store–nothing in the long run. Thanks so much for giving me a lot to think about.

      1. A study I did recently suggested getting a Bible from a thrift store so the cost or sentimental value didn’t prohibit you from highlighting or journaling. She used her “journaling copy” to highlight ALL God’s promises through the whole Bible during a trying time.

    2. Oh Emily, what God is doing with this! My girlfriend who lives far, far away called me the day after I read your post to say, “So, what are we doing to study this year?” God inspired her call and we’re on the path (I even picked up the same journal as you, just for fun) together! He’s so incredibly intimate as I read and journal. I’m discovering things I knew in a completely new way. And, oddly enough, everywhere I go I’m hearing and learning about living by the Spirit of God. This process is such a pathway to that connection.
      Thank you for your boldness and your openness. I’m ever grateful and I’m only on the twenty first chapter!
      Love. Love. Love this process.

    3. After putting this off for too long, I’m starting this process today. Thank you for your encouragement and honesty and willingness to share.

    4. Emily,
      I have been an enthusiastic follower of yours for many years, have loved watching your children grow up and have been inspired by your faith journey, decorating adventures and crafty ideas. Although it’s unlikely we will ever meet, I feel like you’re a friend and soulmate in bloggy kind of way!
      Most recently, you have affected my family with your Project 89 post. My sister, husband and I are all doing it and I can hardly wait to see what God is going to teach me through this each morning. My husband and I share our daily “learns” and it has been a great experience for us.
      Thank you for your lovely blog — may have to get my watercolors out next!

    5. Emily, thank you so much! I had set a Bible-in-a-Year goal for this year, and found it SO difficult to manage for my season that I’d gotten discouraged and already stopped. This feels absolutely perfect for the moment of life God has me in, and I’m super excited to start. As my mentor said the other day: “Prayerfully come up with great goals, and then cut them in half.” I appreciated too that you’re willing to say that its ok if you miss a day or two, just come back to it. So important for us all to remember, and so helpful. I am thrilled to have something more manageable–it totally looks like something that will call to my heart. Thank you for sharing–I’ll be sharing this with others too.

    6. Emily, I think this is my favorite post of yours I’ve ever read. And I’ve read a LOT of them! :)
      Thank you for helping bring the focus back to what really matters, and helping give us a bit of direction to draw nearer to the Lord. I look forward to beginning this very soon…

    7. Thank you so much for sharing! My community group is reading through the whole Bible together this year, and I like the idea of using this journaling method to go along with that.

    8. Thank you for sharing your intimate journals and this practice! I was just trying to find something to do in terms of reading/studying, but I didn’t feel led to read the whole thing in a year again, so this timing was great. My husband and I are going to do it together. You could always do the same thing with 2 books from the old testament and 2 books from the new in the same manner–maybe that would be a good next step~

    9. Emily, thanks so much for this! I love it! Just a comment, A man from our church said if you want to change your life, read the Bible through in 6 months. It takes about 45 minutes to read 6-8 chapters a day. Very Interestingly, each year I did this, I got to go on a missions trip to Israel, and developed a passion for God’s people everywhere, not only Israelis, but all peoples. Through blessing Israel, God is completely transforming my life. His word is alive and powerful! Praise Him!

    10. Your post came in my moment of my search for a Bible reading format that I have not tried. I am on this so THANKS seems hardly enough…even though it is from the bottom of my heart.

    11. oh Emily! This is wonderful! And helps me feel so able to read and listen and hear what the Spirit is saying to me in scripture…thank you for sharing this…

    12. Love this! Thank you! I’m at a point where I have the space to go a little deeper again. I’ve been pondering where to start. This is a great jumping off place. Thank you for sharing this resource!

    13. Was thinking about Jen Wilkin’s books as I read through the comments – so happy to hear others recommend them as well. Women of the Word is my favorite go-to for teaching Biblical literacy. So thankful for her emphasis on teaching women to read the Bible for themselves. Love hearing every testimony of God producing fruit through His Word as he has promised.

