Writing God’s Word on Your Heart

Aug 25 2022 - Adam Seitz

RING RING RING!!! The shrill and piercing sound of the alarm clock now awakens us with the start of school, and a much earlier start to the day than we had all summer. And, if we are honest, the alarm clock doesn’t just wake us up to start a new day. No, the alarm clock awakens our mind to worries of the world. Worries that are both big and small:  

• Will the kids get up easily today? 
• Did they finish all their homework? 
• What will we make for breakfast?
• Will my child forgive me for what I said yesterday? 
• My daughter is struggling with suicidal thoughts, will today be any better? 
• My husband and I can’t stop fighting, how can we find peace and love again? 
• There is never enough to make it through a month, how will I provide for my family if things get worse? 
• My spouse has cancer, how will we get through this? How will I live without them? 
• My dad just died, there is so much I wanted to tell him… 

The worries of this world have a way of intruding into our thoughts from the minute we open our eyes until the minute we lay down our head. And, in rare moments of honesty we might even admit that these worries crowd out any thoughts of love, praise, and admiration for Jesus that should otherwise occupy our mind. 

Running counter to these thoughts that tear us away from Christ is the instruction in the very first Psalm. Psalm 1 is one of the “wisdom” psalms and it gives us understanding and instruction on how to live. Importantly, Psalm 1 gives us instructions on where our thoughts should focus from the time we rise until the time we lay down.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Note how Psalm 1 starts with a promised blessing for the man or woman whose “delight is in the law [or the word] of the Lord.” A blessing! From God himself! But what does delighting in the word of the Lord look like? How do we do this? Luckily, the psalmist does not hide the answer from us. Verse 2 plainly tells us that you delight in the word of the Lord when you “meditate day and night” on it. God is telling us here that we will be blessed–we will be joyful people regardless of circumstances–when our thoughts are consumed with God and scripture from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep. 

You’re probably wondering “how can I possibly do this, my relationship with God isn’t anything like that!” The answer is simple–make it a priority to read your Bible! Make it a priority to learn God’s word! You can’t meditate on scripture, or think of God morning and night, if you don’t know His Word. Because when you really know the God of the Bible, then you will really, really love Him. And when you really love him, you will DELIGHT to spend time with Him and meditate on His word! 

Here is where I plead with you to read your Bible, memorize verses, and do whatever you can to teach yourself more about the Bible. Unless you spend time in scripture, unless it begins to be cemented into your mind, you won’t delight in it day and night. The importance here cannot be overstated–God’s Word in the Bible is the basis for your hearing from God. The depth, certainty, and strength of your walk with God rises and falls on whether you read and understand the Bible. How can you possibly hope to love someone if you never take the time to know more about them?  

For those who are interested in learning more about the Bible, Grace has many opportunities for you to “Grow.” Group Link is this weekend at each of the campuses where you can check out and sign up for a Grace Group and/or several different Bible studies. All of these offerings will offer time in God’s Word and they all also offer the benefit of learning the Word in authentic Christian community where you can love God and love others at the same time! Take a step (or take a couple) and invest your time where it counts for eternity.

One last thought. If you have read this post and feel regret, shame, or remorse for not talking to God lately, or for not picking up the Bible in too long, then take heart in this encouragement from another book in the Psalms:

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. AS a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:8-14. 

Oh what a beautiful and kind God we serve!