Today's Daily Bread
Digesting The Word
King James is famous for the Bible translation that bears his name.
But around the same time as the printing of the Bible, he also
commissioned The Book of Common Prayer. Still used today, this
guide to intercession and worship contains a marvelous prayer for
internalizing the Bible: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy
Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may . . . hear
them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and
comfort of [Your] holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the
blessed hope of everlasting life.”
Many centuries earlier, Jeremiah the prophet expressed a similar way
of letting the Scriptures nourish our hearts: “Your words were found,
and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my
heart: for I am called by Your name, O Lord
God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). We internalize the Word as we “read, mark,
learn, and inwardly digest” a passage of Scripture through prayerful
meditation.
Ask the Lord to help you apply the Bible to your heart today. Take
time to ponder the meat and milk of the Word (Heb. 5:12). As you quiet
your heart, God will teach you about Himself through His Book.
Lord, I meditate on Your precepts and contemplate
Your ways. I delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your Word. Open my eyes that
I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Your ways. I delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your Word. Open my eyes that
I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. —Bacon
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