If you’re here it’s probably because you want to read the entire Bible in 30 days. If you’re anything like me, you’ve done year-long reading plans before or the Bible in a year challenge… But choosing to read the whole Bible in just 30 days is a completely different experience.

While the 30 day reading plan may feel ambitious, I can attest that it is an amazing feeling when you complete it. I tried The Shred because I was curious what it would feel like to read Scripture that quickly, without slowing down to analyze every verse. I wanted to see the Bible as one connected story instead of 66 standalone books.

The 30 days leading up to my birthday, I read the Bible cover to cover. Not because I’m super disciplined or had the time, but because I felt stuck. If you’re in a season that feels hard or spiritually dry, this may be the thing to try. I have so many thoughts after reading the whole Bible in 30 days, but time and time again in these pages I found hope that actually holds, peace that’s real and joy that shows up even when life feels dark. And ultimately it all pointed back to Jesus.

My notes app from doing this challenge is a novel (seriously, so many things I will research more later), but I wanted to share some of my tips and daily takeaways here.

Resources and Tips to Read the Bible in 30 Days

If you’re going to read the Bible in 30 days, here is what you can expect. Each day is about 2 hours of reading (usually 40-55 chapters per day). You can split up the reading throughout the day, or find chunks of time to power through.  I used both an audio version of the Bible and physical copy to stay on top of the reading plan.

What surprised me most was how different it felt compared to a year-long plan. Instead of forgetting what I’d read last week, I could see themes, connections, and repeated promises more clearly. The Old Testament flowed into the New Testament with a kind of urgency I hadn’t felt before.

Here is what you need to get started with reading the Bible in 30 days

I used the 30-day Shred plan that is free from the YouVersion Bible App. You can download the app, save the plan for later or start it now. This plan easily lets you keep track of your daily reading, and you can mark off your progress in real time.

What really helped me was to read the daily commentaries in Nathan Finochio’s devotional book, or to watch his daily video recordings for The 30 Day Shred on YouTube. (Here is Nathan’s first video about The Shred, and here is Day 1 of the 30-day Shred.)

I used the Bible app and Audible to do my daily Shred. In the app I was able to read the scriptures on my phone, but I also used Audible to listen to this Dramatized Audio Bible (NIV), and I loved that combination!

Since you’re reading so much every day, you’re going to want to make note of things you want to research more later or study deeper once you’re done shredding.

Reading the Bible in 30 days was challenging, but so worth it. I walked away with a bigger picture of God’s story, a deeper appreciation for His faithfulness, and a renewed hunger to keep His Word at the center of my life.

 

Daily Takeaways from Reading the Bible in 30 days

Day 1 –

Things get messy quick, but God’s covenant begins with Abraham. Joseph prospered because God was with him, but that blessing was extended to Potiphar because of Joseph.

Day 2 –

God sets us free in wondrous ways. He destroys oppressors, leads us by day and night, feeds us miraculously, and heals us.

Day 3 –

God is Holy and therefore gives us guidelines to be with him. It feels like rules upon rules, but tucked in this reading is also an invitation to Sabbath and trust God’s provision.

Day 4 –

The wilderness allows us to see the ways in which God shows up. Moses humbly pleads cases to God on behalf of Israelites and saves them repeatedly.

Day 5 –

New generation of Israelites and God’s relationship with them. You’ll find all of God’s blessings and compassion here. Generosity is a high priority – share freely and joyfully give to the poor.

Day 6 –

Joshua lead the Israelites into victory because of God. When he died, they repeatedly lived through a cycle of forgetting God, being destroyed by enemies, crying out to God and Him sending a judge/prophet to lead them again.

Day 7 –

Samson and Hannah both have the lord remember them before the BIG thing happens. God’s calling often comes before our understanding (Samuel). God regrets Saul when he becomes prideful. God’s spirit is upon David so he encounters success and protection.

Day 8 –

David’s repentance makes all the difference in how God responds. All of David’s successes and victories were from God. David worships immediately after losing his son.

Day 9 –

God’s still honoring David through his actions (promises across generations). Solomon was wise but his heart ended up turning away from God. He wasn’t like David – a man after God’s heart. God sent Elijah to try to point people back to him.

Day 10 –

God hears and answers. God allowed Israel to be conquered.

Day 11 –

Saul, David, and Solomon each had rises and downfalls – what set them apart was repentance and loyalty to God. God tests hearts for integrity. The Lord sent prophets to try to bring the people back to him.

Day 12 –

Words used to describe God are merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, gracious, faithful. Relief and deliverance for the Jews would happen regardless, but God was inviting Esther to be part of a powerful plan. Job fell to the ground in worship in his hardship.

Day 13 –

The spirit in a person is what gives understanding, and the fear of the Lord is wisdom. The Lord restored Job. David brings 2 emotions at one time – despair and sorrow simultaneously held with trust and praise. The Lord hears our cries.

