Do not start at Genesis and try to bulldoze through to Revelation. Most people give up somewhere in Leviticus, and conclude the problem is them.
Where to start
Start with the Gospel of John. It was written for exactly this purpose — so that people would believe. One chapter a day gets you through in three weeks.
After that: Mark (fast and vivid), then Philippians (short and warm), then Psalms (honest prayer for every mood).
A method that works
For each passage, ask four questions:
- What does it say? Read it twice. Slowly. Notice what is actually there.
- What does it mean? Who was it written to, and what would they have understood?
- What does it say about God? Every passage shows you something about His character.
- What do I do with it? One specific, small response. Not ten.
Write down one sentence. That single habit turns reading into remembering.
Practical notes
- Use a modern translation. The NIV, ESV or NLT are all good. Read the one you actually understand.
- Small and regular beats big and rare. Ten verses every day will change you more than three chapters once a month.
- Do not panic at the hard bits. Mark them, move on, come back later. It is allowed.