Savoring

There are seasons where I feel like I am on autopilot everyday and it could last for weeks or even months. God said of Israel, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). In search of satisfaction apart from God leaves one thirsty. Savoring His gifts, but failing to Savor Him. The result is emptiness, lack of gratitude… that feeling of being on autopilot.

By the grace of God, when I am diving into my Bible study, intentional and humble with prayer, something breaks the dark clouds of my heart and I feel compelled to be more diligent in my Bible study, go deeper into scripture’s truths. From there, as God’s words are etched into my heart and does its sanctifying work in me, I start to do something that seems to bring me back to life — I savor things more. Savoring the sunlight warming my body, savoring every flavorful bite of food, savoring the coolness of my pillow at bedtime — all the while praising the Lord for His goodness in the small yet profound graces of my life. Savoring, therefore, is an act of worship of our Creator God. Did you know that God beckons us to savor Him? He says,

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”
(Psalm 37:4)

God wants us to always see things with an eternal perspective, taking our eyes away from ourselves and outward toward Him and the Hope that is in Jesus. As such, the desires Psalm 37:4 speaks of doesn’t refer to the “pleasures” (or “Anag” in Hebrew) of our heart. The word for “desire” used in this verse is the Hebrew Mish’alah. The base of this word is to “draw out” and refers to unknown knowledge. Therefore, the desires of our heart is essentially more of Jesus — grasping deeper truths of Him. When we savor God we are enjoying His goodness, as well as, actively knowing God deeper thus having Him reveal more of Himself to you in His Word and with prayer, relishing the salvation He gives us in Jesus Christ.

“I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18)

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)

Questions to ask yourself:

  1. One place to start savoring Him more intentionally is looking in Psalm 1, 16, 19, 23, 24, 54, 104, 119, 131, 139, and 150. Take your time reading and digesting these… savor them 🙂
  2. What other ways can you savor God more without forcing it?
  3. Other helpful reading: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/enjoying-god/

Prayer:

(Free Prayer)