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

Have you ever been in deep conversation with someone who carries so much wisdom, and yet you had to fight the temptation to grab your cell phone, check text messages, scroll on social media, or respond to that "urgent" email rather than sit and soak in the wisdom being poured into you? I’ve been there more than once, and when I look back, I can see how I almost missed some life-changing opportunities because I wanted to be anywhere but in the present moment.

This is what we need to keep in mind when God is inviting us to ponder and linger in His Word. We are being asked to sit and listen to the one who carries all wisdom, knowledge, truth, and understanding. It isn’t a moment to be taken lightly.

When we sit with God, He is mending broken hearts, healing, restoring, and renewing our strength. This is what Isaiah 40:31 is talking about when it says, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (NKJV)

Think about how Jesus modeled this in Mark 1:35: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed." (NKJV) Even Jesus, in all His divinity, understood the importance of these sacred pauses with the Father.

Now, let me get super practical with you about how to respond when God invites you into these moments of pondering:

1. First, read what you just read again. Yes, again! When God highlights something, don't rush past it.
2. Pause and pray, asking God, "What do you want to say to me from this?"
3. Always have a notebook ready. Write whatever He downloads to you. Write the Scripture out, put the date on it, and note the book, chapter, and verse. This becomes your personal record of God's faithfulness.
4. If you’re reading a Bible plan, if you move on in the following day, continue to go back and read that Scripture daily... You'll know when He's done speaking through it because you'll feel a settling in your spirit – it's a peace that tells you, "Okay, now I can move on."

Remember, just like Jesus, we need these moments of holy hesitation. It's in these pauses that God often speaks His clearest – when He transforms our understanding from head knowledge to heart wisdom. We need to learn to linger, to ponder, to let His Word sink deep into our spirits.

Pause and Ponder: What has God been trying to get you to pause and ponder lately? Are you willing to let your world pause when the Creator of heaven and earth has something to say?

If you enjoyed this reading plan by Rachel G. Scott, you'll love the complementary guided journal she created called, Where to GROW from Here?: A 14-day guided journal to help you grow in your walk with God. Grab your copy HERE.