Healthy Body, Healthy Spirit: How Nutrition and Faith Work Together
I probably don’t need to spend any time convincing you that making good food choices is extremely valuable to your overall health…
When you eat something unhealthy, you feel a bit sick.
When you overeat, you feel a bit sick.
When you under-eat, you feel a bit sick.
It’s obvious and just makes sense!
Good Food Choices = Good Feeling Body
The less obvious, is our spiritual appetite.
We need to also take time DAILY to fill our spiritual cup.
Jesus said,
“Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Mark 7:21-23 ESV
So we need to care for our physical bodies, but Jesus prioritizes the soul… every time.
Aligning our faith with food:
PRAYER! This one may be a no-brainer for you, or it may be seriously overlooked. I’m feeling personally convicted as I write this… There are many, many meals that I scarf down standing up or while I’m driving somewhere. Nearly every time I hand my toddler a snack I pray that he will eat it… (half joking); but I don’t stop to pray with him and he’s almost 18 months now and really able to understand our words, our habits, and the order of things.
Be intentional with your food choices.
Be mindful while you eat.
Eat with thanksgiving and gratitude.
Ask God for guidance in your choices and for help with your nutrition goals.
Honor God with your meal prep!
Listen to scripture or worship music while you’re preparing food and even while you clean the dishes.
And of course, pray without ceasing.
Nutrition & Faith work together:
Caring for our bodies is a part of stewardship over God’s creation.
There are a few ways that I allow my biblical knowledge and my faith to lead my food choices…
I believe that the way God created food is ideal.
This leads me to a few decisions. As often as possible, I choose Natural foods that are non-GMO, minimally processed (or at least processed without toxins), and organic.
I believe that all creation is to be respected.
This leads me to choosing ethically sourced food. This can apply to the farming practices, the environment, and animal welfare.
I believe that humans are flawed, and anything by the design of man is inferior to the design of The Creator.
Because of this I choose to restrict my intake of artificial substances, including dyes, sweeteners, and trans fats.
It can be a bit overwhelming to change your food habits and your shopping habits.
And there is a lot of information out there if you want to dive deep down the rabbit hole of the Food Industry and “conspiracy” theories that are basically just becoming spoiler alerts at this point.
I HIGHLY recommend that you take the time to learn and understand for yourself.
But if you are looking for a quick fix in the meantime, we have recently partnered with Thrive Market and it’s been a super simple way to sort through the no-nutrient, artificial, fake “food” and only get access to products that align with our values.
We particularly love getting our cooking/baking basics, as well as snack food and even household products from Thrive Market. It’s all online, ships to your door, and gives you access to tons of Organic, Wholesome, and Sustainable food options.
We have a support link that will give you 30% off your first order + a free gift option, and you can try it risk free for 30 days before committing. You can visit the link on our ‘Partners’ page on the site drop down menu.
Or click here: https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-101264102-15349091
Give it to God!
I encourage you to view every aspect of your health journey as an offering to God.
Taking care of yourself honors the Lord.
Making everyday choices, even seemingly small choices, with God at the center shows respect for Him and it sets us apart from the world.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
