This morning I began a journey through the Book of Daniel in the Bible. I pulled out a copy of the Bible that I read a couple years ago to see the notes I’d made in Daniel. There was so much there! As I read through this Bible, I turned it into my own personal study/devotional Bible. Quite a few key verses were highlighted, with notes in the margins about what God was saying to me through these passages. There were also numerous cross-references with other passages, references that would probably not stand out to me at any other time.
I know sometimes people are reluctant to write in their Bible, and I can kind of understand that. But I can’t bear to think about the valuable insights, derived from my personal time alone with God, that would’ve been lost if I hadn’t written in this Bible.
We never read the Bible the same way twice. For instance, when I read through this particular copy of the Scriptures, I was in a transitional period in my life. So that affected how God spoke to me, and it colored my understanding of what I was reading. There were sermons I’d recently heard and other passages I’d recently read that came to mind as I studied the Bible, so I connected these pieces together. That’s why we never read the Bible the same way twice. If we don’t make note of these insights, they’re lost!
My encouragement to you: mark His Word!
Surfing the Inner N8 
“But I can’t bear to think about the valuable insights, derived from my personal time alone with God, that would’ve been lost if I hadn’t written in this Bible.”
GREAT SENTENCE!
I am also a scary cat when it comes to “messing” up my Bible, but if we would do it – the writing could prove to be a great learning tool!
Judy
It’s better than any commentary, because it’s personal. Go for it!