What goes wrong with Bible reading?

  • What often happens is something like this.
    • We get enthused about the need to read the Bible each day and begin with great gusto.
    • The first morning finds us up early with our Bibles, commentaries and notebooks, and we make a truly determined start.
    • The next morning may go well too, but it is not long before we find the pace too hot.
    • We begin to get bogged down by study notes/commentaries, or by the sheer quantity of Scripture we have set ourselves to read.
    • We never seem to get anything personal or helpful at all from the time we spend with the Bible.
    • Soon, we get behind in our reading schedule, and then discouraged, and before long our readings have stopped altogether.
  • Another common situation is where we turn to the help of prepared daily Bible reading notes.
    • We tell ourselves that it will be easier when we have something to help us each day.
    • But what happens? We become so dependent upon our notes that we never really get to think for ourselves.
    • Soon we find our Bible reading has degenerated into a lifeless ritual.