You've decided you want to read the Bible more. Great! And then... you open it up, land in an obscure part of the Old Testament, and quietly close it again. If this sounds familiar, here's the truth: building a Bible reading habit isn't so much about willpower, it's about having the right plan and the right companions. You don't need to figure this out alone — plenty of people have walked this path before and have written some great resources to help you build a rhythm that actually sticks.

Get a Plan, Not Just Good Intentions

The single biggest thing that helps a reading habit survive past January is having an actual plan to follow, rather than just vague hopes.

Read the Bible in a Year: Calendar of Daily Readings by Robert Murray M'Cheyne is a classic for a reason — a simple, structured calendar that takes you through the whole Bible in a year, mixing Old and New Testament readings so you're never stuck in one section too long. In a year (or two if you prefer), you will read through the entire Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.

Bible Reading Plan by Derek Leaf offers a similarly structured, no-fuss way to keep moving through Scripture with a clear daily target, which is often exactly what beginners need most: just tell me what to read today!

ESV Daily Devotional New Testament by Alistair Begg is a great option if the whole Bible feels like too much right now. It focuses just on the New Testament, pairing each day's reading with Begg's thoughtful, accessible commentary to help it all make sense.

Let a Daily Devotional Meet You Where You Are

Sometimes what you need isn't a reading plan so much as a short daily nudge — a few verses and a few honest words to start your day.

New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp offers exactly that: a short daily reading built around a gospel truth, designed to reorient your heart each morning before the day gets going.

Morning and Evening by C.H. Spurgeon is a beloved classic, offering two short readings a day — one for morning, one for evening — full of rich, encouraging reflections that have comforted readers for well over a century.

Journey with Me: 365 Daily Devotions by Catherine Campbell and My Rock, My Refuge by Timothy and Kathy Keller both offer warm, thoughtful daily readings that pair Scripture with real, relatable reflection — ideal companions for turning "I should read my Bible" into "I get to read my Bible."

“A lovely devotional through the Psalms.” - Joanna on My Rock, My Refuge

Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot rounds out this group with short, wise reflections drawn from a life of deep faith, perfect for anyone who wants their daily reading time to also feel like a moment of peace.

Go a Little Deeper Once You're Ready

Once daily reading starts to feel natural, these next few books help you dig further into what you're actually reading.

Truth for Life, Volume 1 by Alistair Begg pairs daily Scripture with solid, clear teaching, helping you understand not just what the Bible says but what it means.

For the Love of God by D. A. Carson takes a similar approach but is built around a Bible-reading plan that actually walks through large portions of Scripture, with Carson's notes helping connect the dots as you go — a great pick once you're ready for a bit more depth.

Building a Rhythm That Actually Lasts

You don't need all ten of these. Pick one plan (like M'Cheyne's calendar) to structure what you read, and pair it with one devotional (like New Morning Mercies or Morning and Evening) to help it land in your heart, not just your head. Read at the same time each day if you can — set the phone aside — and don't panic if you miss a day. The goal isn't a perfect streak but a lifelong friendship with a book that has something new to say every single time you open it.

That's all it takes to begin!