The Odd Reason Why Your Bible Reading Plan Fails (And What To Do About It)

We’ve all experienced it right?

We pick a Bible reading plan to read for the new year. 

And then we actually do it? For 4 days? Before we give up in order to try again the year after?

Why is it so hard to stick with a reading plan? How come it seems like some people are able to find a Bible reading plan and stick it out while the rest of us struggle in reading plan mediocrity? Are they the few spiritual ones who have cracked the code? Are they just more godly? 

There may be a surprising answer.

The unexpected reason why your reading plan may not be panning out might be because you haven’t determined a time and location for your reading.

At least this appears to be the case according to one study.

In Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear (the author), references a research study that was conducted for better exercise habits in Great Britain in 2001. According to Clear, there were three groups in the study:

1. The Control Group. This group was asked to only keep track of their exercise. 

2. The “Motivation” Group. This group was asked to keep a track of their exercise as they were resourced with reading and lecture material on the benefits of exercise. 

3. The Group with a Plan. This group received the same things the second group received but was asked to create a plan. According to Clear, “each member….completed the following sentences: “During the next week, I will partake in at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on [DAY] at [TIME] in [PLACE].” 

The results were fascinating.

According to the study, 35 to 38 percent of people in the first and second groups (respectively) exercised at least once per week, whereas 91 percent of the third group exercised at least once per week. 

In other words, while receiving “motivation” didn’t alter performance (Group 1 vs. Group 2), creating a specific plan (which included time and plan) more than doubled performance. According to the researchers of this study, this constructed plan (implementation intention) was what made all the difference.

What if we exercised “implementation intention” to our Bible reading plan? Could creating a specific plan of when we’ll show up and where be the difference-maker?

I believe this will be helpful for 3 reasons: 

1. Implementation Intention kills ambiguity and makes things concrete. 

'“Reading the Bible” sounds like a concrete action, but it’s actually filled with ambiguity. One does not really know what time the Bible will be opened, where it will be opened, and where the book will be opened to.

Without crystal clarity, the concept of “reading the Bible” becomes an ambiguous and ambitious task. But the moment you say that you will show up to X, at time Y, and open the book to Z, things become concrete and therefore doable.

2. Implementation Intention clarifies what the real first action is. 

The real first action is rarely the actual task itself. For example, the first real action of working out is not actually working out but showing up to the gym. It is only in showing up that one is able to work out. Hence the phrase, “Showing up is 50% of the battle.”

In the same way, showing up (and not opening the Bible) is the first true action to opening the Bible. The moment you write out an implementation intention, the first true actions become abundantly clear.

3. Location and time become your accountability partners. 

It’s one thing to feel the sting of missing the task. It’s another thing to feel multiple stings from the same task. That’s the power of implementation intention. To skip over your reading causes you to sidestep a location, a timeframe, and an action.

It keeps you accountable to three specific elements within your control. This should not be interpreted as guilt-tripping, but a healthy accountability system to pursue what matters most.

Conclusion 

My Bible reading time happens best first thing in the morning right after I make myself a cup of coffee. No, I don’t get it right every single morning. But I’ve found that a location and a time have made a world of a difference.

If you’ve failed past reading plans, don’t be discouraged to try again. You couldn’t have picked a more worthy goal. To dive into the Scripture intentionally for the entire year? No other payoff will be greater.

If you don’t know where to start, I recommend the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan which takes you through the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament once. Even if you can’t get it through in a year, go at your own pace. This reading plan has changed my life.

If you need additional resources, I recommend you purchase a nice study Bible (such as the ESV Study Bible or CSBSB) or utilize “The Essential Bible Companion” which will serve as a helpful tour guide for your reading.

But in the end, what matters most is that you pick a time and place and just show up. You won’t regret it.