“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight…” (Jer. 15:16, NIV).
Have you discovered the delight to be found in the words that flow from God’s heart?
It’s okay if you haven’t yet. We all go through seasons when reading the Bible can feel like drudgery. I was just talking to my thirteen-year-old son about this the other day. He was transparently sharing that his attempts at keeping up a devotional habit were feeling empty. I assured him that he is not alone. This is a normal part of spiritual development.
I also assured him that if he keeps at it, he is going to come into some deep, deep treasures. Treasures worth giving up everything else to obtain them. Treasures worth the sacrifices of pushing through the dry seasons.
Jeremiah discovered this reality. He pushed through the difficult places. In doing so, he grew up in God to the point where His words had become his “joy and heart’s delight.” This is not just poetic. It’s not just a carrot swinging in front of our nose to keep us pulling the proverbial cart of spiritual duty. It’s a real place that we can get to, if we don’t give up.
I will share with you from experience, if you push through, that carrot is going to be yours. God cannot lie. He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. You will be rewarded with more and more of Him. This is the way He has set up reality.
To keep us from becoming discouraged on our quest, there’s something we need to remember. Even Jesus went through a dry season. He survived forty days in the desert with no food. How did He do that? How did He make it through the buffeting of temptation that tried to take Him out, at His weakest point? He came through victorious because He deeply understood this truth: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4, NKJV).
I want to encourage you today, whether or not you feel anything when you read the Bible, it is nourishing you. It is strengthening you. It is feeding your spirit. It is making you more alive than you ever were before.
And it will never, ever “get old.” Even if you read the same verse ten thousand times, you still need to read it again. Slowly and carefully. Those words are not just black marks on a page. They are not just printed syllables. They are living. They are Spirit. They are life. They are eternity.
What do I mean by that? Think about it. As we learn from the first chapter of John, Jesus is the Word. He is God’s communication to us. The more we dive into the communication that flows to us from God’s heart, the deeper we go into the depths of Jesus.
Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is alive. We don’t want to let even the tiniest nuance slip by us, unnoticed. So we read hungrily, eagerly. We want to be like Jeremiah and eat God’s words when they come. Devour them. Masticate them so thoroughly that we get every possible bit of nourishment out of them.
Jesus, the Living Word, is infinite. How, then, can you fit infinity into a single human word? Take this verse for example: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). How much meaning is in this verse? An infinite amount! Imagine these three words manifested as a body of water. If you saw it from afar, you might think it was a small pool, maybe even a puddle. But as you get closer and then step into it, you realize that it’s an exquisite, breathtaking well with no bottom. You dive in deep, and realize that it literally has no end. Without exaggeration, you will need the entire rest of your earthly life to delve into all of its depths, and that won’t be nearly enough. Go ahead and acknowledge it: you will need all of eternity to continue to explore this glorious, life giving water.
That’s how every verse is, from Genesis to Revelation. In truth, everything in the Bible seems understated. This is because human language, on its own, is not adequate to express the fullness of God. As we study the Scriptures, we need His Spirit to breathe on His logos (written word), filling our spirits to overflowing with His revelation.
Holy Spirit pours Himself into our spirits as we engage with the Bible. Far surpassing what any descriptive adjective or adverb could do for us, He envelopes us in His unending ocean of living water. We begin to discover that every word, every verse, every phrase, has infinite depths awaiting further exploration, experience, and discovery.
If you have not yet encountered this stage of exquisite delight, you will, if you don’t give up. Never tire of diving deeper, and deeper, and deeper into what He will reveal to you as you thirst for more of Him!
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Is there a particular Scripture that Holy Spirit has been bringing you back to again and again, taking you deeper into the depths of its truth? If so, which one?
Feeding On Jesus 
Amen!
I so liked reading this article and following your metaphors, my sister.
For me, one of the deepest and richest scriptures is
John 8:32
And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
This passage has been a well of wisdom and revelations for me ant has been taking me deeper and higher on my journey from within the depths of the kingdom of darkness into GOD’s truth and light, and I keep remembering it when another layer of the veil has been lifted off my mind, another scale has fallen from my eyes – initiated by the teachings of THE HOLY SPIRIT… and it is true, it comes by reading HIS word over and over again that it gets richer, more and more real and deeper!
GOD bless you my sister and thank you for describing the process and thus helping those who are stuck or perhaps new to it – I pray that HE will reward you abundantly for your work in his vineyard. In JESUS’ name! Amen.
