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.