You did it, congratulations!
Finishing a Bible reading plan, especially a long one like a full, consistent Bible reading journey, is no small feat. So, congratulations are in order.
Yet for many believers, the high is short-lived. Excitement quickly turns into disillusionment. The sudden lack of structure often leads to aimless wandering, lost momentum, and, if not contained, a lapse in spiritual focus.
This article will guide you through what to do after you have completed a Bible reading plan. The aim is to help you manage the transition season well, milk the most from the plan you have just finished and prepare effectively for the next plan.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Celebrate the milestone
Once you have finished a Bible reading plan, don’t gloss over it. However long or short the plan was, pause and celebrate the milestone.
Don’t rush to pick a new plan. Savour the moment.
See, celebrating the milestone gives you a healthy dopamine boost, fuel that can motivate you as you choose your next Bible reading plan.
As you do that, also transform the celebration into a moment of gratitude. Thank God for the blessing of His Word. Thank Him for giving you the grace to read through His Word.
A thanksgiving prayer aligns perspectives. It helps you to channel the glory to the one who ultimately helped you and got you where you have completed a Bible reading plan –God.
Finally, you can even share your testimony with a friend or your church community. This will reinforce consistency and stir your hunger to continue walking with God.
2. Review and reflect on the journey
As you celebrate, take a moment to reflect on the journey you have had reading the Bible through this plan. Reflection allows the Word to sink deeper and extract all the spiritual juice from the plan you have just completed.
That’s a sure way to retain what you read in the Bible.
Also, consider what went well and what did not with the structured Bible reading approach tool you were using.
To do this effectively, you can ask yourself a couple of questions, like:
i. What themes stood out for me?
ii. What main lessons do I pick from this?
iii. What issues/ themes do I need to explore further?
iv. What areas did the Word highlight that I need to correct?
v. What are the practical ways I will apply a specific tenet of the Word?
vi. What prayer points do I pick up from this?
viii. Are there any matters I need to escalate and consult further with a spiritual authority?
To review the tool and process, you could ask yourself some questions, for instance:
i. What time of day works best for me?
ii. What distractions (if any) did I encounter?
iii. Was I consistent? What factors affected my consistency?
iv. Do I need a different translation?
v. What other tools do I need to make the study more effective?
vi. Was the pace okay, or should I increase or decrease the daily portions?
vii. Would a reading/ accountability partner help?
viii. Was this tool or plan effective, or should I consider an alternative?
ix. What were the highlights and lowlights of the journey?
3. Act on the convictions
We alluded to this in the introspection questions, but let’s now highlight it for emphasis. Bible reading is not complete until you apply what you have learnt.
If the Word of God remains in the pages of the Bible but does not impact and reflect in your life, then why read it at all?
It would be a futile endeavor.
For the word to bear fruit in your life, do what God Has convicted you to do.
And do so quickly, for in some cases, delayed obedience amounts to disobedience.
Did God convict you to forgive someone, let go and forgive.
If God convicted you concerning a given sin in your life, sin no more.
Did God convict you to volunteer in church? Log in to that church website and sign the volunteers form.
Whatever it is, act on it quickly. If you delay, your heart might become hardened, and you may end up not doing it at all.
Only when you obey can you say you have truly completed a Bible reading plan.
4. Take a rest
Another vital thing to do after finishing a Bible reading plan is to slow down. Take a rest.
Some reading plans, such as the cover-to-cover complete Bible, are lengthy and rigorous, and can leave you feeling tired and spiritually depleted.
After pushing through such a plan, it’s wise to step back from structured Bible reading and rest. This will allow you time to refresh and rejuvenate, so you are reenergized for the next season.
Rest is good. Rest and dont feel guilty about it.
Please note that by resting, I dont mean that you dont read the Bible at all during the transition season. No, the Bible is critical in every season of life, whether we are tired and feel like reading it or not.
Consider using simpler, less rigorous alternatives during the transition season. For instance, you can use one of the daily devotionals. Or read one of the short books of the Bible, like James, Colossians, or Philippians.
If not, you can revel in the poetic captions of the Psalms or Proverbs. Or decide to refresh your heart by Jesus’ accounts in the gospels.
You are spoilt for choice, but just dont disengage from the Bible. Engage at rest. If you jump from one intensive plan to another, you will eventually become fatigued and burned out.
Caution: Ambiguity breeds confusion and ultimately, retrogression. Define the duration of the transition/ resting period. As you decide, keep it as brief as possible. A few days to a week is a decent timeframe. If you disengage for too long, you risk losing momentum and drifting into a decline in spiritual hunger, as well as a loss of discipline, which can result in inconsistency when you finally reengage.
5. Prepare for the next season
You could also use the transition season as a launchpad to catapult you successfully into the next season.
Once you have completed a Bible reading plan, take a moment to seek God’s leading before picking the next plan or reengaging. Pray for fresh hunger and direction.
Pray that God helps you discern your season and lead you to the resource/ material that will be your rhema.
Moreover, you need to renew your commitment. Remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing and commit to another round of consistent Bible reading.
If need be, make an attitude adjustment and arm yourself with the right attitude that will not only fuel you to read the Bible but also bear fruit.
Also, you can review your Bible reading goals. Discard what no longer serves you, uphold what serves you, and if need be, develop new ones to guide you into the new season.
You might also need to refresh your Bible reading tools. Update your journal or get a new one. Choose a new reading Bible or translation. Refresh your note-taking system. Install or organize your Bible app reading plans. Create a fresh Bible-reading playlist.
The list goes on, but ensure that every tool you need is available and ready for use. Sometimes, a simple reset of tools can add new energy to your devotional life.
You could also review or adjust your routine. The transition period is perfect for recalibrating your daily rhythm.
Clarify the best time of day for focus, and whether the reading blocks are realistic and effective. Improve your reading environment. This will enable you to begin the new plan from a position of strength.
Additionally, check with your accountability partners to see if they will continue to walk with you in the new season as well.
After you have done that, choose the next Bible reading plan/ structure if you haven’t already. Beyond recommendations, choose one that serves your unique needs and is relevant to your specific season.
And finally, set the start date. This will allow you to prepare with certainty and also give you something to look forward to, which could build the right momentum.
Conclusion
The transition season between Bible reading plans is often overlooked, but it is very important. When you manage it well, it helps you squeeze every last drop of wisdom from the plan you just completed and to prepare well for the next one.
I hope that these tips will help you make the most of the transition season and set you on the path of consistency and fruit in your Bible reading.
All the best in your next plan!
You can also read:
The Sad Reality of Biblical Illiteracy in the Information Age