Feasting on God’s Word

Every single day I eat. And it seems like 3-4 hours after I eat, I’m hungry again. Even as I sit here now writing this blog, my stomach is protesting in hunger reminding me that it is soon time to replenish again.  This hunger is a good thing for nutritional food is a good gift from a good God that helps fuel our bodies so that we would flourish. It is what causes us to grow when we are children; it is what gives our bodies energy to be active and work; it helps our minds think and be creative; it gives strength and nutrition so that our bodies can fight off harmful viruses and bacteria.  And the hunger pangs that come with regular consistency remind us of our need to consistently refuel our bodies.

But what about our spiritual “bodies”? The chaos and confusion mixed with the isolation and grief of this past year has awakened me to significant spiritual hunger pangs. Hunger pangs that need to be paid attention to and if neglected can result in spiritual starvation. And I wonder if this is true for you as well!

There is a way to satisfy those hunger pangs that is both nutritional and great tasting. Did you know that Bible study is a feast that has been prepared for you by the Lord God Himself with the invitation to come in and dine and be satisfied? Look at these verses that speak of God’s Word as food:

 “And He [the LORD] humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3). 

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Ps.119:103).

“Know that wisdom is sweet for your soul” (Prov. 24.14).

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). 

“‘Son of man’, he said to me, 'eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you’” (Ezekiel 3:3).

God’s Word is food for the soul. It is food that is intended to nourish the spiritual person, strengthen us to endure, destroy the sin in our lives so that we become more like Christ. It is healthy food and it is tasty food. Where else can you find health and delicious food but the Word of God?

So if the Bible is delicious and nourishing food for our souls, why do we so often neglect to eat from it? Why do we not taste the sweetness? Or why does it sometimes seem to not be satisfying? 

How ought we to feast on the Word of God? Just like our physical bodies need us to eat with regularity every day to keep us in optimum health, give us strength to persevere throughout the day, and fight off sicknesses, so the spiritual body requires daily spiritual food to sustain and cause us to grow and flourish. 

1. Slow Down. We can get caught up in reading just for reading sake. We can rush through a passage without giving barely a thought to what is being said. Here are some tips to help you slow down and pay attention to what you are reading:

*As you read take note of the repeated words and phrases. Underline or circle them. Ask yourself what is significant about the repetition.

* Look up words in the dictionary. Yes, even familiar words! Rewrite the passage using the dictionary meaning.

* What comes before the passage? What comes after? Why did the author include this in his account? Why did he place it here? What is the author communicating to the original audience? What does this passage reveal about God?

2. Savor the flavor. God's Word is not just good nutritional food. It is food that is intended to be savored. Turn these words over in your mind and notice all the flavors. Pay attention to the details-notice the seasonings. Marinate in the flavor of the Word. Some excellent ways to do this are through journaling as you read, praying the Word back to God, and "conferencing" the Word with others. "Conferencing" is when two or more people get together on a regular basis to talk about a particular passage of Scripture. It is a beautiful practice that helps each person savor new and different flavors that they discover in God’s Word!

3. Swallow the Word. Finally, after slowly savoring God's Word, we must swallow it. In order for the Word to have effect in our lives, it must get in us.  God's Word is what changes us. It brings dead people to life; it brings light into our darkness. Through God's Word, God's Spirit conforms us into the image of Jesus Christ. Through God's Word, the Spirit convicts us, comforts us, fills us with wisdom and the knowledge of God, with love, joy, peace, and with the fullness of God himself. But not if we don't swallow it! To swallow the Word is to submit to the Word. It is to obey the Word.  

It is my prayer that you will continuously feast on the rich and satisfying Word of God by slowing down, savoring, and swallowing His Word! May His Word fill you and satisfy you! 

____________________________

Rooted in the Word:

Spend some time meditating and journaling on Deuteronomy 8:3, Psalm 119:103; Prov. 24:14; Jeremiah 15:16, Ezekiel 3:3.

Pondering the Word:

• Have you thought of God’s Word as the life-giving, essential food for your soul?
• How conscious are you of what and how much you eat to nourish your physical body? How conscious are you of what and how much you eat to nourish your spiritual body?  What are you more conscious of caring for: your physical self or your spiritual self? Why?
• What steps will you take to incorporate an intentional feasting on God’s Word so that your spiritual body consistently receives the life-giving nourishment it needs? 

Praying the Word:

Spend some time asking your Heavenly Father to fill you with the food of His Word.