Meditating on the Written Word

I recently began a summer devotional experiment. Summer, because it’s somewhat short and I want to give myself an out if it doesn’t work very well. Devotional, because, yes, it relates to my Bible reading and study. And experiment, because I’ve not tried this method before.

A mentor in my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group ended our spring semester by issuing the “15/15 Challenge.” Fifteen minutes of prayer, fifteen minutes of Bible reading minimum on a daily basis. Could we remain faithful despite crazy summer schedules that involve having all of our kids, from infant to grade-school, home all the time? I wanted to try something unique to help motivate and challenge me.

Did I ever mention that I am a writer? Do you know how long it’s been since I wrote anything beyond a thank you note with a pen? Most writing, such as this post, is typed. My experiment is a takeoff of a friend’s long-ago task of writing out the book of Deuteronomy–longhand. No, I’m not tackling Deuteronomy, but I am acting the scribe as I copy passages of Scripture. My hope when I began was that the time spent experiencing handcramps and scratchouts would also provide extended time meditating on that passage.

My hopes are being realized. I’ve found a few nuggets to treasure in my thus-far 10 days of writing out Scripture:

1 Chronicles 29 — David prays a magnificent prayer extoling God’s greatness and majesty, thanking Him for the favor He bestowed on David’s family and all Israel. As he offers the generous gifts of the people (toward building the Temple), he says, “I know, my God, that you examine a heart and are pleased with integrity.” I had to re-read that verse several times. Have found myself meditating on it quite a bit this week.

Another winner: In John 1, which begins with the familiar yet magnificent “In the beginning was the Word,” tucked away in verse 16 or 17 I saw (again), “For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.” Amen. Haven’t I just?

I’m looking forward to mining more treasure as I fill up my journal with scripture. Maybe it won’t be just an experiment!

PS. Share your favorite Scripture. I’m jumping all around the Bible, copying a variety of Old and New Testament passages, and welcome suggestions.