Time to Take Care of You: Giving Ourselves the Spiritual Food We Need

Apr 16

We have had some guests from the mainland recently. What a treat to see faces that don’t usually live in our house! You know what I mean—it’s been a long 12 months or so.

When guests are at my house, I have no problem pulling out the nicer dishes. Or standing around the stove for a couple of hours to make a special meal. Or making an extra trip to the grocery store for that one ingredient I forgot. It’s easy.

When I am alone at my house, I can often be found eating a piece of fruit or a handful of chips over the sink because I didn’t want to get out a plate.

Why is it so much harder to give myself the things my body and soul really need? Why does discipline around the things that matter MOST feel so out of reach?

It reminds me of Paul saying in Romans 7, “I do not understand what I do.” So true, Paul, so true.

He says the harsh truth we don’t want to hear—the cause is ultimately sin. I don’t mean that it’s sin for me to eat chips. But that sin in our world is what causes us to tilt toward inertia, toward sloth, toward choosing things that ultimately neglect or hurt us.

Here is the good news: Spiritual food that nourishes us at the deepest levels is constantly available. It’s like one of those pet water dispensers that’s always letting out a little more water. It’s right there waiting for us. And when we take some, there is always more.

Key Verse

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Isaiah 55:1-3, ESV

Daily Practice

How can we choose the spiritual food we need more often?

Schedule it. We schedule the things we value most. We put the dentist appointment on the calendar. We can also put the book reading, or podcast listening, or Bible plan on the calendar.
Make it interactive. It’s difficult to stay focused and enjoy content consumed in a vacuum. That’s why doing a reading plan with a friend, joining a Bible study, or discussing what you’re learning can be so impactful. There’s no shame in having fun while you partake of your spiritual food. Go ahead, make it fun.
Figure out what fits. Depending on your season of life, your spiritual food will likely come in different quantities and from different sources. Let’s take the guilt out of that. Choose the food that fits your season. Experiment. Make sure it’s based in Biblical truth and it’s bringing you closer to God. But feed yourself.
Celebrate your wins. Keep a journal or a calendar so you can jot down what you’re learning or mark off days you’ve met with God. Share little nuggets with friends or on social media.