2010 Prayer Guide (ESV)
This is a chronological schedule, reading the books of the Bible in the order in which we believe they were written.
| 1/7/2009 |
Genesis 1-26 |
| 1/14/2009 |
Genesis 27-50 |
| 1/21/2009 |
Job 1-21 |
| 1/28/2009 |
Job 22-42 |
| 2/4/2009 |
Exodus 1-20 |
| 2/11/2009 |
Exodus 21-40 |
| 2/18/2009 |
Leviticus 1-23 |
| 2/25/2009 |
Leviticus 24-27; Numbers 1-20 |
| 3/4/2009 |
Numbers 21-36; Deuteronomy 1-6 |
| 3/11/2009 |
Deuteronomy 7-28 |
| 3/18/2009 |
Deuteronomy 29-34; Joshua 1-17 |
| 3/25/2009 |
Joshua 18-24; Judges 1-16 |
| 4/1/2009 |
Judges 17-21; Ruth 1-4; 1 Samuel 1-15 |
| 4/8/2009 |
1 Samuel 16-31; 2 Samuel 1-8 |
| 4/15/2009 |
2 Samuel 9-24; Psalm 1-9 |
| 4/22/2009 |
Psalm 10-38 |
| 4/29/2009 |
Psalm 39-67 |
| 5/6/2009 |
Psalm 68-96 |
| 5/13/2009 |
Psalm 97-125 |
| 5/20/2009 |
Psalm 126-150; 1 Kings 1-4 |
| 5/27/2009 |
Proverbs 1-26 |
| 6/3/2009 |
Proverbs 27-31; Ecclesiastes 1-12; Song of Solomon 1-8 |
| 6/10/2009 |
1 Kings 5-22; 2 Kings 1-3 |
| 6/17/2009 |
2 Kings 4-14; Joel 1-3; Jonah 1-4; Amos 1-6 |
| 6/24/2009 |
Amos 7-9; Hosea 1-14; 2 Kings 15-19 |
| 7/1/2009 |
Isaiah 1-21 |
| 7/8/2009 |
Isaiah 22-42 |
| 7/15/2009 |
Isaiah 43-66 |
| 7/22/2009 |
Micah 1-7; Nahum 1-3; 2 Kings 20-21 |
| 7/29/2009 |
Zephaniah 1-3; Habakkuk 1-3; 2 Kings 22-25; Obadiah |
| 8/5/2009 |
Jeremiah 1-22 |
| 8/12/2009 |
Jeremiah 23-44 |
| 8/19/2009 |
Jeremiah 45-52; Lamentations 1-5; 1 Chronicles 1-9 |
| 8/26/2009 |
1 Chronicles 10-29; 2 Chronicles 1-3 |
| 9/2/2009 |
2 Chronicles 4-28 |
| 9/9/2009 |
2 Chronicles 29-36; Ezekiel 1-14 |
| 9/16/2009 |
Ezekiel 15-36 |
| 9/23/2009 |
Ezekiel 37-48; Daniel 1-12 |
| 9/30/2009 |
Esther 1-10; Ezra 1-4; Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1-9 |
| 10/7/2009 |
Zechariah 10-14; Ezra 5-10; Nehemiah 1-13 |
| 10/14/2009 |
Malachi 1-4; Matthew 1-18 |
| 10/21/2009 |
Matthew 19-28; Mark 1-11 |
| 10/28/2009 |
Mark 12-16; Luke 1-16 |
| 11/4/2009 |
Luke 17-24; John 1-13 |
| 11/11/2009 |
John 14-21; Acts 1-14 |
| 11/18/2009 |
James 1-5; Galatians 1-6; Acts 15:1-18:11;
1 Thessalonians 1-5;2 Thessalonians 1-3 |
| 11/25/2009 |
Acts 18:12-19:10; 1 Corinthians 1-16;
Acts 19:11-20:1; 2 Corinthians 1-7 |
| 12/2/2009 |
2 Corinthians 8-13; Acts 20:2; Romans 1-16 |
| 12/9/2009 |
Acts 20:3-28:31; Ephesians 1-6; Philippians 1-4 |
| 12/16/2009 |
Colossians 1-4; Hebrews 1-13; Philemon; I Peter 1-5 |
| 12/23/2009 |
2 Peter 1-3; 1 Timothy 1-6; 2 Timothy 1-4; Titus 1-3;
1 John 1-5; 2 John; 3 John; Jude |
| 12/30/2009 |
Revelation 1-22 |
Suggestions for Bible Reading
1. Make it your first priority to read a portion of God's Word each day. Other books or booklets are helpful but only after reading the Bible. So set aside the TV, internet, newspapers and magazines and see what God says first.
