Category: Journaling Bibles

The amount of time it takes you to read through the Bible really isn’t what’s important. What really matters is that you are spending daily, consistent time in God’s Word. For some people, having a Bible with a reading plan can help them stay on track. Having a goal of reading through the Bible in a year might be the motivation they need to push through some of the more difficult passages (yes, like Leviticus). There are lots of good reasons to read through the Bible in a year, but the most important reasons are to gain a better understanding of who God is and of his relationship with us and to experience his full story of salvation. Like any great book, it’s important to read the beginning, middle, and end (yes, even Leviticus). You don’t want to miss out.

If you think a year-long Bible-reading plan Bible would be helpful, we have a few ideas for you:

The One Year Bible is the #1–selling reading-plan Bible. And there are a variety of different formats and plans so you can pick which one is best for you. The daily variety reading format has a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs for you to read each day. If you want to go on a historical trek, the chronological versions are arranged into 365 daily readings that help you experience the Bible events in the order they actually occurred. Both varieties are also available with wide margins for journaling and coloring, and the daily variety format is available in multiple translations. See them

Looking to combine your Scripture reading with focused prayer time? The One Year Pray for Bibles include the New Living Translation Bible text in the daily reading format as well as prayer prompts focused on an urgent topic or need. This year we partnered with The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) on The One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible. A unique prayer prompt is included with each daily Scripture reading, covering a wide range of needs facing persecuted Christians today. When we pray for the persecuted and read their stories of courage, faithfulness, and obedience, we enter into fellowship with them. Also available are The One Year Pray for Life Bible and The One Year Pray for America Bible. Learn more

The NLT Daily Reader’s Bible is a new and unique way to read through the Bible in a year. Instead of grouping daily readings by date, this Bible groups them by theme. Each reading includes three passages—a selection from the stories of the Bible (the Old Testament books of Genesis through Esther and the New Testament books of Matthew through Acts); another from the teachings of the Bible, including the prophetic books of the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel through Malachi) and the letters of the New Testament (Romans through Revelation); and a third from the wisdom of the Bible (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations). Since this is a reading Bible, there are no chapter and verse interruptions, and because there are no dates, you can read it at your most comfortable pace. See it

Many Bibles include reading plans to help you engage with God’s story. Some, like the Life Application Study Bible, have a 365-day reading plan checklist in the back. Filament Bibles give you access to a variety of Bible reading plans through the Filament Bible app. Here are a few more Bibles with some great reading plans:

The THRIVE Devotional Bible for Women is a full NLT Bible that includes 365 devotional readings. Devotionals are interspersed throughout the Bible and contain a key Scripture, a love letter from God, a reflection from beloved author Sheri Rose Shepherd, a treasure of truth, and a special prayer for the reader. Learn more

The Wayfinding Bible gives you lots of reading-plan options. With an innovative, full-color visual guide at the top of each reading, The Wayfinding Bible provides you with three paths through God’s Word. Following the Fly-Over Route, you’ll cover the most important events in the Bible in just 40 readings, giving you a fresh overview of how these events tell the story of God’s redemption. Following the Direct Route’s 200 readings, you’ll gain a better understanding of how God’s story develops through history. Following the Scenic Route, you’ll explore new territory while discovering a richness and depth in God’s Word that you haven’t seen before. All without the discouragement of getting bogged down in any single book. And there are even more reading plans. Ready to learn more?

Immerse: The Reading Bible splits the Bible into six volumes and is specially crafted for a distraction-free reading experience, helping you dive in and get immersed in Scripture. Chapter numbers, verse numbers, and all other modern additives have been removed. Each volume includes readings plans so you can read through an individual volume in 8 or 16 weeks. Created to be read in community, it’s a great way to read the Bible with others, like your church, Bible study, book club, and friends. Go deeper

The Daily Walk Bible offers a simple daily reading plan to see how the Bible fits together. Each day’s reading includes an overview to give you a bird’s-eye view of the day’s reading, several chapters from the Bible, an interesting fact from the day’s reading, and a short devotional to help you reflect on and apply a specific insight from the day’s reading. Every seventh day offers a pause on the journey as you are invited to Look Back over the readings from the previous week, Look Up to God, and Look Ahead to the reading to come. Learn more

The DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible is a beautiful wide-margin Bible that takes you deeper into God’s Word using twelve indisputable truths about who you are in Christ such as you are known, you are blessed, and you have a reason for hope that highlight God’s promises and devotion to his children. Devotionals and reflections connected to these truth are scattered throughout the Bible, and each truth has a unique logo to help you visually connect the dots. See it

How will you connect with God’s Word in 2022?

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” Luke 16:10, NLT

Devotional from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

Imagine the scene: Jesus has been crucified. The disciples’ lives are in turmoil. They’re unsure of what the future holds. Peter wants something familiar: “I’m going fishing” (John 21:3).

Then Jesus appears, although they don’t yet know it’s him, and he tells them to let out their nets one more time. They catch so many fish they can hardly handle them all. This is faithfulness. It’s continuing to cast the net because Jesus says so. Even when we’ve been up all night. Even when we’re weary. Even when we’re confused. Even when we’re discouraged and want to quit.

If you’re putting pressure on yourself today to do more, be more, or achieve more, then pause and take a deep breath. Just be faithful. If you’re comparing yourself to others in life or ministry and feel you’re falling short, refocus on your own journey. Just be faithful.

