What if 2026 could be the year of your deepest spiritual growth yet?
What if this year you could know God more deeply than you ever have before—cherishing Him, worshiping Him, resting in His love for you?
For believers in Christ, spending time taking in God’s Word lays the foundation for a growing walk with Him, because it’s through His Word that He has made Himself known.
But life happens. Work responsibilities. Kids. General busyness and exhaustion... It’s difficult to be consistent—or even to be in God’s Word at all, even when we have copies of it in our very hands.
So how can we best take advantage of the awesome privilege of personal Bible study? How can we build a consistent habit?
Below is a 30-day Bible reading plan (adapted from Kay Arthur’s Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days) that will help you dig deep into Scripture so you can build a Bible reading habit for 2026.
And before we get into that, we’ll do a quick walkthrough of basic inductive Bible study principles... tools that will leave you hungry for more of God’s Word as you seek to grow closer to Him.
Basic Inductive Bible Study Methods to Build a Bible Reading Habit
“Inductive” Bible study means you’re paying close attention to the details of Scripture so that you can determine the meaning from the text itself.
Here are a few foundational principles to keep in mind before you get started on your 30-day journey.
(Check out this article for a more detailed walkthrough of the inductive Bible study method.)
- Pray, pray, pray! For any Bible study method to be effective, we need the Holy Spirit to work on our hearts, helping us understand truth.
- Consider context. Often we want to dive right into how the Bible applies to us. But the Bible was not actually written to us. We must consider its original context in order to accurately determine its meaning.
- Think of the Bible as a book about God. When we think of the Bible as a book about God rather than about us, the value of Scripture opens up to us, because we begin to understand Scripture as a means to know God more deeply.
- Question the text. We want to be like a curious investigative journalist, asking “the 5 W’s and an H”: who, what, when, where, why, and how.
- Observe, interpret, and apply. Inductive Bible study involves observing the text to discover what it says, interpreting the text to determine what it means, and applying the text to your life in meaningful ways.
There’s much more that could be said, but these principles will give you a good starting point as you dive into God’s Word.
30-Day Bible Reading Plan
The following 30-day plan will help you spend time meditating on God’s Word and digging deeper, so you can mine the treasure trove that is Scripture and discover even greater riches of who God is!
Each day you’ll find:
- At least one passage to read
- If you want to go deeper, follow the observation instructions to help you see the details of the text
- Answer the interpretation questions to dive into what the text means
- Think about the application questions to consider some ways in which the text can lead to changes in your life
The marking instructions will give you suggestions on specific ways you can mark the text, which helps with careful observation. Or you can come up with your own marking system (for example, underlines, circles, colors, and symbols). Marking instructions are based on the English Standard Version (ESV) but most translations will have similar phrasing.
Let’s dig deep!
Introduction Days (Days 1-2)
Day 1 – Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:103-104
Observation:
- Read the verses out loud slowly multiple times
- Mark every synonym for God’s Word (word of God, Scripture, your words, your precepts) with a blue box
- Underline every description of God’s Word in orange
- Circle every benefit or result of God’s Word in pink
- In what ways is God’s Word described in these passages?
- What is God's Word able to do? What is it good for?
Interpretation:
- What does it mean that God's Word is “living and active”?
- How was Scripture given by God?
- What is the psalmist’s attitude toward God’s Word?
Application:
- How does thinking about the truths in these passages impact your attitude toward God’s Word?
- How can you be prioritizing God’s Word in your life?
Day 2 – Hosea 4:1-3, 6
Observation:
- Read the verses out loud slowly multiple times
- Mark the word knowledge in green or by drawing a box around it
- Double underline the phrase the land in green
- Who is speaking in these verses, and to whom?
- According to the passage, why are these words being spoken?
- What does the passage say about knowledge?
Interpretation:
- How does verse 6 connect to verses 1-3?
- What was God’s concern regarding Israel’s lack of knowledge?
- What had the people done? What was the result?
Application:
- How might your own knowledge of God impact the way you live?
- What could be the consequences of rejecting knowledge of God in your own life?
