Welcome to the September 2018 Bible reading plan and journal challenge! If this is your first time here, then I’m so glad to have you! Each month I host a monthly Bible reading plan and journal challenge to help our community enjoy reading God’s Word together and encourage our hearts to be faithful to Him. Together, our community have completed over 25 Bible reading challenges, including annual reading challenges and monthly reading challenges. I’ve developed all sorts of strategies to help us continue to stay in God’s word faithfully and there is nothing like this monthly system we are doing together.
Have you ever been in a crowded room, yet felt completely alone? Have you ever been surrounded by people, yet felt lonely and isolated? It’s easy to do and yet, truly, as Christians, we are never alone. God has promised over and over in his word that he is ALWAYS with us. Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us. The enemy is the one who wants us to feel isolated and lonely. If he can get us wrapped up in that feeling, he knows we’ll be paralyzed and stop moving forward with the work God has called us to do.
September Bible Reading Challenge Focus
“Go back where I brought you from.” These are the words Jacob heard from God in Genesis 31. Can you imagine all that Jacob had been through up to this point? How God had blessed Jacob with the discovery of love, marriage, and family while walking the journey of faith. He was successful with skills in caring for livestock and God used those skills to make him a wealthy man. But now,Jacob’s family members are gossiping and grumbling about his success. God tells him to return to his homeland.
Only the reason Jacob left his homeland to begin with was because his own brother wanted to kill him. Who wants to go back home to face that scenario? Sounds like a little reality tv to me.
I love that God didn’t tell him “Go back to where you came from.” No, he says “Go back to where I brought you from.” You see, God wanted Jacob to remember that HE is the one who brought Jacob out of his homeland safely. And HE would be the one to return Jacob safely. He ultimately reminds him:
Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you. Genesis 31:38
NEVER ALONE BIBLE READING CHALLENGE
Welcome to the Never Alone Bible reading challenge! If you’ve never joined a Bible reading challenge here before, each day we follow the plan and read the passage. You can share what you are learning on social media or just keep it between you and God. My goal through the reading is to draw closer to Jesus, and I want that for you too!
For this month, we will use the hashtags #neveralonejournal and #biblereadingplan. Almost every day, I post on Instagram or Facebook about what I’m learning through the passages and sometimes I post the Bible journaling pages I work on throughout the study.
On Fridays, I post a summary of what I learned through the week here on the blog and invite you to share what God is teaching you in the comments.
ABOUT THE BIBLE READING PLAN AND JOURNAL
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year and a half since God began working in my heart to step the monthly Bible Reading Challenge up another notch. Personally the Lord has convinced me that soaking in his word each day is the best soul treatment I could possibly encounter. So while our community has completed Bible reading challenges for several years, I knew God was asking me to provide a stronger tool than the simple Bible reading plan printable I offer each month.
As a result, I created a Bible reading plan and journal combination. This resource is designed to provide a topical theme for 31 days of Bible reading passages so that it can be completed any month of the year.
IMPORTANT NOTE
I truly long to provide practical, spiritual resources because I know that is a work God has called me to do. Throughout last year, I have made changes to the format. A couple months back, I expanded the journal from one page a day to two pages a day, and yet I believe it is still something the average person can complete within a reasonable span of time on a personal level.
If you’re looking for an in-depth Bible study, these slim Bible study guides may not be the right fit for you. (Check out this FREE video Bible study for more depth!)
I designed these particular Bible reading plans and journals to be doable on a consistent, daily basis.
This is not a Bible study with large amounts of developed content; it is a tool to be used for you to grow personally. The objective is for you to read and grow to know God’s word for yourself. I’ll be honest, using the journal is a spiritual discipline. But it’s a habit that works in spite of feelings or failures. The benefits enjoyed are astounding!
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Here are a few comments about the journals we’ve developed:
I’m so loving this reading plan and journal! While I’ve done your reading plans with my girlfriends, this is the first time I’ve used the journal. Prayer-life changing! As a seminary student, I’m in the Bible daily, but thisshort journaling exercise is focusing and refining my prayer life tremendously! Thank you for your obedience to God in creating this tool.
Love the simple format! As a mom of little ones, it is so doable! Thank you!
Thank you for doing these. They help me so much not only to encourage me to read my Bible more, but to apply what I read.
Love these journals! Please keep them coming!
I read Rachel’s blog and she is always encouraging, so I decided to jump in and try one of her reading plans and journals. This one has been great. It’s just the right amount of Bible teaching and listening to yourself and what God wants to tell you. Waiting for things to happen, or not, is something most of us now don’t like to do, but God does have his timing. This study is making me sit back and be aware of what is happening and perhaps why God is making me wait. If you are thinking about giving a Bible study a try, I would highly recommend this.
NEVER ALONE BIBLE READING PLAN & JOURNAL
1. Genesis 28:13-19
2. Matthew 28:16-20
3. Isaiah 41:1-10
4. Joshua 1:1-9
5. Psalm 23:1-6
6. Jeremiah 23:23-30
7. Matthew 18:15-20
8. Deuteronomy 31:1-8
9. Matthew 1:20-25
10. Exodus 33:11-23
11. 1 Chronicles 17:1-8
12. Psalm 73:21-28
13. Deuteronomy 2:1-7
14. Judges 6:6-16
15. Psalm 139:1-12
16. Psalm 139:13-24
17. Jeremiah 1:1-8
18. Jeremiah 1:9-19
19. Deuteronomy 20:1-4
20. Psalm 36:1-12
21. Isaiah 43:1-7
22. 2 Kings 6:8-18
23. Psalm 46:1-11
24. 2 Chronicles 32:1-8
25. Deuteronomy 4:29-40
26. 1 Kings 8:54-61
27. Psalm 16:1-11
28. Zephaniah 3:14-20
29. 1 John 3:18-24
30. Psalm 72:12-20
31. Psalm 27:1-10
PRINTABLE OR DIGITAL BIBLE READING PLAN
Just screenshot the graphic to your smartphone and mark it as a favorite for easy daily access. For a simple printable copy, click on the graphic or HERE and print out two copies of the Bible reading plan. Share one with a friend!
I am looking forward to become more aware that the Lord is WITH ME each day this month! Thank you so much for encouraging me to dig into God’s Word each and every month as we continue to learn his word and apply it in our daily lives.
Who’s in for the challenge? We begin September 1st! Order your journal NOW!
By his grace,
Rachel
RESOURCES:
Finished day 1. . I enjoy reading the Bible passage and just pondering its meaning. Soaking in God’s word. Letting God speak to me. This plan is just enough to allow me to spend time with God each day. Thank you for creating this Bible plan and journal.
thanks for being a part! I’m so glad you are enjoying it!