    14. This post was an answer to my heart searching!! Thank you so much for being willing to share something so raw and meaningful. As others mentioned, I have read the Bible through multiple times, but to journal a little each day on takeaways, it would help it sink in a little more.

      Thank you again!! Blessings to you and your family!!

    15. This is so great. Are you planning to do other books this way too? Seems like a great way to do the whole Bible, no? I am encouraged. Thank you!

      1. I am going to! I just started James and I’ll journal each little section. Then I might go back and do Acts. It is such a good continuation of the gospels and we’re going through it at church right now, so that might be a good choice.

    16. I absolutely LOVE this post and your encouraging words! The year after my dad died, my congregation did a walk through the Bible where we all were able to purchase a chronological Bible, and we read daily to read through the entire Bible in a year. I really wanted to do it, but that year was just such an emotional, hard year for me. The next year, I decided I was ready to tackle that goal. I did it, and it was one of the best accomplishments of my life! I’m so glad that I did it, and I have friends who continue to do that each year. This year, I was looking for something different because I’m feeling a little lost and, like you, feel like I need to quiet everything around me to do some deep soul-searching. This sounds like exactly what I need to do! Thank you so much for sharing this experience and your heart. You will never know how many people you’ve touched with your story and how many people you’ve encouraged to strengthen their relationship with the Lord.Thank you!

    17. Thank you for sharing your heart. I needed to read this moving into the new year. I have allowed my time with Jesus to be rushed and stale. This was very encouraging, I can’t wait to get a new journal and start!

    18. Have you seen The Illuminated Bible (ESV) journaling Bible? I have the one with the navy blue cloth cover. The leather one looks gorgeous as well. Anyway, you would love it! The artwork and lettering inside is stunning. I’ve been doing a similar thing, journaling my way through reading the book of Acts. I am trying to re-read each chapter a few times before moving on, and trying to research answers to my questions using the commentaries available in the app “Blue Letter Bible.” May God continue to bless and teach you and change our lives through his living Word!

    19. Thank you for writing this today. Your words were both convicting and encouraging to me. A couple of days ago I wrote out some goals for 2019. On the top of that list was: Bury the Word in my heart. The first two things I listed towards accomplishing this goals were “spend 5 minutes in the word each day” and “listen to Christian podcasts during my commute.” I told myself that just these things would be good enough. (I do have a 5 month old after all.) Thank you for calling these specific things out. I do not simply need to hear ABOUT God in a fleeting few minutes every day. I need to hear what God has said and is saying to me in his living Word. What a gift He has given to us!

      1. Ugh! Such hard truths. Give yourself plenty of grace because mothering a baby takes a lot out of you, but also, I love that the Lord pointed you to needing more than 5 minutes and podcasts. GOOD THINGS! But not enough. xoxo

    20. I love that you are sharing and encouraging God here at the beginning of 2019. Two years ago now I embarked on reading my Bible through for the 3rd time. Before my Daddy died in 2014 he told me he had read the Bible through 12 times. So in 2017 I committed to doing this.
      In 2018 I decided to read Jon Courson’s commentary for each of the Daily Bible reading installments for the Old Testament.
      This January I am now reading Jon Courson’s commentary on the New Testament. It is how I begin each day.
      Little did we know that a year ago now we would learn one of our children (we are a blended family of 34 years) would be diagnosed with cancer. We lost our son Wade on Dec 23.
      There is no way I could have gotten through this difficult time without spending every single day in the word. Priscilla Shire says, “The more time spent in the word, the more God will speak to us personally.” I now know this. God teaches us not to worry, but to live each and every day in the fullness of Him.
      This is His plan for our lives. Don’t try to live one day without His strength and His comforter, the Holy Spirit!

      1. I’m so sorry, Nancy, to hear about your son. This must have been a very hard season for your family. But how encouraging to hear you say that your time with God is what keeps you going. And that quote is so good! It feels very true to my experience, and it sounds like yours as well. xo

    21. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. It’s exciting to hear what God is doing in your life through His Word and your obedience. I’m attempting again this year to read the Bible through using a plan. I’ve tried a couple of times before but have gotten behind due to life circumstances and then given up. I’m asking the Lord to help me finish this goal in 2019. Hopefully it will become a discipline that I will continue next year. I’ve been involved in in-depth
      Bible study for years but have neglected the daily reading of the Word. Thanks again for your encouragement!

