Pondering in His Presence: A Journey Into Intentional Time With Godنموونە

Reading the Bible is such an invitational and transformational experience. There are so many ways to approach our reading of the Word and so many reasons to engage it daily. One way I love to read through the Bible is to understand the true presence and nature of God throughout the Bible and in my everyday life. This deeper encounter with God through His Word can only come by way of a Holy and sacred pause.

But how can we know if God is inviting us into a Holy moment?

Here's what I'm learning about truly pondering God's Word. When you're reading Scripture and suddenly feel like you can't move on – like everything around you pauses – that's an invitation. It's God saying, "I have something specific to say to you right here, but I need you to sit in this place for a little while longer."

Consider the words of King David in Psalm 119:15: "I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways." (NKJV) The Hebrew word for meditate here literally means to ponder, to mutter, to speak to yourself. It's about dwelling on God's Word until it becomes part of you.

And James 1:22-25 tells us: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves... But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (NKJV)

You see, there's a huge difference between reading the Word and allowing the Word to read you. When we truly ponder Scripture, we're giving the Holy Spirit permission to highlight areas in our lives that need transformation.

Pause and Ponder: What Scripture has God been highlighting to you recently? Are you giving yourself permission to pause and ponder, or are you rushing through your Bible reading?