I commend you for wanting to do this — and I’m grateful you’ve stayed with it! Many people set out to read through the Bible, but then give up after a month or so because they come to sections that may be harder to understand.

The first thing I urge you to do is to set aside a regular time for reading your Bible. If you leave it until you have a few spare minutes, you’ll probably rush through the reading and not get much out of it. But if you set aside a regular time — and stick to it — you’ll have more time to digest the text.

Then pray before you open your Bible. Ask God to help you understand why He included that passage in the Bible, and what He wants you to get out of it. Also, ask God to give you an obedient spirit, so you begin putting the Bible’s words into action. The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

Finally, ask questions as you read. What’s happening in this passage? What does it tell us about God, or about our need for His guidance, or about His will for our lives? What was God doing then — and what does He want to do in my life today? Let the Psalmist’s prayer become yours: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).