    22. Thank you for sharing this, Emily. I look forward to starting this. And I feel like you could really do this with any book in the Bible when finished with the Gospels. I’m curious if you and your husband do any Bible reading or Bible study together? Or if you get the kids involved in any way? I was thinking of starting to read the Gospels aloud with my husband and 13 year old. Not even a whole chapter at a time, just several verses at a time and then having discussion. This of course would be separate from my own reading/studying. Would love your thoughts.

    23. This resonates with me, a checklist, input-saturated girl who also needs to actually be with God in my quiet time with Him. I’m doing it too! Thanks for sharing so many details and helpful tips that worked for you.

    24. I love this idea! I’m finishing Priscilla Shirer’s study, Breathe (which is awesome), but this sounds like it should be next on my agenda. Sometimes when reading Scripture, I think “what did I just read?” Our pastor gave us this list to follow when reading the Bible and I love it (you may have already seen it):
      1. Is there an example for me to follow? (1 Peter 2:21-24)
      2. Is there a sin to avoid or confess? (Genesis 37)
      3. Is there a command to obey? (1 Peter 2:17; Ephesians 4:29)
      4. Is there a promise for me to claim? (Hebrews 13:5; John 15:7; Psalm 37:4)
      5. Is there a difficulty here for me to explore? (1 Peter 2:24)
      6. Is there something in this passage that I should pray about today? (Psalm 100; 1 Peter 2:1-3)
      7. What does this passage teach me about God, about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit?
      I’m not a Bible scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve grown so much from my time in Bible study. Thank you for sharing this!

    25. Thank you so much for writing this post. IT is encouraging and while I have done similar things I have not worked through all the gospels like this – such a great idea! I can’t wait to not only do it myself, but I think I am going to share this with my teens!
      I love that you are willing to not only share about design and the outward things of life, but that you have really opened up your heart to share deeper spiritual things!

    26. Emily, I love this and have done a very similar thing over the years with other books of the bible too. You’re encouraging me to get back into it! And may I encourage you to continue it with other books too. God’s word is sooo very rich and you’d be surprised what else He has in store for you. xx

    27. Oh, Emily, thank you so much for writing this post. I bless you for using this gorgeous platform of yours to share an idea that may be truly life-changing for people.

      I don’t comment often, but I’ve followed you for years, and I appreciate all your posts, but this one really struck a chord with me. I’m finishing the manuscript for a book I’m writing for IVP about finding freedom from comparison (my lifelong struggle), and I truly believe that it’s practices such as the one you’ve described that really make the difference. We can’t just know things about God; we have to spend time with him, really letting him speak to us, to understand his incredible love for us. Being able to rest secure in God’s love is the key to living a life free from insecurity and comparison, I think. At least that’s what I’ve found, and what I hope to be able to demonstrate in the book. But this post gives a beautiful, step-by-step EXAMPLE of what I’m trying to explain, and I think that will make a huge difference for people. I thank you and bless you for your willingness to share.

    28. Such a great practice. I have been doing a similar practice, slowing down reading a chapter at a time beginning in Genesis. I journal and then I put it in a binder filed under the book. There’s plenty of Bible there and the other books provide context to the gospel. So keep going!

    29. Thank you so much, Emily, for this post. I, too, find myself reading the Bible like I’m taking a college course or completing Bible studies with “l hope l got that question correct” attitude. I need to spend time with God & let the Holy Spirit show me what He wants me to learn. This post may be a game-changer; l pray it is!
      Thanks again!

    30. Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been on a journey to walk closer to Jesus everyday, to remember He is always with me and that if I remember this I can have Peace
      I’ve read through the Bible each year for the past 3 years. The first year I read a chronological approach on my iPad. I loved it. The 2nd year I did the same thing, but this time with a devotional bible, holding it in my hand. The 3rd year I did a theological order. I didn’t like this as much.
      This year I decided to get a different version and I’m trying a different approach. I’m not finding it too great.
      Sooooo I like your approach and I will switch over soon.
      I’ll let you know how it goes!

