Do you have a plan when you open the Bible? Maybe, like many, you just open it up and start reading. But our time alone with Jesus will usually go better if we have a plan — something simple that can guide us whether we have fifteen minutes, an hour, or a more extended amount of time.

Even though no plan can guarantee that we will leave our Bibles with our hearts aflame, the best plans will put us near the fires of God’s grace. They will help us hear his voice more clearly, feel something of the reality we’ve encountered, and then speak back to him with our praises and requests.