Every Bite a Gift

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NIV).

God has made food for our bodies and has equipped our bodies to rightly receive, breakdown and use what is provided for their upkeep. Food may be properly considered as one of the good things that comes from our Father (James 1:17). Everything God creates, He creates with a purpose. His good gifts are enjoyed when we know their purposes and, by the power of His Holy Spirit, use them in accordance with His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12: 2 & Galatians 2: 20).  

Food is made for the nourishment of our bodies--the bodies He has set apart to be the dwelling place of His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6: 19 - 20). That is, we eat to build up and sustain our bodies, in which God resides and through which He will exercise His power so that others may come to know Him. (Matthew 5: 16). Food is the fuel for the body that enables us to enter into the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2: 10). Can we enter these works by might? Absolutely not. But, can we enter these works without our bodies? The answer is no. We enter these works by His Spirit working in and through us--all of us (mind, body and soul).

Aligning our hearts to agree with God's perspective on food, invites us to consider every bite as a gift. Every bite, a reminder of the goodness of our self-sustaining God--who joyfully and faithfully provides for us. Thinking as God does, we are able to joyfully honor the boundaries of our invitation to eat. We are made equip to hold the gift of food rightly. We know it is for the nourishment of our bodies and not for the aching of our souls. We know that food, while able to temporarily numb us to the aches of boredom, stress, loneliness, anxiety and shame, is impotent to truly satisfy or cure our deepest woes. Jesus alone can do that. 

When we consider that food is a gift from God-- whose essence is  good--we come to understand that our use of food should never cause us harm. Beloved, will you prayerfully consider the questions below?

1. Why do you eat?
2. Do you practice eating habits that are harmful?
3. Do you practice eating habits that help you?
4. Do you practice eating habits that keep you from receiving the true help you may need? For example, do you eat to escape a lack of fulfillment  in other parts of your life? Parts, God did not design food to fill?

Whatever the Holy Spirit has revealed to you, know He also has the power to help you through and over it into the abundant life Jesus Christ secured for us. Don't let one moment of shame fill you. He always shows us the truth of our weakness, along with reality of His powerful love. Be lifted by His love. We invite you to encourage yourselves with these words penned by Ali Smith: "I am a beautiful temple handcrafted by my Father and used for His noble purposes. I will rejoice as I seek to glorify God in my body through the food that I eat today. [In Jesus' name, I pray}. Amen."

Happy temple building!

Take care. Bless many.

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