If you’re striving for perfection and trying to make everyone happy, let go of those unrealistic expectations. Just be faithful. Just do what you can, where you are, with what you have, to love God and others today. Then do it again one more time.

Holley Gerth, Cheering You On

God, when life is challenging, I want safety and control
and to hold on to what’s familiar. But what I truly need is to just take
the next step of faith with you. I know that you will help me discover what
I need along the way because you will provide it. I’m listening,
I’m receiving, I’m obeying. I love you. Amen.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20, NLT

Reflection from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

As a child of God, your life is filled with the things that he works together for good. As his child, tough times will build your character . . .good times will keep you grateful . . .testing times will strengthen your faith . . .prosperous times will enrich your giving.

Through all the times of life that come your way, you will grow into the faithful child God desires and enables you to be.

Father, thank you for your guidance through all seasons and situations. I give you permission to work everything together in my life, according to your plans, so that I can be most effective for your Kingdom work.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands. Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. Let your favor shine on your servant. In your unfailing love, rescue me. Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave. Silence their lying lips—those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly. How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack. In panic I cried out, ‘I am cut off from the Lord!’ But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” Psalm 31:14-24, NLT.

Reflection from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

Life is hard sometimes—crazy, mixed-up, messed up. And there you are, in the middle of it all, just doing your thing . . .being strong and brave and beautiful like it’s no big deal.

But let me tell you . . .Not everyone can do what you can do. Not everyone can handle things the way you can. While you wonder sometimes if you’re doing okay . . .the world is just watching in wonder.

Lord, thank you for giving me all
that I need to make it through. I will
trust your resources and care.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers* in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:26-28, NLT.

Devotional from the DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible

Sometimes life as usual comes to a sudden halt. Through death, tragedy, sickness, and loss, normal routines, expectations, and ways of living are gone in an instant. Life will never be the same as it was. Outwardly free-flowing prayers become a silent plea. Thoughts are random and disconnected.

It’s when one looks harder than ever to see God and asks, “Why? Where are you? What am I to do now?” It’s also when he’s able to reach into the depths of our hearts and instill a whole new realm of healing power and loving assurance to undergird and support. It’s when Jesus prays on our behalf while carrying us in his loving arms.

We may never know why some things happen, but we can always know Who is with us—to help, and to heal, and sometimes just to be. He is our love, and he cares.

Lisa Stilwell, 100 Days of Faith over Fear

Lord, thank you for your love, for your tender care, and for your presence.
Thank you for carrying me when I can no longer stand. Thank you for holding
my life in your very hands and for your promise never to leave.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” Isaiah 61:1-2, NLT

Reflection from DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

At the Father’s appointed time, Jesus came to earth so that you would never need to be far from him. What an incredible journey he made; what an overwhelming expression of love; what an awesome purpose he had in mind.

You were on his heart. He has called you. He is the one who keeps you, upholds you, and gives you strength. You are the one he calls his own.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“It is the Lord who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. He turns darkness into morning and day into night. He draws up water from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the land. The Lord is his name!” Amos 5:8, NLT.

Devotional from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

There’s no mountain so high that the Lord can’t see over it. No ocean so wide that he can’t cross it to reach you. No desert so dry that he can’t rain down his love and mercy.

God will stop at nothing to love you. He spares no expense for his children. We can slow him down with our disbelief or miss his tenderness if we keep our hearts hard. But stay soft and pliable, trust him with your needs, and he’ll surprise you. God has all power at his fingertips. But it’s you he wants above all else.

Trieste Vaillancourt, One Minute with God

Lord, thank you for chasing after me with your love even though
I don’t deserve it. Please know you have my whole heart. I don’t want to
miss one single opportunity to experience your presence in my life. Thank you
for setting my feet firm on your unconditional love for me. I honestly
don’t know how I would live without it. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. ‘Wait!’ he said. ‘Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!’

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’

Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph*), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.” Mark 15:33-41, NLT

Devotional from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

He came to pay a debt he didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. May his love fill every day with wonder and thankfulness.

Lord, it can be so hard to receive the truth of what you paid to release me from darkness and death. Open my eyes to the beauty of freedom in you. Show me how deep and wide your love is—so that I can live a full life of joy and so that joy spills out to the world around me.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible.

“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,

‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.’

‘I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.'” Zephaniah 3:14-19, NLT

Reflection from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

You are the Lord’s wonderful creation, fashioned first with his heart and then with his hands. He rejoices over your talents, gifts, and abilities because he chose them just for you. He delights in the details of who you are—the color of your eyes, the curve of your smile—because he is the designer of each one. So every day, remember the Lord loves you, he celebrates you, and he’s so glad you’re his.

God, show me all the ways I reflect your personality so that I can be confident of your love for me, so that I can share that love in my own unique ways with the people in my life.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible.

Taken from the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” John 10:14-16, NLT.

Being called sheep doesn’t carry much prestige. Sheep can be pretty clueless and helpless. We’d probably much rather choose to be known as something noble—like a lion, a cheetah, or an eagle.

But we’re called sheep because we tend to wander, we get lost, and we need constant protection and provision. The real blessing in all this is that we get to have a Great Shepherd.

He’s not just an okay shepherd; he’s not doing it for a hidden reason. He loves to look after his silly sheep, and we definitely benefit from his care.

Learn more about the DaySpring Hope and Encouragement Bible