Sometimes I sit down to eat, and in the blink of an eye my plate is clean. I came to the table hangry; hopefully I’m leaving with my belly full and my mood stabilized. And maybe that’s ok—just get some calories in and move on.
Sometimes, however, a meal seems to last for hours. Time slows down as the joy of each bite fills not only my belly but my soul. The flavors and the fellowship with those around the table are too good to rush.
The goal with listening to God—whether in prayer or through the Scriptures—is to lean into the latter. The common verb for this is to meditate. To slow down. To enjoy. To savor. To approach the words of God less like a fast food drive-thru, and more like a five-course plating at a Michelin star restaurant. Less like a microwave cup of soup, and more like the best comfort food your grandma ever made.
See Psalm 119:97-104.