Danny Fourie

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  Matthew 7:24

The psalmist writes that blessed are the people who delight in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night (Psalm 1:1). It is unsatisfactory just to read the Bible and not to reflect on it.

To meditate is to read and ask yourself: What does this mean for my life? What does God want to say to me through this passage? Is there a promise that I can claim for myself? Is there a sin I need to confess? Is this a warning that I could practically use daily? When one reads the Bible in this way, it is not an easy exercise! This way of reading the Bible brings something of a struggle, a battle with the text to discover the right meaning for your life.

It's almost like Jacob who wrestled with God and finally said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Read until the meaning is clear. Daniel was a civil servant with a lot of responsibilities and a busy schedule. He put three times during a day aside to spend time with God, because he realized the importance of his relationship with God (Daniel 6). Three times a day – not three minutes per day!

Meditate. Apply. Jesus said that the home (life) of someone who just listens to the Bible without having to do what it takes, collapses. When you read and apply, hear and do, then your home (life) will keep standing – even though the floodwaters and high winds may come. The foundation is on the rock.

Prayer: Holy Spirit help me and guide me to read the Bible regularly and to apply it to my life situations. Amen