When I reflect on the times in my life when I’ve been most devoted to digging deeply into Scripture, I’m struck by the joy, courage, contentment, and confidence in God that resulted. For example, when I was in high school, I seldom went anywhere without a pack of index cards on which I’d handwritten Bible verses. I was a competitive distance runner at the time, and as I logged many long miles I carried the verses with me and committed passage after passage to memory. As I meditated on Scripture the miles flew by and my life, faith, and attitude were renewed, shaping a heart and mind bent toward God.

When we take in Scripture, God’s love and power are poured out on us through His Spirit. Psalm 119 teaches that joy results as we walk with integrity through seeking Him with all of our hearts and following the instructions God has revealed. “Joyful are people . . . who follow the instructions of the Lord” (Psalm 119:1). We glorify Him and experience His pleasure as we refrain from compromising with evil, walking only in His paths and reflecting His will with our obedience to His commands (Psalm 119:3-5).

God longs for us to know and glorify Him by hiding Scripture in our hearts and by obeying His commands rather than straying from them (Psalm 119:11). We’re invited to experience deeper intimacy with Him and the delight the Bible offers by reciting aloud the regulations He’s given us, rejoicing in His laws as much as riches, studying His commandments, and remembering and reflecting on His ways (Psalm 119:13-16).

Let’s take in Scripture and recite it aloud or silently in communication with God. He will fill us with His wisdom and truth to guide us through the ever-changing seasons of life.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 10:35-52