Over time, I have found some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. The Holy Bible while not the only book, is certainly one to be chewed and digested again and again.
Years ago, King James, is now famous for the Bible translation that bears his name. However, around the same time as the printing of the Bible, he also commissioned revisions to The Book of Common Prayer. This guide to intercession and worship contains a very special prayer to truly digesting the Bible: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may . . . hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of [Your] holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.”
Today as we struggle with national and global matters, we can look to spiritually inspired prophets of the Bible who expressed similar ways of letting the Scriptures nourish our hearts: “Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts”. This passage comes from Jeremiah. We may internalize the Word as we “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” a passage of Scripture through prayerful meditation.
Allow me to encourage all of us to ask the Lord to help us apply scripture to our hearts daily. Graciously take time to ponder the meat and milk of the Word. As you quiet your heart, God will teach you about Himself through the good book.
Truly, it is only as we feast on the word can we grow to love ourselves fully and thus all others. When have you been determined to chew and digest the word of God? Please leave a comment, I will even write you back.
See you next Sunday.
MJ