Empty Calories

As the new year starts many of us turn to better health.  We join a gym, drink more water, and adjust our diet. But could we also have a need to re-focus our spiritual diet?  In our fast paced, information age we can become bombarded with automatic emails from inspirational sites, daily Bible verses texted to us, and Facebook posts from well-meaning friends.  Having all of these snacks around can make us feel full but may actually provide empty calories. Good nutrition comes from self-feeding on God’s word.  Just like we can’t gain personal salvation from someone else’s belief we can’t grow on someone else’s bread.

A few years ago I read an online article that quoted an apology from Bill Hybels, well known author and pastor of Willow Creek Church and founder of Willow Creek Association.  Willow Creek is known for Bible Study and Sunday School curriculum.  Bill said they had made a mistake in providing such a full type curriculum and instead should have been encouraging believers to become “self-feeders”. 

Bill went on to say that teaching should be something we take in, meditate on, and then seek God on our own for His personal direction.  The Bible is called the Living Word for its personal, life giving properties.  Just like when The Word is spoken, sung or read and you feel like it is just for you at that moment.  That is happening for everyone in different ways in the same moment.  God is personal with each one of us and we should be personal with Him.

Facebook posts and daily verses should be taken as inspiration and not a meal.  Their full benefit is only seen when planted in our hearts and watered by God to bloom in a personal way in our life.  Just like over-eating is bad for our bodies, over-eating spiritually is bad for our soul as well.  This is why throughout the Bible we are encouraged to meditate on His word.  That means take the time to eat, digest and let the nourishment flow into our soul and produce fruit in our lives.

I’m not suggesting we stop going to church or stop the daily Bible verse texts. Like Bill Hybels, I’d like to see people take that info and ask God what He wants them to do with it that day/week etc.  Essentially moving away from being spoon-fed to self-fed.  So take the sermon and do the study again for yourself.  Pray about the Facebook post topic and let God speak to you.  Read the daily verse, asking God to show you how or if you should apply it to your daily living.  For daily devotionals - just ask God if it’s for you today.  He’ll let you know if this is food or a snack.  Who knows… it may be like a protein bar in your lunch bag meant to share and nourish a friend in need later and not meant for you at all.  The key to knowing is to keep your relationship with God fresh and personal; let His Holy Spirit truly be your personal trainer. 

**Lord, thank you for the gift of your Word.  Help me slow down and begin to see the difference between nourishment meant just for me and over-eating of snacks with empty calories.   Forgive me for being content with someone else’s bread.  Spur me to crave your bread of life.  I choose today to grow closer to you in a more personal way by spending time in your Word and following your training schedule.  I love you and look forward to a year of increased spiritual health. **

^{How sweet are your words to taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!} 

^{Psalms 119:103}

Click here for a link to a Bible Study tip sheet I have created.  The link will open to my website.  Just click on the Message button on the front page:  SimplyCindyRowe