LABORING OVER A LETTER
Christine Wyrtzen
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the scriptures. They enlarge my spirit, they redeem my soul, and they bring healing to my body. They minister to every part of me as a woman. Without them, I just mark time and fall into a routine that has little eternal meaning. Butwith them, I'm walking into the expanse of Eden's restoration. Are such words not sweeter than honey to my mouth?
Have you ever labored over a letter? I have. I keep a neat stash of beautiful note cards in the drawer of my desk. I rarely purchase one with a commercial sentiment on the inside. I believe that personal thoughts are so much more effective. My cards are saved for those special occasions when I know they will be opened by someone important to me. Until then, they sit in my drawer because I can't yet express what I want to say. The message is too important to wing it.
That person may never know the time that went into the creation of just those few paragraphs. No matter what I write, I experience a kind of travail over what is conceived on paper. If the recipient could know the thoughts and prayers behind the card, would they cherish the words more? Probably so. Yet, I'm realistic enough to know that some cards will eventually end up in a garbage can after several readings. If my words were handled carelessly, it was out of ignorance.
Charles Spurgeon said, "Scriptures are the writings of the living God: each letter was penned with an Almighty finger; each word in it dropped from the everlasting lips, each sentence was dictated by the Holy Spirit." Would I handle the Word of God differently today if I knew He labored over each word from the beginning of time? What if I could have perceived His heart beating fast, pen in hand, asking “How should I reveal myself to her? What words of love will she understand? What words of warning will prevent her from going astray to face unnecessary pain? What promises will she hang onto?"
If only I could comprehend that each word has been carefully chosen, inspired by a foreknowledge of each saint who would read them. They are for all of us, yet just for me as well. That is the miracle of them. Whatever word you need today, the Holy Spirit will lead you to it and it will be the word that brings life and sweetness. Hold it. Tremble with wonder. Breathe deeply of its fragrance.
What about the words that bring conviction? They are bitter at first but sweet after a season.
Today, I will not handle Your words casually. Let them drip into my soul until I taste their sweetness. In Jesus' name, Amen
Originally published Thursday, 03 May 2018.
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