Marinate. Ponder. Mull it over. Let it steep.

Life is busy. Did I just hear a few amens? It seems there is never enough time in the day to accomplish everything on our lists. Sometimes, life becomes all about the list. Feed the dog. Check. Write a note to the teacher. Check. Pay the bills. Check. Call a friend. Check. Exercise. Check. Read my Bible. Check.

Did that last "check" cause you to pause? Am I really looking at spending time learning at the feet of Jesus as just one more to do in my list for the day? Ouch. If that is our view on time in the Word, we need tweak our perspective.

When we view time in God's word as one more thing on our daily checklist, we are not giving it the importance it deserves. Chances are we also are not allowing it the time it requires to transform our hearts and minds.

David, God's golden boy, LOVED God. In his life, we see so many times the focus he had on God, as he was battling Goliath, as he was hiding in the dessert. The Psalms reflect David's desire to truly know God's word, and to be changed by being steeped in His principles.

"Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law.... Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principles. Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart." Psalm 119:18, 33-34. Don't for a minute think that your eyes will be opened and your heart and mind transformed by simply reading a few verses or listening to a sermon, but not allowing time to ponder. You need to spend time mulling God's word over. Think on it. Ponder it. Ask God questions and wait for the answer.

Seems a challenge, doesn't it? You've got lots to do, a schedule to keep. I know. I'm right there with you. So, make time. Get up earlier. Use your lunch break. Do your reading, and then ponder and talk to God while you exercise. Your time and your reverence for learning God's character, His heart, His will for you will result in fruit in your life. A changed heart. A transformed mind.

As a working mom, one of my challenges is cooking. I like to make good, healthy, yummy meals for my family. My husband and son love meat! A good piece of steak or a nice juicy chicken breast. I'm told a secret to a good piece of juicy meat is marinating. So often I am so rushed and cooking dinner is not a thought until its dinner time, that I don't allow time to marinate. So my meat is dry and not nearly as tasty as my cousins, who is fantastic at marinating his meat, preparing it to be great.

Take a lesson from that. Do you want dry faith and a mediocre mind for God's word? Or, do you want a fantastic, juicy faith that tempts everyone around you with its aroma? Well then, allow time to marinate in God's word. Think on it. Ponder it. Ask God questions and listen. Truth needs time to settle deep into our soul. Meditate on God's word. Let it transform your heart, and so change your mind.