"How sweet are your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Ps 119:103
Growing up, I remember that there was always, always, dessert after dinner. My mom would come up with a creative presentation on a nightly basis, whether it was jello with whipped cream, or hot apple pie with cheese melted on top! It didn’t matter what was on the menu for the main course; my sisters and I would always ask, “What’s for dessert?” as my mom prepared whatever we were going to eat. Sometimes, if we were in the kitchen at just the right moment, we even got to sample what was coming out of the oven. One of my favorites was the little leftover pieces of pie crust that she would sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake until crisp. I loved those delicious treats! It makes my mouth water, just thinking of them now! Knowing that there was dessert on the menu made meal times an adventure; especially when the main course was something less than appealing (like liver and onions, ugh!).
As I’ve learned to savor God’s presence in my quiet times, I’ve come to see His words to me as those sweet and savory treats from my childhood. I look forward to the flavors that I will uncover as I read and pray and listen for His voice. It doesn’t matter what’s on the menu, I can always find the sweetness hidden in even the heaviest courses.
Just like the reward of that delicious dessert after dinner, we can savor the truths that come out of every word of God. This is what I do: as I read I look for a word that stirs my spirit; a word that jumps off the page to me. I set that word aside, saving room for more of it after I’ve finished reading the Scripture God has given me that day. When I’m ready, I go back to that word and I explore the meaning, the context, and the images that it produces in my mind. I write about everything I see. I ask God to show me how He wants that word to transform me, and I listen for His thoughts on the subject. Or maybe I’ll take the whole verse of Scripture surrounding that word and decorate it with sprinkles of color, imagery and personal art. As I use my imagination to “see” the verse artistically, I can savor the sweetness of its truth for my own life.
As you seek to find the flavor of God in your journey with Him, try saving room for the “dessert” of His word. You’ll find that it’s sweeter than honey!