On Tap

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart…Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:11a & 105)

         These two verses lay down a principle. Working backwards, the way to enjoy the blessing of having the Word of God as your constant, ready guide in life is to have it always close at hand; or should I say, close at heart.

         I was reading a message by A.W. Tozer today, and he used a term that created a vision in my mind of the realization of this verse. Speaking of the promises of God, he said, “Memorize them, learn them, and get them into part of your bloodstream so you’ll have them on tap at any moment…” My mind immediately went to scenes of a bartender or soda fountain clerk pulling down a large handle to dispense one kind of drink or another into a glass. By filling the dispenser with an ample supply of the drink beforehand, the server is saved from having to reach for and open a new bottle each time a drink is ordered. It saves both time and hassle.

         This is what the Psalmist is saying. Don’t wait till you need an answer or directive for your life. As you know, these things can be thrown at you at a moment’s notice. Rather than frantically calling people, searching feverishly through your Bible, or worse yet, depending on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5), how much better it is to be able to pull down the handle and bring up the principles and promises of God’s Word that we previously poured into our hearts. What a blessing to have them “on tap” to illuminate every step we take!

         Say, what’s on tap in your life?