Have you ever eaten kale? I know it is good for my body, but I must say, it takes work to get this stuff down the shoot. Each bite must be chewed…and chewed…and chewed… until the tough leaves have been broken up enough to swallow. It’s the sort of the thing where you have to trust that in the long run, these big bites of kale are going to have some tangible health benefits. But as you’re chewing in the moment, let’s be honest, it is a total act of faith. Reading God’s Word, in some ways, can feel like that too.
Reading the Word
If you’re anything like me, as you chew and chew and chew on God’s Word, you wonder, Is this really making any difference? God, are you here in these words?
One of my favorite verses of encouragement in this area comes from Joshua 1:9,
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Basically, God is telling Joshua—who is filling the shoes of Moses—to chew and chew and chew on God’s Word, trusting that over time it will be what helps him to live a life that counts and honors God.
So how can we set a regular rhythm of chewing on God’s Word?
Meditating on God’s Word this Advent Season
What is Advent? For hundreds of years, devout Christians have observed the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day as a special time to prepare their hearts, but these practices have changed over time and place.
The first mention of Advent is found in ancient writings dating back to the sixth century, with some anecdotal mentions as early as AD 380 at the Spanish Council of Saragossa. So not only is it an old Christian practice, but it’s also a very personal one, as churches have adapted the practice to suit their local parishes.
So while there’s no authoritative guide to Advent, one commonality in the ways churches have practiced the observance of Advent throughout history is by reading certain passages of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus coming into the world. While we often read these passages and move on, perhaps too quickly, I am suggesting we work into our days a slower, meditative practice this Advent.
Joshua tells us to meditate, as does the psalmist who said with great passion: “O how I love your law. I meditate on it all day long” (119:97). To the modern reader, the idea of slow meditation may need some defense. Yet this kind of praying goes very deep down into our being and enables the life-giving presence of God to spring up in the midst of our busy everyday lives. Meditation enables God’s words to get off the page and into our hearts.
Here is a very simply four-step meditative practice you may like to try in the coming weeks, called Lectio Devina:
- Read. Choose a short passage of Scripture and read it several times slowly. For Advent, I recommend:
For a more comprehensive list of Advent readings and why they are important, see this article here.
2. Meditate. This is where we use our minds and our hearts to ruminate, or chew, on God’s Words. The digestive process begins, slowly chewing and allowing the Holy Spirit to nourish our souls through the process. Pay attention to what words and phrases stand out.
3. Pray. Now take what has been given to you in the time of meditation and go to God in prayer and pour out your heart in openness and intimacy with our Father.
4. Ponder. This is where we might sit for several minutes in silence, reveling in God’s presence and waiting to see if there is anything He wants to drops into the ears of our hearts. Is there an action to take? A person to contact? A thought to take into our day? When we wait long enough, we’ll be surprised by the divine messages that come.
If you would like a more in depth description of the meditation practice for yourself or to share with others, you can download for free here:
Benefits to Chewing on God’s Word
Just like eating a daily salad of raw kale doesn’t produce immediate health benefits, neither does a daily dose of God’s Word produce immediate spiritual benefits. However, meditation really is not about getting something from the Scriptures, but giving the Lord time to help us understand Him and the meaning of his Word better. It means being open to the Spirit and attentive to Jesus and what He may be leading us to discover. I am convinced, and I hope you are too, that if we keep at it, committing our hearts and minds to the task of regular chewing, we will begin to have a greater sense of the love of God for us and for our world. I can think of a better and more needed gift this year, can you?
Happy chewing and happy holidays as you bask in the many treasures of Truth in God’s Word this Advent season.
Need a Plan and Some Accountability?
If you’re like me, you need some help prioritizing your busy schedule so you can actually make time for God. Accountability is also helpful if we want to stick to anything good in our lives, right? That is where life coaching can come in. Together, we can sift through your many commitments and choose the top few to zero in on, set goals and set up accountability structures that will set you up for success in keeping to what you say you’re going to do–and what your soul needs you to do! Book a free consult and let’s chat about it.