2 Kings 22 (King Josiah)
Day 3 – 2 Kings 22:1-20
Observation:
- Read the passage twice
- Mark every reference to Josiah (including pronouns and references to the king) in orange
- Circle every reference to time in green (this helps you see when the events of the text take place)
- Summarize or make a list of the main events of the chapter
Interpretation:
- Why did Josiah tear his clothes (verse 11)? What was his attitude toward the state of the people?
Application:
- What can you learn from Josiah’s response to hearing God’s Word that would apply to your own life?
- What does the passage teach you about the character of God, and how does studying this impact your view of Him?
Day 4 – 2 Kings 22:1-20
Observation:
- Read the passage twice again
- Mark every reference to the house of the Lord, as well as synonyms and pronouns, in blue
- Mark every reference to the Book of the Law with a blue box
- What does the passage say about the house of the Lord?
- What does the passage say about the book of the Law?
Interpretation:
- Why is it significant that the Book of the Law was found in the house of the Lord?
- Based on the high priest’s and king’s reactions, what do you think was the level of exposure the people had to the Book of the Law at the time?
Application:
- How highly do you view the Word of God?
- How quick are you to respond to the Word of God?
Day 5 – 2 Kings 22:1-3; 2 Chronicles 34:1-8
Observation:
- Read 2 Kings 22:1-3 again
- How old was Josiah when he began to rule, and in what year of his reign did the events of this chapter occur?
- Doing the math, how old was Josiah in 2 Kings 22:1-3?
- Read 2 Chronicles 34:1-8
- Mark every reference to Josiah (including pronouns) in orange
- Circle every reference to time in green
- Taking into account the events of this passage, how old was Josiah when he began to seek God? How old was he when he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem?
Interpretation:
- Why was Josiah tearing down the altars and images?
Application:
- How does Josiah’s response to the idolatry of the land help you think about the seriousness of your own sin?
- What actions might you need to take to turn away from sin in your own life?
Day 6 – Zephaniah 1:1; 2:1-3
Observation:
- Read the verses several times slowly
- Mark the reference to Josiah in orange
- Draw a cloud around the word seek
Interpretation:
- How does 2 Chronicles 34:3 from yesterday relate to Zephaniah 2:1-3?
- What is the primary point of Zephaniah’s message?
Application:
- How can you be seeking the Lord today?
- How do these verses challenge or bolster your understanding of who God is?
- What has encouraged you in the study of Josiah’s life thus far?
Day 7 – 2 Kings 22:3-20
Observation:
- Read the passage
- What did Josiah realize about the wrath of the Lord, and why?
- Read verses 11-20 again and underline the phrases wrath and disaster in red
- According to the passage, why was wrath and disaster going to come?
- What was going to happen before the disaster came, and why?
Interpretation:
- Why was the Lord so angry?
- Why did the Lord respond to Josiah in the way that He did?
Application:
- What principles can you take from this passage about God’s character and ways?
- What principles can you apply about how to respond to sin in your own life?
Day 8 – Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 2 Kings 23:1-3
Observation:
- Read Deuteronomy 17:14-20 slowly twice
- Mark the reference to copy of this law with a blue box
- What was the king to do when he came to power?
- Read 2 Kings 23:1-3
- What did Josiah do after hearing from the prophet in 2 Kings 22?
Interpretation:
- Based on what you’ve read in 2 Kings 22 in previous days, why do you think Josiah hadn’t written his own copy of the law?
Application:
- How does studying the account of Josiah’s discovery of the Book of the Law challenge you to take the Word of God seriously?
- What steps can you take to make sure the Word of God is honored and obeyed in your life?
Jonah (hang in there—you’re doing great!)
Day 9 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly
- List the characters mentioned in the chapter (hint: God counts as a character!)
Interpretation:
- Who are the main characters in chapter 1 of Jonah?
Application:
- In what ways are you like Jonah in regard to how you respond to God’s teaching and instructions from His Word?
Day 10 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Mark every reference to the Lord (including pronouns) in yellow
- Mark every reference to Jonah (including pronouns) in light blue
- Make a list of everything the text says about the Lord (to help guide your observations, you can ask “the 5 W’s and an H”: who, what, when, where, why, and how)
- Make a list of everything the text says about Jonah
Interpretation:
- What did the Lord expect of Jonah?
Application:
- How do the truths you observed about God impact your perception of Him? How does thinking about these truths lead you to greater awe and worship?
