The Christian Girl Chat

Last year, I decided to take on the ambitious challenge of reading the entire Bible in 90 days. At first, the idea seemed daunting—after all, it’s no small task to cover such a vast collection of stories, teachings, and histories in just three months. But as I thought more about it, I realized that this could be an incredible way to dive deeper into God’s Word, build a stronger spiritual discipline, and see the overarching story of Scripture unfold in a way I never had before.

Here’s a reflection on my personal experience and what I learned from reading the Bible in 90 days.

The Decision to Start

I’d always wanted to read the Bible in its entirety, but I’d never committed to it. I had attempted multiple times to read the Bible from start to finish; in fact, I had read Genesis probably 40 times. Okay, maybe not that many, but the idea of starting at Genesis and working all the way through to Revelation felt overwhelming. As I listened to sermon after sermon, podcast after podcast, I started to notice that some of the preachers I liked contradicted each other which began an internal struggle for me. What were the correct biblical theologies, doctrines, and teachings? At that point, I finally realized that I needed to read the Bible for myself. There are many great pastors and preachers, but no one can beat learning God’s heart directly from His Word. 

Once the decision had been made, I found a 90 day reading plan and decided to use an app to read out loud to me. I figured both of these tools would help to keep me accountable and consistent. To complete the Bible in 90 days, the reading plan broke down the Bible into daily readings of around 12 chapters a day. My determination and curiosity were the driving factors that led me to commit to this reading plan, all the way from Genesis to Revelation. I was ready for the challenge and told myself I would stick with it—no matter how hard it got. I quit listening to sermons (aside from church) for the time being and spent my extra time focusing on reading the Word to have my questions directly answered by God. 

The First Week: Excitement and Fatigue

The first week was exhilarating. There was something thrilling about the idea of reading Scripture every single day, knowing that I was progressing through the entire Bible. I found myself engaged by the familiar stories in Genesis, amazed at the richness of God’s creation and the powerful promises He made to His people.

But by the end of the first week, the excitement began to fade a bit. Some of the readings in Leviticus and Numbers were difficult to get through. The laws, the repetitive lists, the detailed instructions for sacrifices—I could feel myself becoming overwhelmed, and sometimes bored. Many times I would have to check myself and ask What did I just read? since my mind was so distracted. I found myself wondering if I had taken on too much, and if I’d ever be able to finish. I had to remember to keep my focus on what I was reading and that the goal would be achieved through consistency.

Pushing Through: Building a Routine

One of the most important lessons I learned during this journey was the value of consistency. There were days when I simply didn’t feel like reading, especially when life got busy or when the readings felt dry. But I quickly learned that the key was not in waiting for motivation to strike, but in developing the discipline of showing up every day. I set aside time in the evening to read, and the more I made it a habit, the easier it became to stay on track.

At this point, I was getting to the middle of the Old Testament. I found myself feeling kind of heavy and burdened. The stories were gruesome, horrifying and honestly, I could see myself and my sin in many of the characters. Even though I knew the purpose of the Bible was to point to Jesus and His beautiful work to redeem me and mankind, I was struggling to see the beauty of the gospel. Sin, destruction, and the brokenness of mankind seemed to be the highlight of the Bible at this stage. This weight I was feeling through these readings was hard to bear, but I kept on. I needed to gain this understanding of the burden of sin so that I could also understand the greatness of Jesus’ sacrifice; this would come later on in my journey.

The Middle Weeks: The Power of Perseverance

By the time I reached the middle of the challenge, something beautiful began to happen. Though there were still days when I had to push through difficult passages, I noticed that I was beginning to see glimpses of the bigger picture. I started connecting the dots between the Old and New Testaments. I saw how the prophecies in Isaiah pointed toward Jesus, how the laws in Exodus and Leviticus set the stage for understanding the Gospel. Reading through the historical books of the Old Testament, I found myself reflecting on God’s faithfulness to Israel, even in their failures.

I was also struck by the way the Psalms, Proverbs, and the wisdom literature offered comfort and guidance. It felt like I was receiving personalized messages from God every time I picked up the Bible, and it became more than just a task—I started to crave it.

