This year marks my fourth consecutive year reading through the Bible. I picked ESV Story of Redemption Bible which uses a daily reading plan to read through the entire Bible in 365 days.

If you have never read the Bible in its entirety before I highly recommend purchasing this version. It has a reading plan in the back (which is what I used) and it is full of easy to understand commentary. I am going to be using this Bible again in 2020 but following a different plan.

My first time reading the bible I started with Matthew and read to Revelation and then read Genesis through Malachi. I have also used The Bible Project Reading Plan and Reading God’s Story: A Daily Chronological Bible 

Here is a quick review of what I have learned from reading the Bible in 2019!

What I Learned From Reading the Bible

I had great plans to type this post up over the year as I learned things but that didn’t happen, there is always next year :). With that being said, what is below is truly what stayed me over the course of the year.

Genesis

Earlier this year I did an in depth study on the first few chapters of Genesis and really enjoyed it. The major takeaway I have from that study was learning that Moses wrote Genesis for the Israelites as a history lesson. He was showing the Israelites where they had come from as they were moving out of Egypt and towards the promised land.

Moses didn’t write that God created the sun and moon, he implied it, but didn’t use that verbiage. The study I did suggested that this was intentional because he was trying to create a new mindset for his people.

They had been living in Egyptian culture for a long time. They were susceptibly to view the “sun” and “moon” as Egyptian gods vs. viewing the two great lights (Genesis 1:14-19) as God’s creation. Idolatry was a huge problem for the Egyptian culture and God was calling his people out of Egypt and away from this thinking.

I had always read that passage of scripture to say God created the sun and moon, and even though it implied that wasn’t written. This was a good lesson and reminder for me to slow down and really read the text. I can get into a bad habit of mindlessly reading my Bible. This year I tried to make more of an effort to focus more and be more intentionally when I am reading. That didn’t always happen but I am trying ;).

The Good Samaritan

Along this same thought pattern of reading and understanding scripture in the context it was written and the audience it was for I really appreciated my pastor preaching on the Good Samaritan (Luke 11:25-37) this year. Again, this is a super familiar passage of scripture and story that most people have heard even if they don’t attend church. I have always tried to put myself into parables like this one and assumed I was the good samaritan in the story. My pastor offered a new to me perspective on the church being the inn and Jesus being the good samaritan. That is never how I read this before but his explanation made total sense. Jesus said he was going to come back and reward the man for all his help on caring for the injured man. You can listen to the entire sermon HERE if you are interested.

I learned this year that reading scripture never gets easier. In fact I think it gets harder. Especially when the Holy Spirit keeps convicting me and showing my areas in my life that need him. And yet I will continue to read my bible because I know it is for my good and His glory. Even when it is hard.

2020 Reading Plan

In a few days I will be starting my new Bible reading plan, Read the Bible with TGC in 2020. I will be reading the Bible following Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s plan. This takes you through the entire Bible in a year (including the New Testament and Psalms twice). If you visit the link you can find all the information you need if you would like to do this plan also.

Over the weekend Josh and I attended the memorial service of a young man whose parents greatly helped shape our first years of marriage. There aren’t words that can express my sadness and heartbreak for this family.

Life doesn’t make sense sometimes.

I am so thankful for the hope the bible offers when it says one day grief will be completely eliminated. No more death, sin, disease, or pain. All of our suffering will no longer be present.

If you have not acknowledged your need for a savior, repented, and placed your hope and trust in Jesus, then your grief will just be beginning after you die. You will either pay for your sins or Christ will. If you have never come before the Lord who created the heavens and the earth and begged forgiveness today would be a great day to put your trust and hope in the one who takes away sin.

Below I listed several bible verses on grief and prayers to pray for those who are grieving. I hope that these encourage you and offer comfort. For those of you who are praying for someone who is grieving I hope you find these suggestions helpful. If you found this post because you yourself are grieving I am very sorry for your loss.

Bible Verses for Grief

Here are just a handful of bible verses to offer hope and comfort during seasons of grief.

God will give you rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Keep the faith. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

The reason you have nothing to fear. “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

Memorize this for when fear overtakes you. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

God is faithful. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

Remember where your strength comes from. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

Express your grief to God. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

God will put death to death. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Prayers to Pray for Those Grieving

I know God wants to hear about and take the hurts we have because he cares for us and over the last week I have found myself praying what I am sharing below.

Pray that the Lord reveals himself. The death of a loved one at anytime is never a welcomed event. Even in death God is working and it might be harder to see his glory so pray that those suffering see God’s hand is still at work. Even in the pain, and even in the heartache.

Pray that God would open hearts to believe the gospel. For anyone who is an unbeliever, pray that God would open their hearts to believe.

Use scripture when you pray. The above verses are perfect to pray for those who are grieving the loss of loved one.

Pray for the family. Pray that those grieving the loss of a loved one will hold on to the hope and truth of God’s word. If a child has passed away ask the Lord to strengthen and unite the parents to himself and each other. For siblings pray for healing and comfort as well as the ability to show and speak love to their parents. Lift up the family unit and pray for extended family as well.

Pray for a community of believers to surround those who are grieving. Community is so important. Pray that there are people who will hug, cry with, and love on those who are grieving. If you aren’t separated by distance be that person for those who are grieving.

Pray for the firsts. As time moves on and as holidays come pray for each first without this loved one present.

When you are at a loss of what to pray read Romans 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

We can rest and take comfort in the fact that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when our words are few but our tears are heavy.