Food is a big part of any Jewish family...
Lately I've been taking steps towards eating healthier focusing on more of a plant based diet (sounds delicious I know.. *sarcasm*)
The truth is that I would love to eat pizza and chocolate all day but reality is that those things aren't good for my body.
So as I'm munching on my alfalfa sprouts on quinoa grain toast a thought strikes me.
It's just as important if not more important the kind of food we're feeding ourselves spiritually.
No longer is it just conversation with others that fuels our spiritual food. We are now drowning in magazines, movies, Instagram, face-book posts, twitter, Netflix, the list goes on.
Lets face it the messages conveyed through those platforms aren't usually the best.
We become so desensitized we stop paying attention or caring what we're really taking in.
Hitler's propaganda chief, Joseph Goebbels said: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
What lies are we being told about ourselves, about relationships, money, spirituality, sexuality, and life itself?
It says in Psalm 1:1 that the man who doesn't walk in the way of the ungodly but delights in the Lord, meditating on his word day and night will be blessed and whatever he does shall prosper.
Whatever we see, read or hear happening, whoever we aspire and look up to we will eventually follow. We were all meant to be followers. We will model behavior and form beliefs if we immerse ourselves in the environment long enough.
Instead of trusting hollywood to portray the norm for relationships, instead of placing celebrities on a pedestal and idolizing them, instead of feeding yourself poison, go and feed yourself some healthy food.
It may be hard (believe me I know) your flesh will most likely want the junk food because it tastes good but the long term consequences aren't worth it. Remember that the first sin of Humanity had to do with food! When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
We are supposed to hunger and thirst for God.
We know that "every word of God is pure and it is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."
What an amazing promise! God's word doesn't have any ulterior motives, it's there to help you grow spiritually, to become close to your Creator and it will shield you from the attacks that come from the world.
Once you know the word of God you have the strength to counteract the enemy and not give into the lies he's working so hard to convince you are truths.
A daily practice:
This isn't a 'memorize one bible verse at summer camp six years ago' type of a thing.
This is a daily effort. Just like you eat everyday you're going to hunger for spiritual food daily and you can choose to either distract yourself and fill up on junk food that will make you feel horrible in the long term or you can choose to fight your flesh and dig into God's word.
Maybe turning on Netflix is faster and easier, maybe it seems more interesting just like heating up a pizza pop in the microwave does but when you take the time to put in a little effort and fix something up that's nutritious just like putting time aside to spend with God in prayer, in study you're building a foundation that will last, you're giving yourself a chance to grow.
"Blessed is the man who meditates on the Word of God day and night!"
I have this co-worker who watches motivational videos before work every morning. She often quotes encouraging phrases. One of her favorites when I spent time lingering and talking to friends is "don't let the distraction destruct you!"
So when you've made up your mind to start feeding yourself spiritual health food don't let distractions lead to destruction. Turn off your phone, shut your door, focus on what God is saying to you by reading his word and spending time in prayer.
Just like when I go downstairs and decide I want to make myself a salad then get distracted by the cookies on the counter I have a choice I can make. You need to decide what's really worth it.
It takes discipline, and grace.
"For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good." - Psalm 107:9