Introduction
The purpose of "Staying on the Path" is to encourage believers to prayerfully read and ponder the Word of God. I urge you to ask the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and show you His truth. These are not "daily" devotionals. You may need to ponder the same scripture for several days. You will also want to read the scriptures surrounding the passage as well as other connected scriptures. Most Bibles have additional references in the margins*.
After prayerfully pondering the scripture, jot down your thoughts and what the Holy Spirit reveals to you from the passage Then perhaps you will like to read the thoughts I have included on that passage. It is my prayer that I have adequately shared some insights from the Lord that will be helpful to others.
Just always remember that it is the Word that is important and unchangeable. My thoughts and your thoughts are fallible. Let us always focus on what God teaches. It is the Truth that never changes, providing a solid foundation on which to build our lives.
*God's Word is truth and will not contradict itself. For that reason it is good to look for other scriptures that verify your understanding of a verse or passage. Most important of all, always ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God's message to you as you read, study and ponder..
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. II Timothy 3:16 (KJV, NKJV)
In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psalm 62:7 (NKJV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 (NIV)
Some thoughts on pondering the Word
Psalm 1 states that the Godly man delights in the law of the Lord and "in His law he meditates day and night." This is just one of many references in the Word that exhorts us to ponder, study and meditate on the Word.
To ponder: to consider, contemplate, study, think out or think over. To examine closely. To meditate, reflect, and think.
How to Ponder
* Pray before you read: pray for spiritual growth, wisdom and understanding (Philippians 1:6, 9-11; Colossians 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:16-18).
* Read the same scripture over and over. For example, try reading the same scripture every day for a week.
* Think about the words, phrases and verses throughout your day (Psalm 1:2; Philippians 4:8).
* Read the related scriptures noted in the margin of your Bible.
* Ask God to show you His truth as you read and ponder (James 1:5-6).
* Write down your thoughts so you won't forget and review your notes when you read the scripture again.
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The Word of God is like a feast prepared by the Master Chef. We come to the table with gratefulness and expectation. We appreciate what the Chef has put before us. We take a few moments to contemplate the visual beauty of the dishes. We take in the aromas and anticipate the joy of partaking of this banquet.
When we begin to eat at this banquet, we don't take one bite and push the plate away, nor do we gobble up the plateful as fast as we can. We savor the flavors and reflect on how the flavors blend and complement each other. When presented a dish we are not familiar with, we ask the Chef how to fully enjoy it. If presented with a dish we think we don't like, we trust the Chef. Everything on the table is especially prepared by the Master Chef for our benefit.
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Time to Ponder
It is not hard to find time to spend with someone we love. It is not hard to appreciate gifts given by a loved one. Letters and notes written by the loved one are cherished, read and reread. Sometimes we may not understand what a line or word means, but then we read it again and think about it and ask our loved one to explain.
If we love the Lord, we will want and look forward to spending time with Him. The more we do, the more our love for Him will grow.
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Why Ponder
The Bible is a lifelong source of new understandings. The depth of meaning is a little like eating that feast. Each morsel will bring new delights as it nourishes and refreshes us. The more we eat, the more we will be filled and satisfied, but unlike earthly feasts, we will never get full. We will always have room for more.
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Enjoy.
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