2 Cents

In part 1 we established that the Bible was not meant to be read like a novel because it's made up of different books by different authors from different time periods addressing different things. Another reason for this is that God intends to work on your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself, the world, your sin, and other things to you during your reading. Reading through books of the Bible quickly like you would Harry Potter or some such book can cause you to miss things that otherwise could have been very beneficial for your spiritual growth.

The point of reading the Bible is not to know more about the Bible, it's to know God, to fall more and more in love with Him, and to be conformed to His image. Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:2 both show us that those following God mediate constantly on His word. To do this effectively it helps if you SLOW DOWN. Divide your reading up into sections and pause to mediate on what God is trying to speak to you after each section. Stop each time you read a verse that pierces to your heart and simply let it hit you. Sometimes you will meditate on a new truth about God or mankind you just learned. Other times you should stop to simply rekindle your appreciation for old truths you already know such as Jesus' death for your sins or the hope of heaven. Your goal should not simply be to finish the Bible or a book of the Bible in a certain amount of time. Your goal, again, should be falling more and more in love with God, worshipping Him, and being conformed to his likeness. What's the point if you've read through the entire Bible in half a year and yet have not grown spiritually as much as you could have???

It's important to remember that meditation takes discipline. If you're not used to doing this it will seem burdensome at first. You will not want to stop and slow down to meditate. Your natural desire will be to keep going and finish a certain amount. However let me tell you first-hand the benefits that come from slow reading and regular meditation are well worth it. You will be surprised at the things God reveals to your heart.

I will say that there are benefits to reading a whole book of the Bible in one sitting - especially the letters of the NT. This helps you to get a great overview of the "big picture" so to speak. However if you do this, go back and read the book slowly a second time pausing to meditate regularly.

Finally, remember that meditation should not terminate on itself but should culminate in worshipful prayer to God. If you meditate on a passage that convicts you of sin, confess that sin to the Lord and pray for strength to rid yourself of it. If you meditate on a truth of God that blows your mind, worship Him in prayer and tell Him how great and glorious you think He is. If you meditate on a passage that breaks your heart for the lost, pray for lost people you know and for opportunities to affect them for Christ.