Word relationships are a real thing. The relationship between the conversation and the words within the Bible are to be like the relationship between air and lungs. As the lungs can’t properly function without air, so too the devotional conversation cannot properly function without the Bible’s words. The better the conversation’s relationship with the Bible’s words, the better the lungs of the conversation will breathe.
Our conversation is trained to take its substance from everything else but the Bible, and to take meaning from the Bible by a surface understanding of it. Our conversation puts much confidence in what it hears, and in its opinion of what it understands, but it never quite realizes that it needs to have an understanding beyond its trained belief. The thought to transcend worldly spiritual or philosophical thought never arises because the conversation is yet not aware of its own self.
When it comes to the preferred way in which the conversation ought to be handled, the Bible gives us some advice:
“My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee,” Proverbs 7:1.
“ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart,” Proverbs 4:20,21.
“Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live,” Proverbs 4:4.
“Be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23.
“I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings,” Hosea 6:6.
The greatest gift we can give to our self is a conversation that is mindful of its thoughts and feelings. Why? Because life occurs through the heart of whatever we hold as a religious, spiritual, or philosophical belief, to have the heart of our belief sober means the lens through which we view life will also be clear. This is why it says, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh,” Proverbs 14:30.
The heart of a sound conversation means the heart of a sound human being. As simple, or as insane, or as ideal as that sounds, this can only take place as the individual is willing to ensure that the heart of their conversation’s mind is well. This involves an effort, but the result of such an effort leads to an edifying wisdom, which is why it says, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth,” Proverbs 4:5.
The conversation’s assignment is a task for wisdom. As the conversation retains wisdom, and wisdom fitting into its personal human being, the value behind the effort to grow fond of the Bible’s mind will be seen and appreciated. A sound and healthy inward person is at the heart of the Bible’s philosophy, and if we will pick up and engage the Bible’s intention, we can begin to have the type of health, and to fulfill the kind of lifestyle, that we know belongs to us.
The effort to develop a relationship with words is an effort developing a “map” of understanding. The Bible isn’t a book, unless transformed by human beings, about “religion.” The Bible’s philosophy is aimed at helping the human being understand positive devotional or philosophical habits of mind. While not easy to cultivate, the words of the Bible bring its student into the classroom of their Creator, allowing them to understand what it means to be a thinking and feeling creation.
Personal and devotional awareness of the inward person is the Bible’s objective. The more time we give to the Bible’s words, and to exercising the wisdom acquired from them, the more full our conversation’s experience will be. This is a change in thought from how the conversation is traditionally formed, but if maintained, the saying will be fulfilled, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,” Psalm 126:5, and, “Blessed are all they that wait for him,” Isaiah 30:18.