> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.dashhouse.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Bible in 40 Days - URL: https://www.dashhouse.com/the-bible-in-40-days/ - Published: 2020-04-28T09:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-09-23T18:00:33.000Z - Description: Reading the Bible in 40 days with color-coded highlighting enhanced my understanding and appreciation of Scripture. - Author: Darryl Dash - Tags: Christian Living Someone at our church suggested that we read the Bible over 40 days. Some of us took up the challenge, and we learned a lot. Reading the Bible at this pace didn’t take as long as you’d think. I found that it took me anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes each day. Some days were more challenging. The plan allowed for a day off each week, which allowed for some time to catch up if necessary. ## My Plan I invested in an [ESV Preaching Bible](https://link.dashhouse.com/74Y?ref=dashhouse.com) for this challenge, as well as a set of highlighters. I asked Tim Kerr, a friend and pastor, for recommendations on highlighters. He suggested [Crayola Twistables](https://link.dashhouse.com/7IX?ref=dashhouse.com) because they don’t bleed through the page. I took his advice and found they worked well. He also suggested a highlighting scheme: - blue — character/being of God - green — promises of God - orange — prayers of Scripture - yellow — anything else - red — redemptive Partway through I added purple for references to God’s kingship or the kingdom of God. Highlighting helped me concentrate, and it will be a valuable tool as I use this Bible in the future. ## Lessons Learned I usually read the Bible through once a year, and I’ve also tried reading it over two years. I’ve enjoyed the pace of both of those plans for different reasons. I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading the Bible at a much faster pace. I made more connections. I found it easier to see themes of entire books. I found myself thinking about what I’d read throughout the day. As I mentioned, some days where more challenging, but there weren’t many days that I didn’t wake up looking forward to my time in the Word. Two major themes stood out to me: ### The Value of a Psalm 1 Life Psalm 1 describes the blessedness of a man whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Tim Mackie of Bible Project talks about what this looks like: reading the Bible repeatedly, each time making new connections and seeing how themes tie together, allowing Scripture to shape all of one’s life. I have a long way to go, but during the 40 days I felt like this was happening. Not only was I able to notice how themes tie together, but Scripture filled more of my hours and my mind than before. I experienced some of the blessings of a Psalm 1 life. ### Don’t Trifle With God [Jim Hamilton](https://link.dashhouse.com/7Ie?ref=dashhouse.com) suggests that the single unifying theme of Scripture is God’s glory in salvation through judgment. I didn’t exactly disagree, but I wondered if he overplayed the theme of judgment. I didn’t quite get it. I do now. Reading Scripture this quickly, I was struck by a repeated theme: Don’t mess with God. Take him seriously. Fear him. Don’t trifle with him. His holiness, his otherness, and his judgment leapt off the page. And so did God’s grace, but it’s a grace that’s richer because he is to be feared and honored. I’ve seen this theme before, but never as clearly as in the 40 days. ## Try It Reading the Bible at this pace is challenging but doable, and I highly recommend it. A time of self-isolation may be the perfect time to do it. I think I’ll try it again in the future. --- UPDATE: Steve Mathewson, author of [*The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative*](https://link.dashhouse.com/qab?ref=dashhouse.com), is using a different coloring scheme that’s worth considering: - Red = God’s Salvation - Purple = God’s King/Kingdom - Blue = God’s Presence - Yellow = God’s Power - Green = God’s Kindness (Grace, Mercy) - Orange = God’s Judgment