“Come for breakfast tomorrow morning at our church,” my friend invited the stranger we encountered on our morning prayer walk. “It’s free and really good. You’re also welcome to stay for church afterward, if you like.” Then she added, “You’ll get food for your body and food for your soul.” Her words took me by surprise, but how true they were, I thought, as we walked on together. Jesus, Himself, said as much when He replied to the tempter –

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)

Today our culture seems very focused on food, at least with the physical food that we put in our bodies. Those that are especially dedicated to the pursuit of enjoying good food even have a name- foodies. We have celebrity chefs, abundant cooking shows, as well as many who make their living as nutritionists, diet guru’s and fitness advisors. Our culture tells us to be very concerned about what kinds of foods we consume.

Only problem is, the “experts” all have different ideas about what is the best food or foods for our bodies. We are bombarded incessantly with all kinds of different diet advice. Some fad diets come and go, while others continue to have some influence over people’s food choices. And they all sound so scientific! There is the keto diet, the paleo diet, the vegan diet, the carnivore diet, the low-fat diet, low-carb diet, the intermittent fasting diet, the Atkins diet, a Macrobiotic diet, there is even a cookie diet. (now that sounds appealing rather than scientific, but kind of counter intuitive if you ask me, although no one did) This revelation leaves me wondering why no ice-cream diet? I could definitely get behind that. But I digress.

Some diets seem to be named for a location such as South Beach diet, Hollywood diet, Nordic diet, Cambridge diet, Blue Zones diet or the Mediterranean diet. Point is, we put a lot of thought, time and effort into what we feed our bodies. The food, nutrition and diet industries are big business in today’s culture. BUT – I have to wonder – are we as concerned about and consumed with what we feed our minds and our souls as we are with what we feed our bodies?

After all, Jesus said we don’t live by bread alone. Now even so, Jesus was aware that we need both physical and spiritual food. He demonstrated this when He was teaching large crowds of people who had gathered on a mountainside in Galilee to hear Him preach and teach about the kingdom of God. The people gathered there received food for their souls that day, but Jesus didn’t send them away to journey home with empty stomachs. Jesus also provided food for their bodies that day, namely plenty of fish and bread.

In Deuteronomy, I read just how important the food of God’s Word is to my well-being and to my survival. Moses told the people of Israel –

“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

Jesus told His disciples this –

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63)

Peter says this to Jesus –

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

Here I see confirmed what Jesus said about God’s word, that I am to live on “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” God’s word is what feeds, nourishes and sustains my mind and my soul. (certainly gives a new meaning to the words “soul food”, doesn’t it?) And here’s some really good news. Unlike with physical food, where there are so many opinions about which foods are beneficial and which foods are harmful, which foods are good for certain ailments or conditions and which foods should be avoided or which foods will help you have more energy or lose weight or . . . the advice about food is contradictory and endless.

BUT – with our spiritual food, God’s Word, we are told this –

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

There it is – ALL SCRIPTURE – all of God’s Word is good for me. Every word of God’s is life to me! I don’t have to avoid certain books of the Bible or restrict my intake of God’s Living Word. It is all good. Every word is life giving, life sustaining, life redeeming! And God’s word even tells me the kinds of things that will feed my mind and my soul well. This is nutrition that will enable me to live the life God calls me to live for Him. Here is God’s prescription for me and for you –

“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.” (Philippians 4:8)

Just as God gave the Israelites manna every morning in the desert, food for their bodies, He gives you and me, dear readers, food for our minds and our souls every day – His Living Word. A daily diet of God’s Living Word provides all the necessary nutrition I need each day. And as an added bonus, God’s Word is totally heart healthy!

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” (Psalm 19:7-8)

lifegiving, brain food and heart food – thank You, Heavenly Father, for such perfect food, Your Living Word, which provides me with all the necessary nutrients I could ever need –

sincerely, Grace Day