Day 14 –

David had confidence, trust and hope in God and His goodness, even when he was in the thick of persecution, fear, trials and attacks. When we seek the Lord, He hears, and He answers.

Day 15 –

True refuge, joy, and hope are found in the Lord, and the fitting response is gratitude, praise, and trust in Him. We forget His goodness and how He has delivered us time and time again, but God responds with mercy and blessings.

Day 16 –

Wisdom vs. wickedness. Guard your heart for everything flows from it. The righteous care about justice for the poor and oppressed – they speak up for the poor and needy.

Day 17 –

Isaiah warns against calling evil good and reminds that anything not rooted in God’s word is empty. In prophecies of end times desolation, there will be joyful celebration because some will turn and praise God. He will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him. False worship = honor on the lips but hearts far away. God longs to be gracious.

Day 18 –

Redemption and hope story in Isaiah. God has compassion and mercy, and freely pardons those who turn to Him. No weapon will prevail and His word will not return empty. True fasting = providing for the poor, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. Before He formed you in the womb He knew you.

Day 19 –

It would’ve taken just one person acting justly and seeking truth for God to forgive the city, but His word was offensive to them. God calls out the corrupt leaders, and promises to give His people new hearts and bring them back to Him. Even in exile, He declares plans to prosper them, to give them hope and a future.

Day 20 –

From the depths of the pit, Jeremiah cried out to God, and the Lord heard and redeemed his life. The people remained blind and deaf to God’s word. Ezekiel obeyed God’s call, even in bitterness, carrying the weight of delivering His message.

Day 21 –

God promises to remove hearts of stone and give His people new hearts, filling them with His Spirit so they can walk in His ways. The valley of dry bones is restoration.

Day 22 –

The fiery furnace, the lions den, the writing on the wall… Daniel and his friends have the spirit of God. Daniel knows scriptures and understands what Jeremiah has prophesied about their exile. God leads us into the wilderness, not to punish but to speak tenderly and draw us back.

Day 23 –

God is funny because he made Jonah go and preach to the people he despised. Habakkuk learns to wait and trust in god, who works out all things for His glory. We won’t always understand His ways, but God calls His suffering people to show faith.

Day 24 –

Matthew was written for the Jewish people with a focus on Jesus fulfilling prophecy and Davidic ancestry. Jesus teaches radical kingdom living (salt and light, sincere prayer, loving enemies, justice, mercy, faithfulness). Salvation is by grace through faith, but the fruit of that faith is revealed in works.

Day 25 –

Mark is Peter’s gospel and shows Jesus testing faith, calling for self-denial, and teaching the power of belief and prayer. Luke was written for a Greek audience and shares the most backstory. He emphasizes on being motivated by genuine love and generosity, and how Jesus set people spiritually free through physical healing.

Day 26 –

Jesus prays for Simon’s faith during trials. John’s gospel is written from a place of familial intimacy (possibly Jesus’ cousin) and highlights different miracles from the other 3. Not everyone can hear what God says. The thief steals, kills and destroys, but Jesus gives life. His disciples didn’t realize in real-time the prophecies He was fulfilling. Instead of “save me from this hour”, Jesus says “glorify your name”. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. John 17 (Jesus prays for his disciples and all believers).

Day 27 –

Paul approved Stephen’s stoning before his Damascus Road transformation. The early church grew rapidly despite persecution (Peter and Paul mirror each other). The Law shows God’s will, but salvation comes through faith and grace – his Spirit transforms us. Our present sufferings are incomparable to the future glory, and He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

Day 28 –

Paul warns against division and calls the church to unity. The Spirit gives different gifts for the common good. Fruit of the Spirit.The world will see the gospel as foolish, because the enemy blinds people from seeing the truth. Our battle isn’t against people but against spiritual darkness.

Day 29 –

Paul’s chains gave others confidence in the Lord. Be wise in how you act with others – every opportunity should be full of grace and gentleness. Quarreling and controversy are of no value. God desires everyone to know truth, but many will reject sound teaching and chase after what they want to hear. Be peaceable, kind, gentle, full of mercy, and considerate. Abraham obeyed because he reasoned that God could even raise the dead. The testing of your faith produces perseverance, and trials prove the genuineness of your faith.

Day 30 –

Always be able to give a gentle and respectful answer for the hope you have. Love others because God is love. Be merciful to those who doubt. Revelation is ultimately about worship – God or beast.

 

Here’s the thing: we live in a time where the Bible is literally at our fingertips – in our hands, in our pockets, even in our headphones if we’d rather listen. Yet so many of us feel like we don’t really know it. This is where the answers are. This is where we actually meet the One we’re following.

If you’ve ever thought about reading through the whole Bible, I 100% recommend it. Even if it’s not The Shred in 30 days… pick up John, Psalms, or pick what stands out to you from the daily snippets and start there. You don’t have to wait for the perfect time, and this may be the exact challenge you need in your life.