As written in the freedictionary.com... "de·vour (d-vour)
tr.v. de·voured, de·vour·ing, de·vours
1. To eat up greedily. See Synonyms at eat.
2. To destroy, consume, or waste: Flames devoured the structure in minutes.
3. To take in eagerly: devour a novel.
4. To prey upon voraciously: was devoured by jealousy."
tr.v. de·voured, de·vour·ing, de·vours
1. To eat up greedily. See Synonyms at eat.
2. To destroy, consume, or waste: Flames devoured the structure in minutes.
3. To take in eagerly: devour a novel.
4. To prey upon voraciously: was devoured by jealousy."
I've been pondering this thought a lot lately, what is the first thing I want to devour when my eyes crack open (with the jaws of life) in the morning, when I lie in my oh-so-hot-and-relaxing bubble bath, when I'm sprawled out on the couch, when I'm getting ready to lay my head on the pillow at night...honestly?
Usually, the book I've been most-lately engrossed into. The latest? The final book of Francine Rivers trilogy, The Mark of the Lion series. Amazingly consuming books w/tons of biblical history and scripture sprinkled throughout. Which is all well and good to have awesome and godly thought-provoking books to read, I LOVE to read and absorb words, thoughts and knowledge period.
But for the love of Pete, what's my problem? Is the scripture true in my life, that I shall not live by bread alone (books or any other distraction) but by "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"?
It actually broke my heart the other day when I woke up in my in-laws home (usually when I hear God speak loudest, when He can get me away long enough for me to settle down and listen w/o too many other distractions/voices) and felt the Spirit questioning me (as I went to grab my book to finish the last few pages) about my longing to devour His Words or someone else's. It wasn't a hammer on the head, like you crazy stupid absorbed novel-idolatrous women, but more of a gentle drawing of me with His cords of love, to desire His love letter to me, to pour over each word on every page of The Book written by my Heavenly Bridegroom, just like I do the other novels (or non-fictions) in my life-until Will has to finally ask me to set it down (as he does daily when I'm absorbed in a book) and have a conversation with my earthly bridegroom during that day too.
Do I (and you) "eat up greedily, consume, take in eagerly" as the definition speaks above God's words or other women's/men's over His? Not speaking of anything of legalism or condemnation to NEVER read another book again, but what is taking precedence and the majority of my time right now?
So, anyways, just a thought/question for the day and a verse to boot...
Ezekiel 3:1-3 MOREOVER 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 caused me to eat that scroll.
And He said to me, Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.
Ezekiel 3:1-3 MOREOVER 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 caused me to eat that scroll.
And He said to me, Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.
Father, make my and each reader's heart desirous of devouring Your scroll that You have written to us, so that no other words stand as an idol over Yours to us. Make us to understand the sweetness of Your words more than any other pleasure or distraction in life. Amen.
But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, 
"Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, recieves not Me but Him who sent Me." -Jesus in Mark 9:37
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." -Jesus in Luke 15:4-7
