One Month of Psalms

Even the most committed Christian can struggle with consistency in reading the Bible. Life gets hectic. Distractions cause us to lose focus. Demands at work and responsibilities at home overwhelm.

It’s easy to miss a day of reading God’s Word. One day becomes two. Then a few days here and there can turn into several weeks. Soon, months pass. And, in some cases, months become years.

In a recent blog post titled, “Get Alone With God,” I shared about my recent struggle with regular Bible reading. May 2018 was jam-packed with multiple soccer games, out-of-town travel, school programs, doctor appointments, and ministry commitments. My calendar was full nearly every day, and I neglected to have quality time with the Lord.

No matter how many days it has been since you’ve opened your Bible, you can get back on track. I’d like to share one idea on how you can do it.

It’s called One Month of Psalms. You complete the whole book of Psalms in 30 days by reading five psalms a day. Five psalms is a manageable amount of verses (except for the day when Psalm 119 is part of the five!).

Following are four suggestions on how to make your 30-day study of Psalms more meaningful and effective:

• Plan your start date. – The best part about doing One Month of Psalms is that you can begin any day of the year. I suggest using an online resource to help you. For example, Psalms in a Month allows you to choose your start date, which version of the Bible you prefer, and what time of day you’d like the verses emailed to you.
• Ponder – You’ll read several verses each day, but often one or two will speak directly to your situation. Highlight those particular verses in your Bible. Write them on notecards. Put them in your phone. Think about them as you go about your day. Then, before you go to sleep at night, read them again, if you can. Saturate your mind with God’s promises.
• Pray for opportunities. – Look for ways to share specific Bible verses with others. Maybe God will prompt you to email or text a friend. Or, perhaps you’ll have a chance to share a verse with someone in your family. If you ask the Lord for a chance to encourage people with His Word, you can be sure He will answer that prayer!
• Persist! – Set your heart and mind on completing Psalms over the 30-day period. Be determined! Let nothing move you! Also, don’t allow yourself to go to bed at night unless you’ve finished your reading. Ideally, you should read the assigned verses early in the morning, so you can draw strength from them throughout the day.

One reason I love the psalms is because of the range of emotions they contain. The various writers poured out their hearts to the Lord through their words. Sometimes we see anger. Other times we witness confusion and pain. But many psalms include cries of joy and victory as believers put their confidence in the Lord.

If you decide to do One Month of Psalms, let me know in the comments below. I pray that as you set aside 30 days to immerse yourself in Psalms, you’ll be strengthened and encouraged to keep reading God’s powerful Word. It’s truly life changing!