Delighting in His Word

Amy Parkin encourages readers to move from obligation to joy, finding delight in Scripture as God’s voice, wisdom, and steady provision.

By Amy Parkin

Read Time: 7 minutes

In Psalm 119, the Psalmist weaves a wonderfully rich tapestry of verses about delighting in God’s word. Each verse contains a simile for the Scriptures. In the ESV, these include: law, testimonies, ways, precepts, commandments, rules, statutes, promises, and judgments.

In our reflections on this psalm, let us consider what we can learn about our own relationship with God and His Word. How and why should we establish a habit of daily Bible reading, and what does this look like in practical terms?

Begin With a Prayer

It can be so tempting to rush into Bible reading or study without first approaching God in prayer. This prayer doesn’t need to be long, but by beginning this way, we exalt God and humble ourselves. We can ask Him to guide our hearts and minds to understand the words we read, that they might bring us both wisdom and delight. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18).¹

Seeing Through God’s Eyes

What a privilege it is to be able to read God’s inspired word at any time, freely, in our own language! We know that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). No one can fully comprehend God’s thoughts, but His Word reveals who He is and how He sees us. In this current age, we don’t receive divine revelations or angelic visitations. Everything we need to know is contained in the Bible—but we have to read it to benefit from it!

In today’s world, emphasis tends to be placed on personal growth, self-improvement, personal brand, status, and wealth. Each successive generation sees fewer people believing in God and attending a place of worship. Our lives have become more inwardly focused and self-seeking. I see the way this influences my own thoughts and actions, fueled by social media and the attitudes of my friends and colleagues. Seeing God’s bigger picture, both for my life and for the world, is so much easier when I devote time to reading His Word and meditating upon it.

As society’s belief in God decreases, so does respect for His principles. The influence of Christianity on society and politics is, in some countries, still palpable, but so is the influence of a secular, humanist society and politics on Christianity. Our beliefs, choices, and actions must always be shaped by what God says, not what peers and authority figures (of any or no religion) decide is right. As the world around us strays further from God’s timeless wisdom, we must make a greater effort to fill our hearts with His perfect Word. “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” (Psalm 119:27).

Examples to Live By

God knows we like stories. They’re memorable and relatable. The faithful (and unfaithful) men and women we read about in the Bible are examples, role models, and warnings to us. They show us how—and how not—to live a life that honors God with strong faith and integrity.

Woven throughout the Old Testament, we see types of Christ, and then, in the New Testament, his birth, ministry, sacrifice, resurrection, and continued work with the apostles and the ecclesia. Reading about his example sets a high bar for us. Jesus shows us what it means to live by the words: “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!” (Psalm 119:30-31).

A Light to My Path

Through the words of Scripture, God also paints a picture of what sin is and teaches us to hate it. “The unfolding [entrance, teaching, understanding, opening] of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130). In the springtime, when the sun shines more brightly, we suddenly see all the dusty corners and spiderwebs in our homes that went unnoticed in the winter. It’s just as important to shine a light in the secret corners of our hearts. We do this by opening our hearts and minds to God’s word. Our spiritual spring cleaning involves examination, confession, repentance, and renewed determination to keep God’s commandments. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.” (Psalm 119:105-106). The best part is that, when we are filled with the light of God’s Word, we become beacons that pierce through the darkness, showing others the way to the one true God and to Jesus Christ, His Son.

All light radiates warmth, and this is true of God’s Word, too. When we find ourselves in a dark place, struggling to make sense of pain, loss, grief, or mental anguish, the warmth of God’s word brings us comfort and peace. Our “light at the end of the tunnel” is the Kingdom of God, and by meditating on our sure hope, we find strength to persevere. Without God, there is so much to be anxious about. With God, we find encouragement, perspective, and hope in a hopeless world. “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!… I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.” (Psalm 119:28, 147).

Your Law is My Delight

One of the key words in Psalm 119 is “delight,” and this wonderfully sums up the Psalmist’s attitude toward God’s word. “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches… I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil… I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.” (Psalm 119:14, 162, 174).

To meditate on God’s perfect commandments and righteous rules is to enter a state of joy, peace, reverence, and awe. These words need time and space to sink deep into our hearts and minds, and to transform us. If we are reading passively, with our emotions neutral and our hearts unstirred, we are not approaching Scripture with the right mindset. It would be better to read one verse mindfully, with an open heart, than to skim-read all three portions of the daily readings distractedly.

