By: Donna Bucher
“Your words were
found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”
My heritage is Italian; my paternal grandfather came
over from Italy a trained chef and had his own restaurant near where I grew up.
My Dad, a fabulous cook, taught my mother to cook after they were married.
My brother likewise is a trained chef, and whenever we
get together, we talk non-stop about food! My three children enjoy cooking and
of course the kitchen is a haven for me.
Naturally, the best part of all the cooking is the
eating!
Whether you love cooking as much as I do, or prefer
spending your time outside the kitchen, you still eat! And most of us enjoy a
good meal, prepared with love and beautifully presented.
A
Feast of Words
Of course, we can feast on many things. We can feast
our eyes on something beautiful, feast our ears with pleasant music,
even feast on shopping and entertainment.
But have you ever feasted on God’s Word?
At the beginning of every year, before I start a Bible
reading plan, I read Psalm 119 aloud. As a personal prayer for God to open my
eyes to his Word, give me understanding of his law and commit my heart to
savor, love and obey his Word in the coming year.
In the same way I enjoy and savor my food, I desire to indulge
in God’s Word regularly. Job, in the midst of his suffering proclaimed he
treasured the words of God more than his necessary food. (Job 23:12).
And the writer of Psalm 119 found God’s Words sweet:
“How sweet
are your words to my taste, sweeter than
honey to my mouth!”
Venite a Mangiare
In Italy, venite
a mangiare, “Come [to the table] and eat, offers an invitation for all to come,
enjoy, linger and be filled. Italian families never eat in a hurry!
God offers an
open invitation daily for you to feast on his word and be filled with joy and
delight. His Word has all you need for your day, and more.
Depending on your
season of life, an extended time in daily Bible reading may prove difficult. Or
perhaps as a new Christian, the Bible presents unfamiliar territory and you feel
uncertain about starting.
Over the next few
weeks, I will share helps for incorporating a regular time of Bible reading
into your schedule. Today, I leave you with a few easy ways to add or improve
your Bible time.
Choose a convenient time.
Get up before the
rest of the family.
Over breakfast:
include your spouse or children!
Driving: errands,
work commute. Listen to the Bible in an app
On your lunch
break.
Listen in a Bible
app while doing chores.
While on a
walk-imagine the physical, emotional AND spiritual benefits!
While taking a
bath.
Last thing before
bed.
Involve
a Friend.
Find a friend or even your spouse and agree to text
daily one small thing you learned or a verse you found meaningful. No
theological discussions, just sharing a morsel with a friend.
Vary
How You Read.
Both You Version and Dwell Bible apps have audio
devotionals and the entire Bible as audio. Instead of reading from a hard copy
of the Bible, try listening to someone else read.
This can be fun with friends or family too. Take turns
reading passages.
Change
Places.
For some, cozying up in their favorite spot every day
brings peace and focus. But for others it can feel boring or tiresome. Change
it up! Read outside, in your favorite coffee shop or the lobby of a fancy
hotel!
Keep
it Simple.
Avoid a rigid schedule, especially if you have small
children or demands outside the home. Remain flexible with the time you choose
to read, how much time you spend reading and how much Bible you choose to read.
Remember, Bible reading is spending time with God,
listening to him, learning from him and loving him. Imposing rigid schedules
and reading requirements becomes distracting, reducing this precious time to a
mere item crossed off your To Do list.
Finding God’s words and savoring them becomes your joy
and delight when you make time to come to the table and enjoy all God has
lovingly prepared for you!
Find more encouragement and FREE Resources at Serenity in Suffering!
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I loved the Italian saying - "Come to the table and eat!" It is at the table that we can linger and savor. And this is the invite Jesus extends to us each day. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne, the saying truly holds more than the "come and get it" idea. Because Italians esteem eating together as truly connecting in oneness. It is an honor to share a meal together for them and so much love is shared. I view that the same as God inviting us to come and dine with him each day!
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