Savor the Presence of God

When eating something I really like, I like to devour it really quickly. My wife Kathy, however, likes to take her time savoring what she likes, especially dark chocolate. Today, I took her advice and savored one of my favorites, a Ghirardelli’s dark chocolate with raspberry filling. Instead of chomping it down in two bites, I ate it one small bite at a time. Oh, was that heavenly! And heaven lasted so much longer! I think I will eat like that from now on.

I sometimes tend to do my devotion and meditation times like I eat—it is really good and so I do it quickly. I am learning to take more time savoring the Word of God and His Presence. When you savor it, it is so much richer, so much sweeter, and the heavenly flavor of God lingers so much longer.

I think “savor” is a good expressive word for biblical meditation. Consider how many Scriptures portray the image of enjoying the Word of God like feasting on delicious food:

• Taste and see that the Lord is good”—Psalm 34:8

• How sweet are Your words to my taste!
  Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!—Psalm 119:103

• The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
  The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
  The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
  The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
  Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.—Psalm 19:7-10

• “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.—Matthew 6:4

• Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.—Ezekiel 3:1-3

Charles Spurgeon wrote of Scripture bringing joy to his life in his times of depression as he let the Word of God melt in his mouth as he confessed and mulled over it repeatedly: “I find that if I can lay a promise under my tongue, like a sweet lozenge, and keep it in my mouth or mind all day long, I am happy enough.”

What is your favorite food? I encourage you to hunger for God and His Word like you do for your favorite food. Repeat these Scriptures above. Let them linger in your mouth just a little longer. Savor the Presence of God and enjoy a little bit of heaven on earth.