Legalism vs. Belief

lately i've been thinking a lot about what it means to believe something. we throw around the word believe so many times ... but if i think hard about it i rarely believe what i say i belief. i think we can tell what are beliefs are by our actions. like, if i say "i believe praying is good" i don't really believe praying is good until i actually pray. this morning i got up and totally didn't want to read the Bible (happens way too often). i think it's good to do the right thing even if my motives are wrong. perhaps because it's better to do the right thing with the wrong motives instead of doing the wrong thing. but where does legalism come in? am i reading the word because i know it's good (i BELIEVE it's good and healthy for true saints to daily be in the word) ... do i do it because it's my belief or do i do it because "that's what i must do to be a 'good christian'?" so if i miss a day ... my value isn't any less ... but perhaps i'm missing out on blessings God wants to give me. i think about the sermon series on the sermon on the mount that cornerstone did awhile ago ... and it amazed me how many times Jesus would say "it is better for you ..." or He would talk about rewards He desires to give us. so i long to not only read the word, but to have the right motives when reading the word ... and that is my prayer.