Day 11 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Double underline geographical locations in green (this helps you see where the events of the text take place)
- Locate the mentioned places on a Bible map
- Circle every reference to time in green
Interpretation:
- What were Jonah’s intentions as he boarded the ship to Tarshish?
- How did Jonah start out at the beginning of the chapter, and where did he end up? What does this chain of events tell you about what God is communicating in this chapter?
Application:
- What does this text tell you about God’s expectations of obedience?
- How can you learn from Jonah’s mistakes? What areas of His Word do you struggle submitting to?
Day 12 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Mark every reference (including pronouns) to the captain of the ship and the sailors (mark them in different colors)
- Make a list of everything the text says about the captain and the sailors
Interpretation:
- How does observing the context of the characters involved in the narrative help you better understand the events of the chapter?
- How do the sailors’ actions contrast with Jonah’s actions?
Application:
- How does observing the sailors’ acknowledgement of God help you think about your own attitude toward God?
Day 13 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Mark the word evil with a black cloud and color it red
- Make a list of everything the text says about evil
- Look for other repeated or important words/phrases (we call them “key words”) and mark them in distinctive ways
- Make a list of everything the text says about the key words you’ve marked
Interpretation:
- Based on the observations you’ve made on the key words, what are some of the main points of this chapter?
Application:
- What principles do you see from all your observations and conclusions that you can apply to your life today?
Day 14 – Jonah 1
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Review the observation lists you made yesterday
Interpretation:
- “From the presence of the Lord” is an emphasized key phrase seen in verses 3 and 10—in what sense is Jonah “fleeing from the presence of the Lord”?
- Who was actually behind the event which the sailors call “this evil” (a word which can also mean “disaster” or “calamity”)?
- What do the events of this chapter tell you about the power of God?
Application:
- Is there any sense in which you’ve tried to “run” from God? In what areas of your life might you need to turn to Him right now?
- How does understanding the sovereign power of God lead you to grow in your worship of Him, regardless of circumstances?
Day 15 – Jonah 1:14, 17; Genesis 9:5-6; Matthew 12:38-40; 16:4
Observation:
- Read Jonah 1:14 and Genesis 9:5-6
- What does Genesis 9:5-6 say about shedding man’s blood?
- Read Jonah 1:17 and Matthew 12:38-40, as well as Matthew 16:4
- What is the similarity between Jonah 1:17 and Matthew 12:38-40; 16:4?
Interpretation:
- Why could Genesis 9:5-6 be considered a cross-reference for Jonah 1:14?
- In what ways does Jesus compare His own experience to Jonah’s? What does this tell you about the veracity of the book of Jonah?
Application:
- How does looking at cross-references help give a fuller depth of meaning to your study of Scripture? In what ways does Scripture help interpret other Scripture?
- What are some principles and insights you’ve gleaned from Jonah 1 throughout the past several days that you can apply to your life today?
Day 16 – Jonah 1:17-2:10
Observation:
- Read the passage out loud slowly (saying and hearing it will help you remember the words of God!)
- Mark every reference to the Lord and Jonah (including pronouns) as you did in chapter 1
- Double underline all geographical references in green
- Circle every reference to time in green (including words that refer to sequences of time, such as then)
- Make a list of everything the text says about the Lord
- Make a list of everything the text says about Jonah
Interpretation:
- What patterns are you starting to see as you observe the text in chapter 2?
Application:
- How can Jonah’s references to God in his prayer here help inform your own understanding of God?
- How can observing Jonah’s prayer make an impact on your own prayer life?
Day 17 – Jonah 2
Observation:
- Read the passage slowly again
- Mark every reference to prayer, including synonyms such as called out, with a pink box
- Make a list of everything the text says about prayer
- How does Jonah describe his situation?
Interpretation:
- What was Jonah’s assessment of his condition?
- According to Jonah’s words, why did he think he was in this predicament?
- How did God respond to Jonah’s prayer?
Application:
- In what ways does this passage encourage you about prayer?
- How can this passage serve as a reminder to turn to God when facing the consequences of your sin?
Day 18 – Jonah 1-2
Observation:
- Read Jonah 1-2 again
- Write down a “chapter theme” for each chapter—a chapter theme is a brief summary or title of the chapter based on your observations of what is being emphasized in the text
Interpretation:
- Focus on observing chapter themes today rather than on interpretation
Application:
- Have you truly taken to heart and believed the truths you’ve seen in Jonah thus far? In what ways might these truths change your life?
