Preparing for Easter: Lent Bible Reading Plan
- Joni Lynn Schwartz
- Mar 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 23
Easter is my favorite holiday, and today marks the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection, repentance, and preparation leading up to the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Lent is a 40-day journey (not counting Sundays) that mirrors Jesus' time of fasting and prayer in the wilderness. It's a time to draw closer to God, refocus, and prepare for Easter morning.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about using ChatGPT to study the Bible. Well, I decided to take my own advice and asked ChatGPT to create a daily Bible reading plan that I could do with my kids from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. I wanted to invite you to join me in preparing for Easter. Feel free to use the following verses or create your own daily reading plan.
Lent Bible Reading Plan
Week 1 — Preparing Our Hearts
Turning back to God and recognizing our need for rescue
Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12-14 – Return to Me with all your heart
Thursday: Psalm 51:1-12 – A prayer of repentance
Friday: Isaiah 1:16–18 — Though your sins are scarlet
Saturday: Isaiah 58:6-12 – True fasting that pleases God
Sunday: Mark 1:9-15 – Jesus' baptism and temptation in the wilderness
Week 2 — God the Rescuer (Moses & the Exodus)
From slavery to freedom—God makes a way
Monday: Exodus 1:8–14 — God’s people in bondage
Tuesday: Exodus 2:1–10 — God preserves Moses
Wednesday: Exodus 3:1–12 — God calls Moses
Thursday: Exodus 6:2–8 — God promises deliverance
Friday: Exodus 12:1–13 — The first Passover
Saturday: Exodus 14:10–16, 21–31 — Crossing the Red Sea
Sunday: Exodus 15:1–13 — Praise to the God who saves
Week 3 — Songs, Promises, and Prophecy
Hope spoken long before Jesus arrived
Monday: Psalm 22:1–5 — A cry that points to the cross
Tuesday: Psalm 23 — The Lord, our Shepherd
Wednesday: Psalm 118:19–29 — The rejected stone
Thursday: Isaiah 7:14 — A promised Savior
Friday: Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 — Light in the darkness
Saturday: Micah 5:2 — The Messiah’s birthplace
Sunday: Isaiah 53:3–6 — The suffering servant
Week 4 — Jesus Begins His Ministry
God’s promise steps into the world
Monday: John 1:29–34 — Jesus, the Lamb of God
Tuesday: Luke 4:16–22 — Jesus declares His mission
Wednesday: Matthew 5:1–12 — The Beatitudes
Thursday: Matthew 5:13–16 — Salt and light
Friday: Matthew 6:25–34 — Trusting our Father
Saturday: John 3:1–17 — Jesus and Nicodemus
Sunday: John 4:7–26 — Living water for all
Week 5 — Who Jesus Is
Miracles, mercy, and the heart of the Kingdom
Monday: Mark 2:1–12 — Jesus forgives and heals
Tuesday: Matthew 14:13–21 — Jesus provides
Wednesday: Mark 4:35–41 — Jesus calms the storm
Thursday: John 6:35 — The Bread of Life
Friday: Luke 15:1–7 — The lost sheep
Saturday: Luke 15:11–24 — The prodigal son
Sunday: John 11:17–27 — “I am the resurrection and the life”
Week 6 — Love, Servanthood, and the Cost
Jesus prepares His followers for what’s coming
Monday: Matthew 22:34–40 — The greatest commandment
Tuesday: John 13:34–35 — Love one another
Wednesday: Mark 10:42–45 — The call to serve
Thursday: Luke 10:25–37 — The Good Samaritan
Friday: Philippians 2:5–11 — The humility of Christ
Saturday: Hebrews 4:14–16 — Our great High Priest
Palm Sunday: Matthew 21:1–11 — The triumphal entry
Holy Week — The Journey to the Cross
Monday: John 12:20–26 — A grain of wheat must die
Tuesday: John 13:1–17 — Jesus washes His disciples’ feet
Wednesday: Matthew 26:6–16 — Anointed for burial
Maundy Thursday: Luke 22:7–23 — The Last Supper
Good Friday: Matthew 27:27–54 — The crucifixion
Holy Saturday: Matthew 27:57–66 — Waiting in the silence
Easter Sunday — The Empty Tomb
Easter Sunday: Matthew 28:1–10 — He is risen!
I’m looking forward to reading through these verses this Lent with my kids, learning about Jesus’ life, His sacrifice, and the hope we have in His resurrection. I invite you to join me, whether with your family, friends, or your own Bible reading time. Let’s prepare our hearts for—Easter morning!
Want more devotionals to inspire your week? Check out Make Monday Matter here.
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