To add onto what I wrote about hunger last time, tonight I want to talk about filling ourselves with purity. Certainly, we must eat, physically and spiritually, when we are hungry. However, some foods will not sustain us or give us the strength or passion to live life abundantly. The power to live life to the fullest is in your hands. May this post be a nugget of wisdom that inspires you to indulge in the Lord’s unchanging Word.
Last summer, my mom, best friend, and I fasted for twenty-one days to pray for the upcoming school year by doing the “Daniel Diet.” This fast is taken from the book of Daniel, and we only ate fruits, veggies, and whole grains. No sugar, no dairy, and only water. Through this time span, God revealed so much to me. But one of the things I learned is that even though I was eating less, I was more full because everything I put in my mouth was in its purest form. And after several days, almonds and baked potatoes tasted like rich pound cake because of how pure each substance was that I put in my mouth. Several truths can be applied to our lives out of this example.
Physically, our bodies function most efficiently when we eat the most natural and healthful choices. We have all experienced that we are fulfilled and energized for a longer period of time when we eat a salad, grilled chicken sandwich, or apple than when we splurge with the hamburger, milkshake, and fries. What we put into our bodies directly determines how we will feel, what we will be capable of performing, and what our reactions will be. Not only does our food selection dictate our momentary decisions, it also ensures us good health for the future or brings us bad health. Clearly, we must be careful what foods we put into our bodies. I urge you, choose wisely what you eat! I always try to pick the healthy choice, although sometimes I fail miserably, especially at Don Juan’s. If you are deciding between an apple or cookie, pick the apple! It has more fiber, which will keep you more full for a longer period of time and possesses monumentally more nutrients.
On a more spiritual level, what we put into our minds and hearts determines how we live our lives. We have two options: be filled with the Spirit. Or be filled with the flesh. Logically thinking, why would we even want to be filled with our fleshly, sinful selves? Psalm 81:10 is a very special verse to me because I relate it to my Spanish-speaking quite often. However, it definitely applies in this case: “I AM the Lord your God. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.” What an incredible promise that when we place ourselves in a receptive position, we will be filled with the Lord.
What we consume will consume us. This could be a scary thought and one that assuredly causes me to question what I consume. If we spend all our time studying, school will be the fire in our lives. If we always spend time with those around us, our friends will consume our thoughts. If we spend countless hours getting ready and working out and making ourselves look perfect, we will be consumed with ourselves. Even a combination of these things suffocates the space that God desires in our hearts. Phil. 4:8 declares a life-changing statement: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” These are the categories of things that we should consume! I challenge you to filter your thoughts and actions through this test- I am CERTAIN that you will see changes in your countenance and overall attitude about life. This is a challenge I am issuing for myself as well.
Finally, I want to encourage you to get to know the Lord more intimately as you allow Him to fill you with all His fullness. Rom. 15:13 says, “May the God of hope FILL you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may OVERFLOW with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” God’s Word is sweet to the taste and overwhelmingly pleasing to the soul. Drink deeply of it today. Just like we must choose appropriate food choices for our health, we must choose what goes into our minds for our spiritual health. Select quality friends abounding in wisdom, activities that are directly glorifying to the Lord, and a passion for life that is fueled by being entirely consumed with the Lord-full of purity and love.
Therefore, be FILLED. Stop settling for substances and situations that are subpar. And when you do, watch and see your life transform. Comment please and tell me your thoughts because we must feed off of each other to grow to our full potential. Thank you for reading!
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Alexandra, I have to tell you that your quest for optimal health is inspiring. After battling the conventional world of medicine for months now, I absolutely think that you are on the right track. I can’t wait to see how the Lord is going to use you to change people. And, I can’t wait to read more. There is an ENORMOUS need for wellness coaches in our society!
Wow!! What a great reminder for us all. You are doing an awesome job of allowing the Lord to use you to inspire so many people! Keep it up…love you much!