Full

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:103‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Someone once asked me how they would know if they’ve done enough during their personal time of prayer and Bible study. It depends on what you need.

I inherited a bad habit from my father in that I drive on the last bit of gas “E” or empty or as some people call it—“fumes and a prayer”. I will pass every available gas station either to get home, find a cheaper price, or a station I prefer. This habit has extended to many aspects—the lawn mower, my cell phone, or food items. Rather than fill up when I have the chance, I gamble, if you would, with a partial or near empty supply.

My favorite author describes Bible study as a “banquet” “spread before us” where “we are invited to eat the Word of God”.[1] Given that she penned this metaphor in 1900, I imagine the banquet she describes is not the banquet of modern days, where one gets fancied up and then served enough to feed a small five-year-old! I prefer to imagine that what she intended is today’s all-you-can-eat buffet—where you pay one price and eat an endless supply of delicacies until satisfied and full!

This is my answer to the question—how much personal Bible study and prayer is enough? It depends on what one needs. I am not an expert in piety or devotion, and my spiritual journey, which I am sharing with you, has evolved over the years. Whereas it can satisfy one with a quick prayer and a Bible “verse of the day”, perhaps it is because they are functioning near capacity of their spiritual fuel tank. I, for one, need a fresh fill up each morning, thus, I start with prayer following the ACTS model (Adoration or praise for Who God is, Confession of sins, Thanksgiving for what God does, and Supplication for my needs and the needs of others). I then have a soft song to further usher me into God’s presence as I continue to pray and meditate on His Word. Friends and relatives send me various devotional readings, scriptures, or encouragement, which I add to the session. Then I conclude with a rousing song of praise and a slide show of encouraging texts and quotes. It may look like a lot or for some, not enough, but it is what I need to fill me up as I know that by the time I experience a day of tasks, trials, and temptations I am depleted and on “fumes and a prayer”.

Some may use the verse “Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)” as an excuse to “sample” the Word, as if in a grocery store. However, Christ invites us to eat of His flesh and drink His blood (John 6:55), the point being to get to know Him.

I invite you, if you are hungry, to plant yourself in a chair at the buffet of His Word and dig in, indulge, enjoy, and leave His presence—full.

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[1] Ellen G. White, Letter 132, 1900.