I took a moment early this morning to catch the weather and watch the
news. In light of all that made the headlines, it's not difficult to end
up grieved over the condition of this world and the state of affairs it
is in, amen? Then when I opened my Bible I thought about how important
it is that we maintain a quiet time with the Lord in these perilous times.
Sometimes when the cares of this life are heaped upon you daily, you just
can't go on without some good news, nor should we! Oftentimes though,
we just get so busy we lose sight of the importance of drawing nigh to
God.
It reminds me of how once in awhile I'll just grab a pop-tart in the morning
to have with my coffee so I can dive right into my day, eating automatically
without really tasting it. Ever done that? I wonder if that is how we
are when it comes to our quiet time with the Lord? Do we treat those verses
we're reading as "spiritual pop-tarts", gobbling them up without really
tasting them? Usually when you gobble, you hinder your digestion....
Let's look at Proverbs 22:17-21 today which really convicted me of my
attitude toward the Word of God when it is open before me....
Verse 17:
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart
unto my knowledge.
In the first four words of this portion of scripture, I notice that I
need to place myself in the proper position to hear the Word of God. A
"pause" position, not a "fast-forward" position! Not only a pause position,
but a lowly position, with heart bent on listening to the still, small
voice of the Holy Spirit. When I get that part right, I can HEAR from
God. Pop-tarts can be eaten on the run but the Word of God cannot! Are
you bowing down your ear today?
"...and hear the words of the wise...."
This sounds like a call for alert concentration and disciplined listening!
Ladies, that means you and I can't let our minds wander onto other topics
of the day that we need to take care of! Not easy to do, is it? That's
precisely why I like to grab for a pop-tart because eating it doesn't
require a whole lot of concentration... I don't have to think about using
a knife and fork to cut it, I don't have to use a spoon to eat it and
watch out for dribbling, I can just shove it in and do something else
at the same time! However, you and I can't do that when it comes to hearing
the Word of God. We can't read the Bible and think about home schooling,
the laundry that's piling up, what to make for dinner, babies diapers
that need changing or even make out the grocery list. We must block out
everything and focus completely on the Word and discipline ourselves to
stay focused upon it, regardless of the inevitable duties that lie before
us.
"...and apply thine heart unto MY knowledge."
Can you see that the heart is being starved when we treat those verses
in scripture as "spiritual pop-tarts"? True, our eyes are full as they
scan the pages of our Bibles, but our hearts remain empty and hungry for
nutrition when we hurry to eat. Therefore, we must place ourselves in
a listening position and concentrate on God's Word so that it travels
down deep into our hearts! How sad to think that you sat yourself down
and gobbled up those Bible verses, yet it's nourishment never reached
your heart, thereby hindering the complete digestion of the Word of God!
You'll know when truth has reached your heart by the strength that it
will bring you... How's your heart doing today, dear lady?
Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the
joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God
of hosts.
When I have eaten my pop-tart and am full, I feel better. I am satisfied
- temporarily. But look what happens when we properly digest the Word
of God as seen in verse 18 of Proverbs 22....
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal
be fitted in thy lips.
Didn't that verse say it's a PLEASANT thing if we keep God's Word WITHIN
us? No other words can bring such healthy results or rich satisfaction
into our lives! Hence, it is our responsibility to faithfully and properly
feed ourselves, making sure we chew every little bite of scripture carefully
and THEN swallow it so that we can keep it down. Certainly there is no
opportunity for indigestion when the correct process of eating takes place,
amen?
Isn't it true that we don't always want to chew or swallow what we come
across in our Bible reading? Those are the times when we tend to spit
out the bitter taste of conviction, yet pleasant consequences await us
when we internalize wisdom's truths! Only then will we abide full and
satisfied! It's more than just a temporary filling as with my pop-tart...
That's why I despise these new "one-minute" devotion-type books that are
being published today! They do more damage than good by encouraging God's
people in "pop-tart" Bible reading, as if the Holy Spirit would speak
to us when we squeeze Him into the space of 60 seconds! Hurry is not of
the devil - it IS the devil and He has tricked many of God's people into
thinking a spiritual pop-tart is a real meal! Christians move through
life in such a distracted way that we do not even take the time to discover
if any of the things we think, say, or do are worth thinking, saying,
or doing as far as God is concerned!
Psalm 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god....
Proper digestion of the Word of God brings stability and endurance to
our lives that one minute of Bible reading can never bring about! This
therefore, is our motivation for listening reverently and intently to
the Word when it is open before us. Spiritual health will then be clearly
evident in our lives....
"....they shall withal be fitted in thy lips."
Be careful now, for your lips will give away whether or not you have eaten
of and properly digested the Word of God! Would you say the words fitted
within your lips are wise ones?
Proverbs 8:6
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips
shall be right things.
I hope you haven't reduced your intake of spiritual food, for it will
definitely show up in your conversations.... You see, when you go on a
physical diet, you lose weight, but when you go on a spiritual diet, you
lose wisdom! None of us can afford to do that, amen?
Proverbs 3:21-23
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt
thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
If you've been stumbling around spiritually, you are lacking godly nutrition!
There are many nutritive qualities to God's wisdom - it's a tonic to our
soul! Once you have internalized the scriptures and it's nourishment has
reached your heart and strengthened it, your trust in the Lord will grow!
Proverbs 22:19 says
That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day,
even to thee.
It is far too easy to trust in our own understanding, is it not? That's
why the Lord gave us Proverbs 3:5 & 6! You will fall into that human trap
of leaning upon your own wisdom if you don't internalize the wisdom of
God and let it reach your heart. Don't be in such a hurry; allow time
for absorption! People in a hurry cannot think, cannot grow... We need
to eat with the intent of causing our trust in God to increase, not just
to get the "meal" over with!
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Let's finish up by looking at verses 20 and 21:
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth…
Ladies, the Lord has given to us the CERTAINTY of the Words of truth!
What an elaborate feast - much better than a pop-tart, amen?! Have you
ever been questioned by someone about a particular matter? Let's say for
example, your friend asks you for directions to the nearest Wal-mart and
you explain them to her. Afterwards she says, "Are you sure this is the
way?" You answer, "Yes, I've traveled that route before and I am certain!"
So it is with the Word of God! When you closely follow the wisdom found
in God's Word, you will become CERTAIN of it's truth and it will increase
your ability to share it confidently with others. It puts meat on your
bones! God will then be able to send people your way for the purpose shown
in verse 21,
"....that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto
thee."
You never know when you are going to have to share your food with a hungry
person, so you had better stock up on more than just pop-tarts! I hope
that each of you ladies has had a substantial meal today in your quiet
time with the Lord. If not - go back, sit down and prepare yourself a
decent devotion! Take the necessary time to enjoy both the flavor and
benefit of truth.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2002