    31. Love that you shared this special experience with your readers and will be doing this sometime! I’d also like to recommend Bible Study Fellowship as an opportunity for you and your readers to dig deep into the Word. It combines personal study with objective Biblical commentary, and even though “study” is in the name it is truly about connecting to God!😉. Bless you!

    32. This is what I needed to hear! I’ve been “doing” a devotion for 5 minutes in the morning and it has become a thing to check off of my “to do” list. Some days the devotion will speak to me but I’ve been feeling like there is more I should be seeking. This post is an answer to my prayer. Thank you for sharing this intimate part of your life with us!

    33. I love this idea! There’s nothing like reading God’s words to grow and change is. I’ve come to love Hebrews and 1 John especially. I recently found the “Give me Jesus” journal from Well Watered Women. You can use it for any Bible reading and gives you some prompts for reflection. So helpful!

    34. I adored this post. I am doing something similar called “I Firmly Resolve”. For myself I find it super beneficial to journal everything I read.

    35. Emily,
      Don’t be sad. Just start over again. I’m sure you will see different things, have different questions, come up with different chapters. Or maybe you could do it with 4 chapters of letters to the first churches. This is the best post of your’s I’ve ever read, and I’ve been a reader for a long time.

    36. Thank you SO much for sharing this!! I began reading through Matthew this January and this journaling idea sounds so impactful. I love how you described taking carving out time and space to really meet with God during your readings. Super grateful you took the step of faith to share this with us!

    37. Loved this! I am reading the the Bible in a year this year using The Message Bible and it’s been incredible! This method is so wonderful.

    38. This is an interesting idea! I haven’t read through the whole Bible since college. I used a devotional last year, and it was good, but our Pastor mentioned something a few months ago about how, if we’re honest, most of us are not even actually reading our Bibles except for passages here and there. You need to actually read it yourself and let God speak to you, rather then only reading/hearing other’s thoughts. He’s totally right. So now I am attempting a reading plan for this year. Maybe I’ll work up to journalling at some point! :)

    39. It is an amazing, humbling thing to experience God whispering to your heart. No Bible teacher or devotional book is needed for that! I’ve gathered a group of friends and acquaintances to read the chronological Bible in a year. No footnotes or extra materials are needed. We comment to the group on the Bible App. God says something so unique to each of us in the very same reading. It all depends on our individual needs and experiences. Bible studies and teachers are wonderful, but God cares for and is experienced by each of us uniquely! If only we’d trust Him more to show us what we need to know! It’s also super important to have faithful believers in our lives so we don’t go off the rails theologically. I’m so glad you have a spiritual director to share with. I love that you shared this!

    40. Thank you for sharing. I’ll look into this reading plan because it sounds wonderful. If you’re looking for something new, I recommend giving a chronological reading plan a try. It opened my eyes to so much more detail and depth than I’d ever had before. When you’re reading in 1 Samuel about David hiding in a cave from Saul and then you jump over to Psalms to read David’s prayer asking for God’s protection from his enemies while he’s hiding in that very cave . . . it bridges scripture together in a really beautiful way. It’s the only reading plan I’ve stuck with all the way through and I used the ESV (my favorite version) and now I’ve started over again, this time in an NIV study Bible in order to learn more about the cultural and historical contexts.

      1. I think a chronological plan sounds great. I’m going to read through a few new testament books and will likely start a full bible reading plan in a month or so :)

    41. Emily,

      I would totally encourage you to do it again! I find when I read my scriptures I get something different out of them each time I read. I think this is because I am in a different place in life each time I read scriptures. When you journal each time you read you will be able to see how you are changing and growing as you progress in life. Thank you for sharing your journey and reminding me to make that connection with God.

