Read: Psalm 139
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! (v. 17)
Last Easter a college student in our congregation received baptism. Before going under the waters, she shared her story. Not being raised in a Christian home and with only a vague understanding of the church, she somehow found herself at a Christian college. By the end of her first year she was curious enough to buy a Bible. Someone suggested she begin with Psalm 139. “I could not make it twenty seconds without crying,” she said. Every phrase drew her deeper into weeping joy.
Oh, that all of us would find such life-giving joy in the Bible! I am convinced we can. As the calendar turns to a new year, many resolve to read the Bible more. How can we build that habit? The discipline of Bible reading begins with delight: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” (v. 17). Psalm 1 describes the blessed person as one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water” (Ps. 1:2-3).
Try to begin with the posture of delight as you approach God’s Word. Allow your curiosity to curate taste buds that savor every verse as if Jesus himself were right with you, revealing more of God’s glorious grace. If you begin with delight, you will find so much more. “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10).
As you pray, thank God for his Word.
About the Author
Rev. Jon Opgenorth serves as president of Words of Hope. Previously, he served for 18 years as senior pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. In preparation for ministry, he received a BA in Religion from Northwestern College, and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary.