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Thank you so much, Eva! Your journey deeper and deeper into His truth sounds amazing beyond proper expression! I rejoice with you for all His goodness and extravagant generosity, sharing His heart with you! Thank you also for the encouragement and blessing, which I gratefully receive 🙂 ❤ 🙂
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I continue to be amazed at how a verse or passage I have read many times will suddenly open up with new meaning. Thanks for this post.
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It really is astounding, isn’t it? You are welcome! And thank you so much for taking the time to share your thought 🙂 🙂
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I can relate with attempts to be an example to a teenager. I too, struggled when I was first venturing to sit, read, pray and meditate on His word. I began to take my queues from natural cycles of expansion and contraction, light to dark and back, breathing. Respiration, aspiration, and inspiration. Periods deluge and drought. The seasons in the higher latitudes of the United States, where this year we experienced record cold and in anticipation of the bursting forth of the inevitable new growth of a glorious spring. His Love abounds and we are surrounded by it if we are blessed with the “eyes” to see. I can with His help, endure.
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That is extremely profound and beautiful, my brother. I am convinced, too, that our Daddy God set up His physical creation to point us to spiritual realities. How wonderful that He has trained you to be sensitive to those parallels and cues! Thank you, truly, for sharing 🙂
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It’s right before us if we merely wish to seek the Truth and as you suggest beyond human language
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Yes and amen! There are so many riches all around, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed in Him! 🙂
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Couldn’t agree more about a passage never getting old, even if we’ve read it those ten thousand times. Our ability to receive the message a verse contains depends in part on our state of mind at the moment and what’s going on in our lives. When a life situation changes, whether good or bad, the same verse will contain an entirely new message for us, and relevant to our lives at that time.
Having just done a sermon on it, the Prodigal Son parable came to mind quickly. With His help, I focused on the truth that, no matter how grievous the sin, if we approach God with complete humility and sorrow for our actions, we can come home again. No matter what. And we must find the prodigal sons (and daughters) in our lives, and make sure they know that He awaits. — Mike
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That’s such a good point, Mike. His Word will shed light in different ways entirely relevant to the changing seasons of our lives. And how amazing that the same verse could have so much meaning for entirely different contexts, times, and circumstances!
The Prodigal Son is an exceedingly precious passage, and yes, one of those that keeps unfolding in new and beautiful ways as the years go by! I love the beautiful truth that you focused on. 🙂
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Jennifer, I echo your thoughts about God’s word frequently as I encourage people to read the Book that is unlike any other. God’s word, as Hebrews 4:12 tells us is living and active. No other book can back up that claim like the Scriptures, but we must take it in to reap the spiritual benefits that await.
I love how Holy Spirit will take one of those verses I’ve read so many times and show me something I hadn’t seen in it before. I believe He does this in order that I keep on encouraging folks to experience it too!
Blessings,
Chuck
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That really is such an amazing experience! And it happens over and over again! Yes, no doubt that you would continue to encourage others to seek Him deeper, but also just because He loves you so very much and is rewarding your seeking with more of Him! 🙂
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Every time I read your message, it is just what I was going through that day. God is so good! Thank you! I hunger to learn as much as I can from the Bible but struggle getting the meaning so many times. However, since Ash Wednesday, I have spent time with one book and have read the living Bible version and it has opened my eyes in understanding more than I can say. Thank you Jennifer!
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That is so special, Karen! I rejoice with you for such riches! Sending a big, joyful hug 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to share that! ❤
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The 23rd Psalm is my absolute favorite. And when I’m sick and in a scared place like I was this past month, it never stops offering comfort.
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I am so with you on that, Debi Sue! It really is absolutely beautiful and healing. No wonder it’s a favorite for so many people! I’m deeply glad it has helped you through those very difficult times. Sending you much love in Him ❤
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Thank you for the beautiful OCEAN image and your insights. Journeying deeper and deeper. Thank God the Word is alive, it can continue to speak again and again to hearts and lives hungry to KNOW and LOVE HIM more profoundly.
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Yes! To know Him, the Living Word — as He is infinite, there is always more glory to experience and enjoy in Him! It takes my breath away! ❤
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Thank you Jennifer for sharing the Word and your testament. Right now, I have been in a study exploring the deepness of the Book of Romans. Without a doubt, I can swim forever and never fully grasp Apostle Paul’s writing, but I will keep following the water’s current to see where it takes me.
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Wow, yes. Romans has an immense, immeasurable amount of depths to it, that is absolutely for sure! I could swim forever in just chapter 8! Or a verse or two thereof!!
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