Message summary: The Psalmist wrote, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Throughout the day may we all taste of the goodness of the Lord as it lingers in our thoughts and thereby in our actions! Perhaps we all need a sign that reads, "Spiritual Munching Allowed!" or better yet, "Spiritual Munching Encouraged!"

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"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). "My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste" (Proverbs 24:13). "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.' So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, 'Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.' Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth" (Ezekiel 3:1-3).

One of Brooksyne's favorite candies is "Bit-O-Honey" a small, chewy morsel with a rich, creamy, honey-nutty flavor. It's been around since 1924 so she even had it when she was a little girl! Preparing for a long trip we might buy a bag and share it among family members since "the chew" makes the long journey just a little sweeter (especially if we are caught in a traffic jam!).

Physically, munching can lead to over indulgence and undesirable weight gain. With the availability of single serving packaged foods, 24 hour convenience stores, and with food at our disposal most anywhere we go, munching abounds. Some wouldn't even have a sense of what three square meals a day mean! But there is an area of life where munching is in fact a good thing because it contributes to spiritual growth.

I read that when a three-year-old child starts learning Torah in a Jewish school for the first time, it is customary to place a little honey on the letters of the alphabet, which the child then licks happily, so the child learns to associate the Torah with delight and good taste. What a great idea to sweeten God’s word to our children's hearts!

The ability to partake of spiritual nutrition, such as meditative munching on God's Word throughout the day, is healthy. It might be a Bible verse shared by a friend, a brief prayer at work with a fellow worker or an edifying Christian song we hear on the radio. We hope for many of you healthy munching on spiritual morsels throughout your day includes this brief Daily Encouragement message! 

This morning Brooksyne read a passage of Scripture to me that she's been meditating on for the past three days from I Samuel 12:20-25, especially the warning from Samuel, "Do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing" (v. 21). When she shared it she asked me where I thought it was from and I said Deuteronomy. I don't recall ever giving attention to it so it will probably be a text in a future Daily Encouragement message

We need to "chew" on God's Word much like dairy cows and other ruminating animals chew their cud. Contented dairy cows can chew their cud eight hours a day totaling 30,000 chews daily. Now, if we could turn God's Word over and over in our minds throughout the day I believe we'd have a lot more victory and joy in our lives, it would prompt us to resist wrongdoing, and it would surely spill out to those around us either by our words or actions!

The Psalmist wrote, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Throughout the day may we all taste of the goodness of the Lord as it lingers in our thoughts and thereby in our actions! Perhaps we all need a sign that reads, "Spiritual Munching Allowed!" or better yet, "Spiritual Munching Encouraged!"


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, deep in my soul I have peace and reassurance as I "chew" on a particular Scripture verse throughout my day. You speak to me through Your Word and it refreshes and often challenges me as it lingers on my mind. It helps me to focus not just on the here and now, but on that which was spoken thousands of years ago or on our future dwelling in the promised land of heaven. Sometimes You use the words of a Christian song and it's recurring tune to fill my thoughts as I go about my work. At times You bring to mind the words of a Christian friend or a written message that draws me from indifference or complacency and inspires me to meditate on the Living Word. You satisfy my hungry heart and fill my thirsty soul with Your living water. Help me to indulge regularly in life changing eternal truths from Your Holy Word.  Amen.

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