    42. Three things i learned about the Bible
      1) it is not a book, but a library – with books on history, law, poetry, and even a play (yes, Job was written as a play
      2) It was written for us, not to us – we shouldn’t assume that when Christ was teaching the 12 that we also have the same authority He gave them.
      3) The Bible never teaches that it is an authority, and only the Church Was given it to interpret and define scripture, and if we would only learn that simple truth we might all go back to the One church He gave us, not one of the thousands of denominations men have made in their own image. Jesus spent 3 years creating His church, yet never wrote a word, nor told His disciples to teach reading (since for the first 75% of Christian history only 10% of the world could read).

    43. Thanks for sharing this. I too bought a journal like yours about a year ago and was so good at using it just as you said, while reading my scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. (Another wonderful testament of Jesus Christ that has changed my life)
      I’ve gotten out of the habit of sitting down and really letting the spirit in though. I’ve just been doing it to check it off my list right now, but you’ve motivated me to begin using my journal again, starting today, so thank you!!

      1. I also thought I’d mention a new study guide my church just came out with for the year 2019. It covers the New Testament. It’s called Come, Follow Me— For Individuals and Families. Anyone can have access to it. It’s on LDS.org.

    44. I’d never heard of this practice. Thanks so much for sharing! I tend to need breaks from deeper study and focus on more personal,devotional reading of the Bible, so this is just what I will try next. ❤️

    45. Thanks for sharing this! Another source for info on reading Scripture this way is KeithFerrin.com. He advocates what he calls relational reading of the Bible—not just for information. He has online resources, books,etc. to help.

    46. This is awesome! He has led me back to the gospels too… reminding me to literally look at HIm and His life. What did he do? That is where our faith really comes from- Him. Thank you for sharing this. Such a great encouragement!
      (And I just finished my gratitude journal. I am excited to choose a new one and love yours! Do you know the source?)

    47. Thanks for sharing this, it is a wonderful encouragement to treasure the gift of God’s word and the importance of having regular habits of both having it taught to us and reading, understanding and applying it for ourselves.
      Can I now encourage you to keep going with other books of the bible and have a long term goal of journaling through the whole thing? You might be equally amazed at how much you’ve gotten out of doing this process with books you thought would be too hard, too long or too weird. Just another reader comment that might spur you on!

    48. Thanks for sharing. I’ve felt convicted too about mostly reading devotionals and not that much actual Bible. I decided to start reading through the New Testament in the new year- one chapter a day. I journal using the SOAP method- Scripture, Observations, Application and Prayer. So far it’s been great- I find myself thinking about what I read throughout the day rather than just reading through quickly and getting it done. You could use 2019 to read and journal through the rest of the NT😊

    49. Thank you for sharing this!

      Can you tell me how you went about finding a spiritual director? I have heard a couple people talk about that, but I wouldn’t know where to begin finding one!

    50. Emily, this sounds truly wonderful. I love this idea and your heart to dive in to who God is and therefore who you are. My Bible teacher, Jen Wilken, wrote two books on the attributes of God that might be a good next step. Each book goes through either the communicable attributes (In his Image) or the incommunicable attributes (None Like Him) of God. Those books along with her studies have changed the way I read the Bible and given me confidence to explore it on my own instead of through the lens of a commentator.

    51. Thank you Emily! I’m going to look into this further! Any tips for journaling? I’ve tried journaling in the past and I stare at my blank page unsure of what to write or how to get started.

    52. Love this method! I’m going to give it a try.
      I’d highly recommend anything by Jen Wilkin – but especially Women of the Word. She speaks to a lot of what you describe feeling and she really helped me develop my conviction about a need for Bible literacy. Her Bible study method would work well in conjunction with this strategy for other books of the Bible!

    53. Thank you for having the grace and courage to share your experience and for such an inspiring and impactful post. Blessing to you.

    54. Time to start on the next 4 chapters of the NT! I have tried so many different plans for reading/studying the Bible and start off great, but then I fade away and forget about it. I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for sharing.

    55. Thank you for sharing your journey with the Lord. Your words and experience are bringing others to God, which is truly a testament to your discipleship and open, loving heart. Blessings to you as you start a new chapter…may it bring even more quiet moments to hear what Jesus wants to teach you next. I am grateful to be part of your online village, as your words often add clarity and inspiration to the thoughts and goals of my heart. Thank you!