Day 19 – Jonah 3
Observation
- Read the passage slowly
- Mark all the people (including pronouns) and key words you marked before (including the Lord)
- Double underline all geographical references in green
- Circle every reference to time in green
- Make a list of everything the text says about the Lord and Jonah
- Mark any references to new characters or new key words/phrases in a distinctive way
Interpretation:
- What were the main events of this chapter?
Application:
- In what ways do God’s actions in this chapter reveal aspects of who He is?
- How does thinking on God’s character as displayed here help you draw closer to Him?
Day 20 – Jonah 1-3
Observation:
- Read Jonah 1-3 again
- Mark every reference to Nineveh in pink
- Make a list of everything the text says about Nineveh
- Mark every reference to the word of the Lord in Jonah 1:1 and Jonah 3 with a blue box
Interpretation:
- What does the Ninevites’ reaction to Jonah’s words tell you about whether they truly listened to him?
Application:
- Do you have an attitude of repentance in regard to sin in your own life? What areas of sin may still need to be dealt with?
Day 21 – Jonah 4
Observation:
- Read Jonah 4 slowly
- Mark every reference to the Lord and Jonah (including pronouns)
- Mark any other key words you notice
Interpretation:
- How would you summarize what Jonah said to the Lord?
- How would you summarize what the Lord said to Jonah?
- What is God saying about His character?
Application:
- How can you be growing in the kind of compassion shown by God here?
- Is there any sense in which you’re tempted to be upset at the mercy God shows to people who seem “undeserving”?
Day 22 – Jonah 3:9-4:11
Observation:
- Read Jonah 3:9-4:11 slowly again
- If you haven’t already, mark the word appointed in a distinctive way
- If you haven’t already, mark the word pity in a distinctive way
- If you haven’t already, mark the words relent/relented/relenting in a distinctive way
- Make a list of everything the text says about God’s appointing
- Make a list of everything the text says about God’s pity
- Make a list of everything the text says about relenting
Interpretation:
- What do the references to appointing and pity tell you about God?
- How does the key word pity help you understand the book of Jonah?
- Why was Jonah angry?
Application:
- How are you learning to trust God more as you observe His power over events?
- What misplaced feelings of injustice might be present in your own heart?
- In what ways might you be tempted to value your own comfort over people who might make you uncomfortable?
Jude
Day 23 – Jude
Observation:
- Read the book out loud slowly (it is only one chapter!)
- Mark any reference to the author (including pronouns) in blue
- Mark any reference to the recipients (including pronouns) in orange
- Make a list of everything the text says about the author
- Make a list of everything the text says about the recipients
Interpretation:
- What is the author’s reason for writing?
- What topics seem most important to the author?
Application:
- What are some initial ways in which you are challenged and encouraged by your observations in Jude?
Day 24 – Jude
Observation:
- Read Jude slowly again
- Mark every reference to ungodly people (including synonyms and pronouns) in brown
- Make a list of everything the text says about the ungodly people
- In your Bible’s margin (or in a notebook), write a very brief summary of what each paragraph is about
Interpretation:
- How were these ungodly people a danger to Jude’s recipients?
Application:
- How can you be on guard against the kind of ungodly people described by Jude? How can you help make sure their influence doesn’t corrupt your church or family?
- How do verses 24-25 encourage you in your walk with Christ?
Day 25 – Jude
Observation:
- Read Jude again slowly
- Make a list of all the words that have to do with condemnation
- How are the ungodly described in verse 4? What are they doing?
Interpretation:
- What kind of destiny awaits the ungodly according to Jude?
- Why is Jude emphasizing the ungodly and their destiny?
Application:
- How does thinking about the destiny of the ungodly help you see the seriousness of their threat to the church? In what ways might ungodly people threaten your church today?
- How can what you’re studying in Jude help you “contend for the faith”?
Day 26 – Jude; Exodus 12:40-51; Numbers 14:29-32; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
Observation:
- Read Jude slowly again (especially note verse 5-7)
- Read Exodus 12:40-51
- Read Numbers 14:29-32
- Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
- What events does Jude reference in Jude 5-7?
