The psalmist here gives us a very good example for how we should take in the word of God. That is, when God speaks to us through His word (and the same principle applies when He touches us inwardly in His dealings with us), we should “hear” that word not just once, but twice; in fact, we should allow God to speak to us many times through that same word.

For example, we may sense the Lord speaking to us one morning regarding our need to be transformed as we read Romans 12:2:

And do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that you may prove what is the good and well-pleasing and perfect will of God.

We can, and should, bring this word to the Lord in prayer that very moment, telling Him,

Lord, I do not want to be “fashioned according to this age”; I want to be “transformed by the renewing of the mind!” Amen.

But we should not leave it there. We should come back to this same word later in the day, and in the next few days, and perhaps even months or years later, to bring this matter to the Lord again and again, so He may speak to us again regarding our need for transformation. This is to “hear twice” what God has spoken once.

And to be very practical about it, if we are to do this— to “hear twice”—we must write down the light the Lord gives us, whether in our Bible or in some kind of spiritual journal we keep. This is to truly treasure the word of God, and it will allow us to come back to that speaking even many years in the future. I can testify that this practice has been a great help to me personally over the years.

Otherwise, whatever light the Lord gives us will eventually be lost, or at least be mostly forgotten, and the Lord’s speaking to us will be greatly diminished.

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—  5 March 2025 —