Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)

16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.

Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

I enjoy good wine, especially when you can visit a vineyard and do a wine tasting. I know that you could always buy a bottle of wine and enjoy it at home, but there is something different about going to a vineyard and tasting. At home, a glass of wine usually accompanies a meal and it isn’t a primary focal point. At a winery, all of the focus is on the glass of liquid art in front of you. You don’t just drink it, you encounter it. You look at it, you smell it, you sip it, you sip it again. You process it, you think about it, you discuss it, you ask it questions, you connect it to memories. All of this is followed by sharing what you are “getting” from the wine. “I’m getting high acid, I’m getting big tannins, I’m getting dark chocolate, I’m getting leather, I’m getting dark cherry, I’m getting mossy stones,” etc. After sharing what you are getting, you go back in with senses highly activated and ready to receive. You take another drink and enjoy.

This week we will do a Word tasting of the Lord’s Prayer.

Your Turn:

Step 1: Sip

• Take it one line at a time. Don’t try to process too much or you will miss out on some treasures.

• Read the first line: “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name” Read it again. Let it swirl around in your mind before you do anything with it. Read it again.

Step 2: Savor

• Take the time to meditate and marinate on the verse. Don’t just read it; engage it, process it, think about it, discuss it, ask it questions, and connect it to memories.

• What does it mean that He is “Our” Father? How is it different from “My” Father? What does it mean to you that He is Father? Why does it specify that He is “in Heaven”? How does Him being there affect me being here? What does Hallow mean? That’s a weird word, why does it always get translated that way? Is His name Hallowed or am I supposed to Hallow His name? How would I do that? …etc.

Step 3: Share

• Now is the time to share what you are “getting” from it by rewriting that portion of Scripture. Be specific, be expressive, be poetic, and, most of all, be honest.

• “Dear Father always near us,

  may your name be treasured and loved,” (Dallas Willard)

• “Abba, always watching over us all from above,

  We want everyone, everywhere to celebrate the greatness of who you are.”

Continue this process until you have rewritten the entire prayer, verse by verse, into your own words. Then sit back and read it all again, your senses heightened, and enjoy.