How Should We Read?

There is no single “right” way to read the Bible. You could choose a theme and follow it through the Bible using a concordance, or select a character or epistle to study. Preparing talks or writing magazine articles focuses our thoughts, as does studying a key doctrine or Bible concept, so that we can be better witnesses to those around us. Our older brothers and sisters can help and guide us if we are struggling to know where to start. The way we study will change depending on our mood, schedule, and season of life. What’s important is that we carve out time in our day to spend time with God, reading, praying, and meditating on His word. Doing so will make us wiser than the aged, our enemies, and even our teachers (Psalm 119:98-100).

I find it useful to have a “good, better, best” plan. “Good” is the bare minimum—a non-negotiable. “Better” would be achievable most days, and “best” is what would happen in an ideal world. My “Good” is listening to the daily readings on a Bible app. I can do this while driving, brushing my teeth, or cooking dinner. Having realized that I always found time to listen to podcasts but didn’t read the Bible every day, I figured I should, at the very least, make time to listen to the readings. Having this low bar to entry has really helped with Bible reading. It can get me out of a reading rut, and I soon find myself moving from “Good” to “Better.”

My “Better” is to set aside fifteen to twenty minutes every day to “do the readings.” Sometimes I read aloud, as this helps me focus on and connect with what I’m reading. I take in more than I would if I listened to the audio version while completing other tasks, but there is still often a lack of depth.

My “Best” is an ideal I rarely reach. It involves setting aside plenty of time to read, journal, pray, and meditate on God’s word. My “Best” is sporadic, and I go through phases of doing it a few days a week, then going months when I barely even manage my “Good” reading practice. Still, we all need a high bar to aim for. Even when we miss the mark, we nonetheless learn and grow. Complacency and apathy would be far worse.

“But I don’t have enough time.”

Parkinson’s Law states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. What this looks like for me is that I can be up and ready to leave the house in 20 minutes if I forget to set an alarm, or that this process can take 2 hours if I have nowhere to be. Unless we structure our day, create routines, and allocate a time slot for Bible reading, it probably won’t get done since other tasks will expand to fill the available time. Without self-imposed time boundaries, there is no sense of urgency or drive. We need to make time, rather than assuming we will find time.

Once we have that time boundary, we can achieve so much more than we realize. Time expands to fill both tiny moments and longer stretches. Just think about how much you manage to get done while your food is in the microwave or your coffee is brewing! It might feel pointless to bother getting your Bible out if you only have five minutes to spare, but that can feel like a long time when your mind is focused. God doesn’t need an hour, or even 15 minutes, to speak to you through His word; He will speak through a single verse if you are willing to listen.

Habit Stacking and Tracking

A new habit is easier to build and maintain when it is linked to an existing habit. For example, if you are already in the habit of brewing a morning coffee and sitting in your favorite chair to read the news, you could keep a Bible and a notebook next to your chair and commit to reading a chapter before reading the news. It helps to make the habit visible (the Bible is on a table next to the armchair) and desirable (drinking coffee in a comfortable chair while drawing near to God).

Having a time cue is also helpful. As a busy family, you might choose to make daily Bible reading a non-negotiable after your evening meal, perhaps even at exactly the same time every day. Bibles could be kept by the dinner table, and—at least while establishing the habit—you could put up a big, colorful sign, reminding you to do the readings.

Using a habit tracker to maintain a Bible-reading streak has been very useful to me. I created a “good habit” chart, and it feels like a game or a challenge to tick off my daily and weekly tasks, helping to cement each one so that it becomes second nature. According to habit expert James Clear, a good rule of thumb is never to miss two days in a row. Missing one day is an accident, but missing two days is the start of a new, bad habit!

Hear and Do

Bible reading is an essential way we can draw near to God and for Him to draw near to us. It gives our lives meaning, perspective, and hope in a way the world cannot. Whether we are listening to the readings as we drive home from work, sitting with a spouse on the porch with a coffee and an open Bible, or spending time around God’s word as a family, may we “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [ourselves].” (James 1:22). As the powerful, transformative word of God enters our hearts and minds, may it give light to us and to those around us. “I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.” (Psalm 119:112).

Amy Parkin,
Hull and Beverly Ecclesia, UK