How to Start a Bible Reading Plan Mid-Year (It's Not Too Late)
Matt · April 15, 2026
You can start a Bible reading plan any day of the year. The idea that you need to begin on January 1st is one of the most common reasons people put it off indefinitely — and it's simply not true.
Why Mid-Year Is Actually a Great Time to Start
There's something almost ideal about starting a Bible reading plan in spring or summer. The pressure of New Year's resolutions is gone, and you're choosing this for one reason: you actually want to. That kind of quiet decision tends to stick better than a resolution made in a moment of holiday momentum.
The calendar has no special authority over your spiritual life. Whether you pick up your Bible in April, August, or October, what matters is that you start — and that you have a plan that makes it easy to keep going.
Most people who read through the Bible in a year are not people who started on January 1st. They're people who started on a random Tuesday in March and kept at it.
How to Structure a Mid-Year Start
If you want to read the entire Bible over the next 12 months, you don't need to try to "catch up" to a January plan. Here are two practical approaches:
Start fresh from wherever you are. Pick a reading plan that begins at Genesis or Matthew and follow it for the next 365 days. Your year runs from today — not from last January. This is the simplest approach and works well for people who want a complete, structured journey from start to finish.
Read by theme or book. Instead of committing to a full-year sequential plan right now, pick a specific book or theme to read over the next 30–90 days. Start with the Gospels, or work through Paul's letters. Build the habit first, then extend it.
Use an app that adapts to you. One underrated feature of apps like Bible In A Year is that you can start the 365-day plan any day and it simply tracks your progress from that point. No need to skip ahead, no guilt about missing months you weren't on the plan.
Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Started
The biggest obstacle to reading the Bible isn't difficulty — it's waiting for the "right time." People wait for January. Then they wait until they finish a busy season at work. Then they wait until the kids are back in school.
There is no right time. There's only now.
If reading the Bible matters to you, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is to start today with a simple, doable plan — even just a chapter a day — and let it grow from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too late to start a Bible reading plan in the middle of the year?
Not at all. Any day is a good day to start. A 365-day plan simply runs for 365 days from whatever day you begin — it's not tied to the calendar year.
Should I try to catch up to a January reading schedule?
No. Trying to catch up to a schedule you weren't on is a fast path to burnout. Start fresh from day one of your chosen plan and move forward from there.
How many chapters should I read per day for a year-long plan?
Most read-the-Bible-in-a-year plans average about 3–4 chapters per day. If that feels like too much, start with 1–2 chapters and build the habit first. Consistency matters more than pace.