Why 90 Days? Do I really need to stick to the schedule?

I am often asked “Why 90 days?” when it comes to the Bible in 90 Days. And, almost as often, I get comments from readers who have decided that sticking with our schedule doesn’t really matter.

Bettie, a Bible in 90 Days graduate who is reading with us again this time, explained it well as a comment on her group’s check in page:

Michele,
Please don’t allow yourself to become discouraged.  Only you can reassess your motivation, but there is value in having a defined time allotment for the reading.  It ‘spurs us on,’ so to speak, and we have the extra motivation of knowing that we are not alone in attempting this challenging and fulfilling task.  We are praying for each other, too!

The other two times I completed the Bible in 90 days, I got up about 5:30 AM most days to read before the day started in ernest around here.  That felt good because I was actually giving God some  real priority.  Perhaps you’ve heard about a little book called “The Tyranny of the Urgent’, explaining how we often lose out on the ‘important’ because of the tyranny of the urgent demanding our time and attention?  It caused me to realize that I often overlook the ‘important’ in favor of the ‘urgent’ that requires my more immediate attention… such as a attending a sick child vesus a walk with my husband, etc.  My husband calls it living in such a way that we are ‘putting out brush fires’ all the time.  ;o)

What’s a mom to do!?  It causes me to pray a lot, asking God to help me with my priorities and asking for His help with all things I need to do.

The defined time limit (90 days) for reading caused me to stick with reading, whereas before I read as I could, but not throughout  the Bible from cover to cover, although I probably had read through the Bible several times, hopping about all over.  This faster pace reading in order from cover to cover helps me understand how everything is connected and related.  When I occasionally fell behind while in the B90 Days, seems like God provided ways of catching up!

I, too, questioned my motives while struggling, but I KNEW that  I was so excited to learn more about God, and that was my driving force!  I looked around to see what could ‘give’ a little.  I made more simple meals, let some cleaning go, stayed off the phone and computer, took up my husband’s offer to grocery shop, etc.  IT IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE, and I had to be  very resourceful.  It truly seemed impossible for me to do, but I actually read the Bible through twice in 2010 in the B90 Days program.

We have had some serious crises since.  That reading helped me so much to deal with them.  Otherwise, I’m not sure how I could have handled everything that has happened.  Soooo, God may be preparing us all for something He knows will happen.

For example, my 86 1/2 year old precious mom was in a terrible vehicle accident.  She was ‘t-boned’ on the passenger side while driving home from the grocery store.  A drunk and drugged (cocaine and marijuana) man hit her, one whose driver’s license had been suspended, no insurance, and he had a ‘history’ of such incidents.  She has been recovering slowly but surely.  Family members out of work, etc., etc.  The reading was like I had deposited ‘spiritual money’ in a ‘spiritual bank’ or something… I was able to call upon the promises of God more readily, and to recall His intervention in lives, HIs provision, etc.  He has been so real to me, and I have been able to share that with loved ones…  I just feel so grateful to HIM!!

The Bible reading and the knowledge we gain from it gives us more confidence in Him to help us with all of life’s challenges.  YES, we could also get this from a slower paced reading, but that is kinda ‘haphazard’ and we need more surety when the real battles of life come upon us!   Also, every time I hear a sermon now, I know at least ‘a little’ of what they are talking about, and I am even able to discern when there are mistakes in sermons.  That is nice…  to know the truth for myself without depending so much on others for spiritual guidance.

I am even grateful to God for my being so behind in my reading this time because it gives me more understanding and empathy with my fellow readers, and it causes me to pray for them more.

I have had some serious issues to deal with since our reading started this time, and I will have to trust in God for help with this reading challenge even!  That’s OK… HE is faithful!!   And, yes, IT IS OK to read at a slower pace.  It is a wonderful accomplishment to just read through the entire Bible and you will be in a minority of folks, Christians even, who have done so.  I will be so proud of you (us!) if we just finish reading through the entire Bible this year.  BUT, I am still hopeful we will complete it in 90 days or thereabouts!  :o)

Sorry this got so long, but I felt that it is one of those ‘important’ things in life.  ;o)

Hoping you can tell I love you… and HE loves  you, too!

Bettie

Thanks, Bettie, for sharing your thoughts and your experiences with us. You have been such an incredible encouragement to me these past few sessions. I am so thankful you allowed me to share this so others could experience your love, as well.