There are endless amounts of diets and fads out there today. Let’s get real, it
can be overwhelming. Where do you even start? The research and evidence
supporting each food camp are convincing, but how can they all be right? So,
which one do you pick?
I’m here to tell you that the leading of the Holy Spirit accompanied with
awareness of your body will answer those questions for you. God formed our
inward parts and created us fearlessly and wonderfully in His image. God cares
about every single detail, including what foods you’re eating— which can be
giving you the nourishment you need or slowing you down from carrying out the good works He created you for.
We can walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh through our ever
present help, comforter, strengthener and stand by the Holy Spirit. If you’re a
born again believer, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you at the point of
salvation (John 3:5-7). Now that He is living on the inside of you, you have all
spiritual wisdom and understanding, which includes exactly what your body
needs for nourishment AND which foods you may need to minimize— if you let
Him in on it.
How? Simply ask Him. He may whisper it to you or there may be a deeper
conviction within. By faith take action and obey what He is leading you to do.
You will see the fruit in your life as a result.
It is essentially our goal as Christians to be conformed into the image of Christ.
So why not break out “WWJD (What would Jesus do)?” with our nutrition?
Hear me out. I believe there is definitely a time and place for us to enjoy foods
that don’t bring as much nutrient density as a salad or fresh juice might.
Everything God created is good and can be sanctified through the word of God with thanksgiving and prayer (1 Timothy 4:4). We are not to be burdened by a yoke of slavery: aka legalism.
In Colossians 2:20-23 Paul brings this to the church’s attention:
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were
still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations —“Do not handle, Do not
taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—
according to human precepts and teachings? These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
If you still need some convincing remember you are free in Christ and nothing is unclean (Romans 14). But Paul also warns us not to use this freedom we have to indulge the flesh (Galatians 5:13). He drives home this point in Corinthians 6:12…”Everything is permissible for me” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” but I will not be mastered by anything.”
At the end of the day the way our bodies break down nutrients is not all the
same, which is what we’ll dig into later. The food we eat will either fuel us, slow
us down or can simply be for a moment of enjoyment as the Lord leads. We
have been blessed with the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control. Let’s
make a habit to ask the Lord what He wants us to eat so we can nourish our
bodies and bring God glory.
Every season and moment will look different but as we make an effort to eat
healthy balanced meals we are treating our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and presenting them as a living and holy sacrifice, which is our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1).
- Take time to read Genesis 1:29-31. What does this tell us about God? What does it tell us about food? How can we obey? “And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Genesis 1:29-31
- What do you eat daily? Balanced meals, fast foods, or processed foods?
Do you feel like you’re nourishing your body the way God intended?
Homework: Do an honest assessment and begin to pay attention to how your body feels after eating certain foods. - What do you want to improve in your health? Areas you struggle with? Meal prep, time, how to cook? Homework: Take time to sit and listen to the Lord. Ask Him what areas He wants you to work on and how you can resolve this issue together. Also ask Him what He thinks about it.
- Has the Holy Spirit highlighted any foods to minimize or add? Homework:
Ask the Lord if there are any foods He is leading you to fast (these may include foods you are going to for comfort, foods “you can’t live without” or consider a “weakness”— may we not be mastered by anything)
Scriptures to Meditate
Genesis 1:29
Colossians 2:20-23
Romans 12:1
Romans 14
Galatians 5:13
1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20
1 Timothy 4:4
the whole seed 