The prophet Jeremiah expressed his delight in God’s word by telling God, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16).
Jeremiah’s statement is compelling, particularly in light of the difficult and grievous circumstances under which he ministered. In spite of the pain and sorrow he experienced, it was the Word of God which nourished and delighted his soul.
The same should be true for every child of God, in an ever-increasing way. It is by means of His Word that God sanctifies His people (Jn. 17:17). And the more we behold the glory of God in Christ in His Word, responding to Him in faith and obedience, the more our souls will be full of true joy and satisfaction in Him. So God graciously commands us through Peter: “…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Pet. 2:2,3).
How do you learn to feed on and delight in God’s Word? Let me give some brief bullet points to encourage the nourishment of your soul in the Truth.
- Be persuaded of the absolute importance of feeding on God’s Word. Meditate on the above passages, and others such as Ps. 119:98-100.
- Make a priority of Bible reading, study, meditation, memorization, and application. Passionately follow the example of Ezra (see Ezra 7:10). Is knowing God through His Word your ultimate priority?
- Have a plan for feeding on Scripture. On a daily basis, when will you sit down to eat God’s Word? Where will you read? Do you have a plan for memorizing God’s Word? Let me suggest two excellent plans for systematically reading through Scripture, both of which you can find with a simple “Google” search:
Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System
Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
- Continually pray for God to help you see and taste His glory and goodness as you devour His Word. Passages such as Ex. 33:18; Ps. 119:18,36, 37; and Mt. 7:7-11 are great encouragements in this regard!
- Find someone to partner with you in this pursuit of devouring God’s Word. The accountability and encouragement of one or two others in this gracious discipline is a great help!
- Be devoted to putting into practice what you are learning from God’s Word. Be a doer, and not just a hearer of God’s Word, lest you deceive yourself (James 1:22-25).
- Be committed to persevering. Learning to feed on and delight in the Word of God is a Christ-exalting, Gospel-centered, faith-driven HABIT that must be cultivated! Some days you’ll do better than others. But don’t quit! If you are genuinely seeking Him with a hungry and teachable heart, He’ll meet you, feed you, and satisfy your soul with His infinite grace and truth in Christ. Press on!
Learning to trust and feed with you,
