What kind of snacker are you: Savory or Sweet? Do chips and salsa call your name as you graze toward salty nuts, pizza and something with a kick of heat? Or are you lulled by softer fare like melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts, cookies, candy, and anything baring chocolate? Not all of us are “open” snackers. Some of us try to repress our snacking urges as much as possible. But we’ve all had our moments of weakness when we needed a sugar fix or couldn’t say no to the spicy wing (it’s not our fault it had dipping sauce).
Snacks are everywhere.
They’re quick. They’re cheap. They’re delicious. They’re our comfort food in times of distress. But most snacks have no real nutritional value. That’s why mothers make kids eat green beans and broccoli. It’s not a torture tactic–it’s a provision of “life-sustaining” food with enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients to nourish their bodies and help them grow strong.
Physical health and spiritual health are based on the same premise.
To be healthy physically, we have to feed our bodies with nutritious foods that can sustain us. Even if we’re not athletes, we can’t live on a diet of soda and cupcakes for very long. What if we tried? Exhaustion would take over as we crashed from the sugar high or slumped into a food coma. Even basic tasks would be harder and harder as our energy waned. Over time, we’d get frustrated and even depressed. Eventually we’d feel disconnected and lose motivation to do anything. Our senses would dull as our mental clarity darkened. It’s not a pretty picture.
The same is true with spiritual health.
To be healthy spiritually, we need a steady diet of life-giving nourishment. What fills our spirit and gives life to our soul? God’s Word. Scripture. How? God’s Word has power. Not only did God create life through His words, He sustains life through His Word. God’s Word is living and active. God uses His Word to breathe new life into hopeless situations. He shines His light into darkness through His Word. He brings peace in the midst of chaos through His Word.
If we humbly seek God through His Word we’ll be nourished spiritually. We can have strength like never before when we stand in His strength. Our empty places can be filled. Our brokenness can be healed. Our stains of the past can be washed away. We can be filled to overflowing with the power of His Holy Spirit as He encourages us, teaches us, emboldens us, and works through us. God’s Word gives life to the weary soul, and the bounty has been set before us.
But few of us feast on the Word of God.
We may nibble here and there. We may take a handful on Sunday mornings and hope it lasts us the week. We may read a devotional interpretation of what God said, but never really take hold of the truth spoken by God Himself. Or sadly, we may never taste the richness of God’s Word. We may never receive the spiritual nourishment that gives life. True life that will never fade away.
Are you feasting on the spiritually solid Word of God? Or are you grabbing a few pieces on Sunday morning and hoping it will sustain you for the week? Or are you starving your soul and snacking on everything but the Word of God?
Try something new. Today, instead of filling up on snacks like TV, Facebook or magazines, open God’s Word to the Book of John and read a chapter or two. Taste it. Chew on it. Really think about what it says. Pray to God and ask Him to reveal Himself to you in a new way. Give God the opportunity to nourish your spirit through His Word.
“The Spirit alone gives eternal life… And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 (NLT)
May I pray?
Jesus, we love to fill up on all kinds of things that have little value to our spiritual health. They may make us feel good at first. But over time, they wear us down. We become numb and weary, and they don’t fill us up the way they used to. But often, the last thing we want to do is turn to Your Word for nourishment. Today, please help us to make a different choice. Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will meet us wherever we are and speak to us through Your Word. May we get a taste of what it feels like to be spiritually strong as we hear Your wisdom and truth. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
Q4U: What has helped you spend more time in God’s Word and less time snacking on things like TV, Facebook and magazines?
Joy, this is just what I needed today! Some times we just need to get back to the basics to recharge our weary souls.
Hi, Mama Kay! You’re so right. We focus so much on physical health and often forget about our spiritual health. Hope all is well with you 🙂