2. Set a specific time and place to read each day. If you miss one day, be sure to pick up again the next day. But also look to grab short times during the day, while waiting to pick up your kids, or in the doctor’s office or even in the bathroom.
3. Set up a plan for the whole year or at least a month at a time. Building on what you read yesterday helps understanding today. Read the whole Bible to encourage balance. Finish reading one book before starting another.
4. Read your Bible in a different translation this year. We suggest The English Standard Version of the Bible.
5. Pray honestly about your devotions. Tell the Lord if you are not too enthusiastic. Ask Him to give you a real hunger for His Word, and even more for Himself.
6. Make certain that your focus each day is on what God says, not what you want Him to say or your favorite portion or verse.
7. As you read, look for specific topics. Here are some suggestions:
A) Write out in one line the theme of each chapter or paragraph you read.
B) Look for the Person of God – What is He like?
C) Look for what God has promised you as His child.
D) Mark references to God speaking.
E) Note and mark promises and warning from God
F) Do a topical study, marking references to prayer, or finances, or personal relations. Use different colored pencils.
8. Look for thoughts from your reading to turn into prayer. God speaks to us in his word. We respond to God by our prayers. Respond to truths about God with worship, what He has done with thanks, His commands with confession and commitment.
9. Be accountable – Ask a friend to check up on you each week and to keep you at it. See if you can find one or two others to go on the journey with you.
The 15 Periods of Bible History
1. Creation to flood, extending from Adam to Noah, covering an unknown period of time. Recorded in Genesis 1 - 8.
2. Flood to Abraham, extending from the flood to Abraham’s call, a period of at least 400 years. Recorded in Genesis 9 - 11. (Book of Job)
3. Four Patriarchs, from the call of Abraham to the migration of his descendants into Egypt, a period of 215 years. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph. Recorded in Genesis 12 - 45.
4. Israel in bondage in Egypt through the Exodus, ending at Mt. Sinai. Covering a period of 215 years. It revolves around Moses and is one of the most interesting periods of Bible history. Recorded in Genesis 46 - 50 and Exodus.
5. Israel wandered in the wilderness, extending from Mt. Sinai to the banks of the Jordan, covering a period of 40 years. Recorded in Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.
6. Israel conquered the Promised Land, extending from the death of Moses in Horeb to Joshua's death in Canaan, and covers a period of 10 years, during which Joshua conquered 31 kings of Canaan. Recorded in Joshua.
7. Times of the Judges, covering 400 years. This is a great commentary on human nature and God's patience and longsuffering in dealing with sinful men. Recorded in Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel 1 - 7.
8. Israel became a Kingdom, extending over 120 years. It is the record of three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon, each reigning for 40 years. During this time, there is the rise of the prophets. Recorded in 1 Samuel 8 - 31; 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1 - 11; 1 Chronicles; 2 Chronicles 1 - 9. (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
9. The Kingdom was divided into two, existing side by side for 259 years. The kingdom of Israel (North) consisted of 10 tribes, and Judah (South), 2 tribes. During 80 years of this time, they were at war with each other. Part of the remaining time they were allied against heathen nations, and part of the time at peace. Prophets prominent at this time were Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Joel, and Micah. Recorded in 1 Kings 12 - 22; 2 Kings 1 - 17; 2 Chronicles 10 - 31. (Hosea, Joel, Amos).
10. Israel was captured, Judah was alone. During the preceding period, Israel had become so backslidden and idolatrous that God permitted them to be taken into Assyrian captivity. Judah stood alone for 135 years after Israel's fall. Recorded in 2 Kings 18 - 25, 2 Chronicles 30 - 36. Prophets: Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, and Jonah. (The Book of Lamentations).
11. Judah is captive in Babylon, covers a period of 70 years. Recorded in 2 Kings 25:3-30; 2 Chronicles 36; Esther; Daniel; Ezekiel; and Jeremiah.
12. Judah was restored to the Promised Land, Covers a period of 136 years. Recorded in Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
13. The time between the Old and New Testaments. This is a 400 year blackout between the Old and New Testaments. At the close of the O.T., Palestine was under Persian rule; at the beginning of the N.T., it was under Roman rule. At the close of the O.T. there was no synagogue, no Pharisees or Sadducees. These terms arose during this period.
14. The earthly life and ministry of Jesus. This period is only 33 years, but 109 specific prophecies were literally fulfilled during this first advent of our Lord. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
15. The early spread of the Christian church, a period of 70 years, revolving around Peter and Paul. Recorded in Acts, Paul's Epistles, The General Epistles, and The Revelation.
- Adapted from "The Bible Speaks for Itself" by W. B. Harvey