Starting the New Testament

When I first began reading the Gospels, I had a sense of familiarity with the stories. I had heard the teachings of Jesus through previous Bible readings, sermons, and church friends. But there was something different about sitting down and reading them this time. Because of my newfound understanding of how deeply sinful I was (and also the rest of the world) from the Old Testament, Jesus’ words and actions were that much more loving, gracious, and merciful. Jesus cared deeply for humanity, but He also was intimately involved in my own life. The kindness and compassion I felt from starting the New Testament only grew as I continued on through my 90 day journey.

There was one night, I was doing my daily reading of 12 chapters and tonight it was in the book of Romans. I could see the glorious compassion of Jesus Christ in each chapter I read through. I got to Romans chapter 5; the words seemed to be speaking to me on a deeper level than any of the previous chapters. Then, one verse hit me to my core…

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” ~Romans 5:20 (NIV)

I started to cry as God hit me with a revelation. The purpose of the law was to show humanity our sin; in our failure to obey the law, it increases our understanding of how impure and evil we truly are. As we begin to comprehend how deep our sin nature is, how much forgiveness we need also begins to be understood. The greatest part of this verse is “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more…” because the grace we receive by Jesus Christ was and is infinite. Our limited understanding causes us to never fully grasp the grace and forgiveness we are offered through Jesus Christ. After weeks of reading the Old Testament and feeling burdened by my mistakes and imperfections, I felt my heart become light. There was so much grace, so much forgiveness, so much love—not just for me, but for the whole world.  The law showed me just how loving, gracious, and merciful my God is towards me.

The Final Stretch: Revelation and Reflection

As I entered the final stretch of my 90-day journey, I was filled with a mix of exhaustion and excitement. Some days, the readings felt like a sprint, but I pressed on, determined to finish what I had started. Understanding the whole testimony of God’s character was the highlight for me. I felt a renewed sense of awe from His words of love, grace, and sacrifice.

The most surprising part of my experience was how powerful the book of Revelation was. While I had often been intimidated by it, reading it within the context of the entire Bible made it come alive. I saw it as a beautiful conclusion to the story of God’s redemption—one that promises a future hope and restoration for all creation.

The Impact: What I Learned

1. God’s Faithfulness is Unchanging

Reading through the entire Bible gave me a deeper appreciation for God’s consistent faithfulness. Whether through the highs and lows of Israel’s history, the personal stories of individuals like David and Esther, or the life of Jesus, God’s love and promise of redemption remained steadfast. I saw how He was always working, even in the midst of difficult and confusing moments.

2. The Bible is One Unified Story

The biggest takeaway from this challenge was the realization that the Bible is not a random collection of books, but one cohesive story. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan for humanity is woven together with grace, justice, and love. Understanding how the Old Testament pointed forward to the coming of Christ and how the New Testament fulfilled those promises was eye-opening.

3. Scripture is Alive

I had always known that Scripture was powerful, but I felt it more than ever during this challenge. Passages that once seemed dry became living words that spoke directly to my life. When I needed encouragement, there was a Psalm waiting for me. When I needed guidance, Proverbs gave me wisdom. When I felt challenged, the words of Jesus pierced through my heart.

4. Spiritual Discipline Brings Growth

The 90-day journey required a level of commitment and discipline that stretched me. Some days it was difficult to keep going, but pushing through those challenges helped me grow in my spiritual life. I learned that growth doesn’t always come from easy moments but from faithfully continuing the journey, even when it feels tough.

5. The Journey is Worth It

I finished the 90-day challenge with a deep sense of accomplishment. While it was a difficult endeavor, it was absolutely worth it. I came away with a more profound understanding of Scripture and a closer relationship with God. My faith was strengthened, and my perspective on the Bible changed forever.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Commitment

Since completing my 90-day Bible reading challenge, I’ve continued to make daily reading a priority, but I’ve also learned to slow down and savor God’s Word. While reading the Bible in 90 days was a powerful experience, it’s just the beginning of a lifetime of engaging with Scripture.

If you’re considering taking on the challenge yourself, I encourage you to go for it! Yes, it will be challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. Stick with it, and I promise you will not only finish with a sense of accomplishment but with a deeper, richer understanding of God’s love and His Word.