There’s a familiar phrase that says “God has a way, and His way is mighty sweet.” David, the psalmist, was the first to share this insight in Psalms 119:103 when he compared God’s Word to honey.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, but it makes me think. If God’s Word is so sweet then why do we get a bitter taste in our mouths when we are corrected by it or when our lifestyles are challenged by it’s commands?

Perhaps you’ve been there. You sit in church service listening to the Word and all of a sudden the pastor hits a subject that makes you squirm in the pew. Ordinarily you would jump for joy, run around the church or do a spiritual food dance, but for some reason this subject tasted like castor oil going down. Your flesh doesn’t like it, but you take it anyway because you know you need it.

Does an experience like that make the Word of God any less sweet? Absolutely not! As believers we do not walk or live by our senses anyway so the sweet quality of the Word has nothing to do with your taste buds or even how you feel about it. It has everything to do with its pleasant effect on your life when you put it into practice. Sweet in this context means agreeable, satisfying, gratifying, good, and acceptable. This description reminds me of Romans 12:2 part B.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If I use my spiritual translation it would read like this. That ye may prove what is that “sweet” and perfect will of God (God’s way). Yes, despite how challenging it may be to our flesh, God’s way is sweet because it benefits us in so many ways. We just have to do part A of that scripture–be transformed by renewing our minds–to truly taste and see it that way. Here are a few promises found in the Word that may encourage a shift in perspective and change your palate to prefer God’s way over any other way.

• “When a man’s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. “Proverbs 16:7
• “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19
• “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33
• “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
• “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love.” John 1:10

There are countless other benefits in this life and in the life to come, but that’s enough to shout about right there! Don’t be fooled either. These are far better than what Satan can offer as an alternative to following his way instead. Not doing the will of God may be the easy option and following God’s way may challenge you beyond where you think you can go, but trust me the bitter truth makes for a better you–one who can receive the SWEETEST and BEST that the blood of Christ has secured for you.