Do you think God cares about what you eat? If He doesn’t, then eat on (and can I have one of those fries?) If He does, then we have a conflict of interest… our interest in this body we live in day after day… and the Holy Spirit’s interest in this body He lives in day after day.
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NASB)
When I read this verse in light of my food, it stopped me smack dab in the middle of my flat of cinnamon rolls – and I didn’t even lick the fork. Uh oh. A horrible question popped into my head:
“Can I “un-glorify” God in my body with the food I eat?”
The sinking feeling that I had wronged God somehow (but didn’t fully understand how) was paralyzing. Suddenly, I wanted to hide. (And cresting at 220lbs., I was going to need a bigger hiding place … and rations.)
As I started to sweat, and panic, I felt shame close in around me. The horrible realization of my own (possible) guilt was suffocating.
And then, like a sweet breeze in a sweltering prison, the Holy Spirit (the very one I may have been hurting for all these years with my eating) gently whispered to my heart the words of James 1:5 and blew open the doors of my cell.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (NIV)
The truth set in gently over me, like a hug from my Father God… Yes, I needed wisdom around this new realization that my food mattered to Him. Food was affecting my body, the Holy Spirit’s home, and He would help without judging or criticizing me.
Isn’t that the beautiful heart of our Lord? At the moment we realize we’ve made a terrible mistake, missed something important, misunderstood the situation… or just did it our own way to find it isn’t working like we hoped… God steps in to help us without lecturing or lambasting us.
Many of us don’t know what this feels like. We’ve been criticized severely for mistakes far too often for far too long.
Our Abba isn’t like that. He is filled with lovingkindness. He wants to help and He wants to take us into His arms, encourage us … and give us the wisdom we are asking for.
Thank you Lord!
… so what do I need to do again?
Just ask.
For reflection during your prayer time:
- Lord, do you care what I eat?
2. What am I eating that you think is harming my body, your temple?
(Make a list of the specific foods that come time mind.)
3. Lord, what would you like me to do next?
4. Father, will you help me?
This is Day 1 in “Eating Through the Proverbs,” a Bible study about food, by Julia Fikse ©2019.