Well, yes and no. I wasn't afraid of the Bible itself or even just reading it. But what I was afraid of was reading it over and over and over again. After having finished reading it through once, it scared me to start reading it multiple times. Wouldn't it become dry and boring? How could I possibly learn something new every single time I read it? I couldn't even imagine reading my most favorite book like that! Yes, I might could do it for awhile, but how droll it would eventually get! But then I realized-I'm talking about the Word of God here! The living, life-changing, inspired words of the living God! What was I thinking?! This was no ordinary book! Whew, some major battles there! But that wasn't the only reason why I was afraid of reading the Bible on a daily basis. Fear of legalism was in my heart as well. I was afraid of getting so caught up in just making sure that I read the Bible, that I wouldn't be growing or learning from the Word like I should be.

For a long while I would read it here and there, but never regularly. Well, if you know anything about God, it's that He doesn't leave us drowning in our fears. He started working in my heart and convicting me that I should start a daily Bible reading. And so I have. He has used some very dear friends to keep me accountable, and He's given me the strength to keep pressing on. I've been finding that instead of the Word becoming dry, it has come more alive. (Not that I don't think that there are still parts of the Bible that seem boring...*wink*...but I'm learning new things that I hadn't recognized from the first time around. And I figure I'll still be learning new things when I get to the 100th time around. ;)) And the legalism? I don't worry about it a bit anymore. There hasn't a day yet gone by where God hasn't shown me a little bit more of Him. So I challenge you. Go out and start those bold readings!

The more you read the Bible, the more you love it; the more you love it, the more you read it. Read the Bible as if God were speaking to you. He is!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. ~2 Timothy 3:16