Operation Gateway Bible: My Bible Reading Challenge

One of my life goals is to learn the bible so well that my cells vibrate with its truth. Applying God’s word is the gateway to a life rich in the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. So on New Years Day, I started Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System.

I found this system because I was looking for a plan to read the bible through twice a year. I’ve done ‘bible-in-a-year’ plans before but after I finished one last year, I was hungry for more.

However when I first read about the Horner system,  I doubted that I could do it. He divides the bible books into 10 lists and the goal is to read one chapter from each list daily. That’s 10 chapters a day! With my previous plan, I was reading 3-4 chapters a day, so this is quite a stretch for me.

And yet…I felt led to do it. I know how much bible reading has changed me for the better. I’m still a work in progress and know that the more I allow God’s word to work in my life, the more fruit I will bear for others to taste and see that the Lord is good!

True, it will take more time out of my day. And while I can’t get more time (we all get 24 hours), I do choose how to spend it. I will take time from unproductive daily activities and spend it on this one – which will impact my life and others for a lifetime. An excellent trade!

To make the system practical for my life though, I am modifying a couple of things:

  • Rather than reading all 10 chapters at once, I am reading 5 chapters in the morning and 5 chapters in the evening daily. If I have to attend an evening event, then I will read those 5 chapters at lunch.
  • Professor Horner provides 10 bookmarks you can print to keep track of your locations in the bible, but I’m using a checklist instead.

With my bible-in-a-year plan, I was accustomed to using a checklist  and it was really helpful. Plus, I felt a sense of accomplishment when I checked off chapters I read. You can download a copy of my checklist to use if you like (it is Adobe PDF form).

It is designed to print double-sided, so you can fold it as a booklet and stick it in your bible:

Download checklist for Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System

I wrote about my goal on this blog to keep myself accountable for following through. It really does help you to stay on track when you know other people are watching.

I decided to call my personal challenge Operation Gateway Bible just to remind me of the reasons why I am doing this.  I hope that you decide to make this year one of increased bible study too, either the Horner system or another one. And I know that the benefits you gain will be worth for more than the investment you put into it.

Be blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor

Creator of the Take Back Your Temple program

P.S. When it comes to weight loss, do you often know what you should do but have a hard time doing it?

I struggled with this issue on my own weight loss journey, but I discovered that “Nothing is different until you think differently.” – Pastor James MacDonald

The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through using Biblical keys to overcome obstacles. You’ll discover how to win the Spiritual and mental battle that often causes us to become inconsistent and get off-track on our weight loss journey.

Join a community of like-minded Christians losing weight and keep it off.

Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple program

About the author 

Kimberly Taylor

Kimberly Taylor is a certified Christian life coach and has a heart to help others struggling with emotional eating and weight loss. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify of God’s goodness and healing power to overcome. She lost 85 pounds as a result of implementing techniques to overcome emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

Kim is the author of "The Take Back Your Temple Program," which teaches Christians how to take control of their weight God's way and the books "The Weight Loss Scriptures" and "The Weight Loss Prayers."

Kim has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Charisma Magazine and on CBN’s 'The 700 Club' television program.

  • Thank you for posting the checklist without charging for it! I know I found it out here somewhere a couple years back and as I went searching for it, I kept running into one individual who has it, but who is charging for it. I appreciate that you publish the full pdf for free. Keep it up! and thanks again!

  • hi Kimbery!! Happy New Year and thanks so much for the Grant Horner checklist. I was wanting to do it but i am used to having a checklist with past 1 one bible plans. Your list will help me tremendously and im sure you know its an 8 month plan not a full year. I think i am going to like this plan . It is available on bible App and website… you version. com . They have audio and version options and tracking for you. :0)

  • THANK YOU!!! Just downloaded your schedule for Horner’s Bible Reading Plan.

    I didn’t want placemarkers in my study Bible that I use to teach a Ladies Bible Study. (I found that I really wanted to use my study Bible to glance down and look at problem areas I didn’t understand) when doing my reading. I had made a similar list but not the chapter numbers – I wrote the numbers in as I read them. I had since decided to do something like what you did but why invent the wheel all over again!!! So I was delighted to read your blog and find you did all the work for me!!!
    I have been reading this plan for 9 months or so and love it! THANK YOU!!
    I enjoyed your video on exercise also. I am a 76 year old grandma who plays tennis twice a week. My Bible Study is not in a church – but in a club house room of an apartment building. THANKS AGAIN!!!

    • Hi Nancy, thanks for stopping by! Glad that you are finding the checklist helpful. I am still on the Horner reading plan and the 10 chapters a day is not as scary as I thought they would be. As I mentioned in the post, I started out with 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening, thinking that would be easier to do. But I found myself enjoying my morning reading so much that I would keep going and now I read all 10 chapters at one sitting. It really does give you a whole new perspective on the bible.
      That’s awesome about your tennis playing! I hope that I will have that level of energy at 76, God willing. I’m working on it now. God bless you!

  • Thanks Barbara! I’m on Day 6 now and really enjoying it. It is not as challenging as I thought it would be 🙂 I appreciate your compliments on my site as well.

    Kim

  • I have been using Grant Horner’s systerm for some time now and have enjoyed it as a great adventure into the Word….something to look forward to everyday.
    I’m so glad to see your check off list and thank you for sharing it with us. I also read 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening…since I work full time, it’s easier and less likely to be put off until tomorrow.
    I’m also enjoying reading your other entries here…after finding you through Dr. Horner’s facebook page, I will visit again.

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
    >