    56. I love this post! In November, I happened upon a podcast featuring Tara-Leigh Cobble who I had never heard of before. Long story short, she shared how she was challenged by a mentor of hers to read through the Bible. Really THROUGH it, the whole thing. She talked about devotionals and how they do offer encouragement and insight… but that you can’t base your knowledge of the Bible strictly on highlighted scriptures. You need to really understand the context of scripture: when it was written and who it was written to. Her passion for understanding the Bible was nearly tangible in this interview. I was so inspired. So I began to pray for God to direct me to a way that I could begin to fall in love with reading the Bible as Tara-Leigh had.
      Then, right before the new year, I discovered that Tara-Leigh Cobble is starting her own podcast to direct people to read through the Bible with her this year! It’s called The Bible Recap and it’s been such an answer to prayer. We’re following the Chronological Bible Plan using the Bible app and then tuning in to her podcast each day where she breaks down the day’s reading with some great insight and a snapshot of God’s character that was highlighted in that day’s scriptures.
      It may be the perfect thing now that you’ve spent that wonderful time in the gospels. Check it out! I have absolutely LOVED the first week and am already learning so much. It’s giving so much more meaning to my daily devotional time with God.

      Thanks for sharing this post. It’s such a great encouragement.

      1. I just discovered her new podcast earlier this week! It is definitely something I’m thinking about doing. I’ll give myself a month or so and then jump in.

    57. I love this so much! I also felt the need about a year ago to stop reading devotionals and Bible studies for a time, and just listen to what God was telling me, not what I was told He was telling me. I keep a pretty piece of paper at the front of each book of the Bible and record my thoughts on it. It’s neat to see my thoughts from the past and how I’ve grown. Thanks for sharing!

    58. Thank you. My spiritual self is in sad shape. I read this post from start to finish, and gathered the necessary ingredients to begin my own true faith journey. I dusted off the Bible my mother gave me over a decade ago (probably closer to two) wrote the chapters of the four gospels at the beginning of a beautiful journal I was gifted by a dear friend just this Christmas, and downloaded a few Bible apps. I have spent the last two hours thinking about the process and commitment I will make to do this Project 89. Thank you for a thoughtful, organized reflection of your faith experience.

      1. Oh, Pamela, I’m praying for you tonight! It is a journey that I hope will open up your heart and mind to how much He loves you and will set you free to be who he made you to be! xoxo

      1. Totally sounds hokey, but she’s been really invaluable to me this year. A spiritual director is not a counselor or a mentor – who listen and then give advice, but rather a person who helps you through questions and promptings from the Holy Spirit to grow deeper in your relationship with God. I suppose all spiritual directors do things differently, but mine just asks me questions and we talk about what God is wanting me to know. It is like having a guide as you grow and ask questions and listen.

        1. I’d also like to hear a little more about your spiritual director -how do you find someone? I’ve heard other podcasters/bloggers talk about theirs, and I’m curious!

    59. Thank you for sharing this sacred experience. I, too try to have a time of reading and reflecting the scriptures everyday. Its refreshing to have people unafraid to share their spiritual experiences.

    60. Oh, Emily, thank you so much for sharing what has enlarged your spirit. I feel like I was led to find this! I’ve been quietly searching for a unique way to (for lack of a better word) ‘re-connect’ with my desire to seek God and hear from Him. I’m excited to begin. :) Thank you, thank you!

    61. I’m not a commenter, but I felt I needed to leave a comment so you’d know how much I love this idea. I’m doing it! Starting tomorrow. I miss you, as silly as that sounds. This blog as a business it great! I’m so proud of you and what you have created. But I also loved the random, not thought out, letting us in posts of the past. The first few coffee chats felt appropriately titled- chats. I loved them. I’ve been reading from the beginning, and things have really changed. Remember- there’s no need to always be perfect. I liked you more when you weren’t. :)

      1. Thank you, Jane. I totally feel a draw back to the old days when there was less polish, more just random sharing of life. My hope is that I’ll be able to move back into that direction.

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