Have you enjoyed daily devotions this year, using Finding Faithfulness: A Year of Reading and Reflecting on God’s Word? This may sound strange, coming from the author, but I have loved going through this guideline and seeing new truths in the Bible every day. Many other people have expressed their joy in using the book, which truly isn’t due to my writing but only to the Holy Spirit revealing truth as they reflect on God’s Word.

Some readers have appreciated appropriate readings on Sundays and holidays and have asked about using Finding Faithfulness in 2024. The short answer is that readers can use Finding Faithfulness any way they want to, any year they want to.

Years begin on different days of the week, and spring holidays fall on a wide range of dates. The “How Do I Use Finding Faithfulness?” section on page 11 assures readers, “Special entries can be read at any time, so feel free to use holiday readings on the specific date.” Daily entries reflect a mid-range placement for variable holidays (such as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, and Pentecost), which means readers won’t have to look far to find the appropriate reading for the day.

But some readers (I, for one) like to have a plan. If you want to read Day 1 entries on Sunday and the appropriate holiday readings on the specific day, feel free to take these suggestions under consideration.

Because 2024 begins on a Monday, you may wish to start with the Week 1/Day 2 entry on January 1. The Week 1/Day 1 entry can be used near the end of the year instead of at the beginning. During the first week, switch Day 6 and Day 7 entries in order to read the Epiphany texts on January 6.

Follow the book’s order until Week 13’s readings, which can be saved for later, and skip ahead to Week 14/Day 1 on March 24 for Palm Sunday. Continuing through the Week 14 and Week 15 entries will provide readings themed around Good Friday and Easter at the appropriate times. Then you could insert the skipped Week 13 entries prior to Week 16.

On May 9, read Week 20/Day 5 for Ascension Day. And on May 19, read Week 22/Day 1 for Pentecost. Continue with entries in the printed order until you reach Week 47/Day 5, which you may want to save until Thanksgiving Day one week later by switching it with the Week 48/Day 5 entry.

Several entries in December fit before, on, and after Christmas, which falls on a later week in 2024. To enjoy Christmas-themed readings on logical and appropriate days, try reading the designated entries on the following dates:

• December 19 = Week 52/Day 6
• December 20 = Week 52/Day 7
• December 21 = Week 51/Day 5
• December 22 = Week 52/Day 1
• December 23 = Week 51/Day 6
• December 24 = Week 51/Day 7
• December 25 = Week 52/Day 2
• December 26 = Week 52/Day 3
• December 27 = Week 52/Day 4
• December 28 = Week 52/Day 5
• December 29 = This would be a good time to turn back to Week 1/Day 1
• December 30 = BONUS DAY due to Leap Year! Use it to catch up on missed readings or any special meditation of your choice
• December 31 = Week 53/Day 1

These are only suggestions. You may use Finding Faithfulness any way you want, and you may very well come up with a better plan on your own. You can read it straight through, you can skip around, or whatever. But if you read the texts listed on every entry, you’ll read and reflect on the entire Bible in one year!

Please don’t stress if you fall behind and can’t get through Finding Faithfulness in a year. What does it matter if it takes you two or more years? The important thing is that you’re reading and reflecting on the Bible, which is the very word of God!

Each person has the same number of minutes in every day and can choose how to spend many of them. Reading God’s Word is one of the best things you can do. How will you choose to spend your precious minutes in 2024?