Slow Down and Feed Your Spirit

Throughout Psalms (and in Habakkuk), in some Bible translations, we see after certain verses the word selah, which means “pause, and calmly think of that.” We see it in today’s scripture and also in Psalm 87:6. This phrase lets us, as readers, know that we have reached a good place to stop, consider, and slowly digest the meaning of what we have just read. We may take time to pray or meditate on the verse or passage we have read, or we may think about how it applies to our lives or a certain situation.

Jeremiah writes about stopping to feed on and digest the words of God. He says, Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart (Jeremiah 15:16 AMP). To use a figure of speech, we need to “chew” on the scriptures, rehearsing specific words or phrases in our minds and taking time to think about and process them.

Sometimes, we read the Bible for quantity, hoping to get through a certain number of chapters or pages, when we should read for quality. Whatever passage you are reading, let me encourage you to read in a manner that allows the Word to go down into your innermost being and feed your spirit.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I honor Your Word, and I ask You to help me take my time as I read it, so it will affect the deepest parts of me.