Interpretation:
- How do today’s cross-references help you better understand the reference to Egypt in Jude 5?
- What truths do the illustrations in verses 5-7 reinforce?
- What is God’s attitude toward the activities described in verses 5-7?
Application:
- Are there any areas of your life in which might you be indulging in attitudes or behaviors that God hates?
- What is your own attitude toward sin?
Day 27 – Jude
Observation:
- Read Jude slowly again
- What “comparison” term do you see in verse 7?
- What three things are the people doing in verse 8?
- What word is repeated in verses 8-10?
Interpretation:
- Who are “these people” in verse 8 and who are they being compared to?
- What is the point of the contrasts Jude makes in verses 8-10?
Application:
- In what ways might you be tempted to “defile the flesh”?
- In what ways might you be tempted to “reject authority”?
- What is your attitude toward the spirit realm (i.e., angels and the devil)? Is there any sense in which your attitude might be too flippant?
Day 28 – Jude
Observation:
- Read Jude slowly again
- What historical references does Jude make in verses 11 and 14? Can you find cross-references in other parts of Scripture for these figures?
- What metaphors (word picture comparisons) does Jude use in verses 12-13?
Interpretation:
- How do Jude’s historical references help support his points?
- What are Jude’s metaphors communicating about the people he is describing?
- Why do you think Jude found it so important to call out these “ungodly people”?
Application:
- How on guard are you against false teachers in your own church, family, and personal life? (Think about what podcasts and social media content you consume.)
- How can you be growing in discernment so you can better identify false teachers?
Day 29 – Jude
Observation:
- Read Jude slowly again out loud
- Review your list from Day 23 of everything the text says about the recipients
- Make a list of any commands or instructions
Interpretation:
- What does it mean that believers are “called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ”?
- Think through the meaning and significance of each of the commands and instructions Jude gives.
Application:
- What truths Jude communicates about believers bring encouragement to your life today?
- Which commands or instructions are most pertinent to you right now? Are there any actions or changes you need to make in your life?
- What does Jude teach you about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit? How does pondering the truths presented about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit draw you into deeper worship?
Wrap-Up Day
Day 30 – 1 Peter 1:22-2:3; Colossians 3:16; James 1:19-25
Observation:
- Read the passages out loud slowly
- What does Peter tell the believers to long for in 1 Peter 1:22-2:3?
- What instruction does Paul give in Colossians 3:16?
- What contrasts does James make in James 1:19-25
Interpretation:
- What does Peter’s comparison to newborns communicate about the intensity of desire for the Word of God?
- What does it mean to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”?
- What is James saying about how Christians should respond to the Word?
Application:
- How can you be continually fostering an appetite for the Word of God?
- What are some practical ways you can let the Word dwell richly in your own heart and life?
- What are some truths God has shown you in His Word these past thirty days that you can apply to your life? How can you be a “doer of the Word” and not a “hearer only”?
If You Made It This Far, Well Done!
Did you make it through all thirty days?
That’s fantastic!
You’ve gotten a taste of how an in-depth study of God’s Word leads you to a deeper knowledge of who He is.
And we’ll bet you’re hungry for more!
Check out our classic resource How to Study Your Bible for more insights on how to dig deep into God’s Word.
Because knowing God’s Word means you’ll know Him more deeply... and that will change your life.
FAQ
How to get into the habit of reading the Bible?
The biggest stumbling block for not reading the Bible is not seeing the value.
The most important thing to do is to pray for a willing and eager heart. Then make a realistic plan to give you some goals to aim for as you try to build a steady habit.
A Bible study method that digs deep into Scripture, such as the Precept Bible Study Method, will help you see how deep the riches of God’s Word truly are. That way, you’ll actually want to study the Bible—because you’ll see how it’s leading you to know God more deeply.
What if I don’t like marking in my Bible?
We highly recommend marking the text of Scripture because it really helps you slow down and observe the text inductively. However, we understand that each person is different and may not resonate with the specific marking suggestions we recommend.
Feel free to develop your own marking system. And if you’re uncomfortable marking in your regular Bible, consider purchasing a Bible to use specifically for marking (such as the New Inductive Study Bible) or printing off the text of Scripture you’re studying on a separate sheet of paper.
