November 08, 2015
by Pastor Chuck SwindollScriptures: Jeremiah 15:16
Yesterday, we looked at the fact that our food is meant to be savored and enjoyed. Today I want to apply that thought to our spiritual lives. My sister, Luci, has often reminded me (and many others) to "savor the moment" while journeying through life.
Yesterday, we looked at the fact that our food is meant to be savored and enjoyed. Today I want to apply that thought to our spiritual lives.
My sister, Luci, has often reminded me (and many others) to "savor the moment" while journeying through life. In other words, take the time to pause and enjoy life's significant scenes: touching the soft petals of a lovely English rose, watching a slowly descending sunset that explodes the sky with brilliant colors, enjoying the presence of a little child whose face radiates such innocence or a clumsy, playful puppy with floppy ears, listening to the thunderous surf as its powerful waves pound and foam, pondering the well-written lines of a book by a gifted author who ignites your imagination through carefully chosen words. With all those moments to savor, I suggest that we begin to savor the meal. Rushing through our food as if we had a flight to catch is a habit we need to break! Just as it takes time to think deeply, it takes time to taste deeply.
The same can be applied to savoring the Scriptures, chewing its words slowly in order to absorb the profound benefits of its truths. One of the old Hebrew prophets captured that concept as he openly declared:
Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
The ancient psalmist testified in a similar way: "How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).
Submerged in deep pain while enduring horrible suffering, Job found the taste of God's Word the most satisfying of anything life had to offer: "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).
Take time to taste your food, including your spiritual food. Plan right now to spend at least 30 quiet minutes before going to bed tonight reading a chapter from the Holy Scriptures. You may wish to choose one from the following list. But regardless of which you choose, take time. Chew the words slowly, pause and ponder each major thought.
- Psalm 1
- Proverbs 5
- John 3
- Hebrews 11
- Psalm 15
- Proverbs 16
- Romans 8
- James 3
- Psalm 27
- Proverbs 31
- Philippians 4
- 1 Peter 2