Food is the name of the game for so many social media accounts, websites, companies, etc. There are food festivals, TV networks, etc. We even are becoming more and more obese due to abuse.

As you know, food does not automatically equal nourishment. “Come on now, don’t be raining on my parade,” is what you might think. Don’t worry. I’m not so much about what goes in your stomach than I am about what goes in your heart and mind.

Fast Food and Instagram

There is something I call the “Gospel of Instagram.” It’s about fueling your faith life with Bible verses—most often out of context, laced with pretty designs on square pictures. Of course, you can find those on every social media, but I use Instagram as an example because it happens to be my one of my favorites.

There is no doubt that those putting so much effort in sharing beautiful relevant content to you (I am one of them, after all) are doing it with the desire to impact positively your life. That is not the debate. My concern is that a verse without a context can be used to say whatever we want it to. One verse is better than not getting in the Word of God at all, but that is when it can be compared to fast food.

Fast food is, of course, better than starving. Yet, in terms of nutrition, it usually lacks the proper components optimal for your overall health. Just like consuming half-baked Bible lessons can be damaging to your spiritual health.

While eating poorly may be the only option you have in this perverted world, the Gospel is for free. The cost of walking with Christ will always be one you can pay. The ultimate cost, He paid for you.

Fancy Restaurants and Preachers

If you’ve been to a fancy-schmancy restaurant before, you know they serve good food in decent portion size. They carefully select choice ingredients, and with a mix of skills, knowledge, and experience they will serve a rightly seasoned and prepared meal to make your palate happy.

When listening to an anointed preacher, you know they have used their skills and time with God to prepare a message to nourish your spirit. We are immensely blessed to have ministers called by God who give their lives for the building up of the body of Christ. We are even more blessed when we can partake in a community of fellow imperfect believers and sit under sound teachings.

Yet, one has to eat three times a day and most people actually have to cook most of their food. This leads us to our next kind of meal.

Home-Cooked Meals & Personal Faith

While fast food may come in handy, and we can all enjoy a meal prepared by a professional, there really isn’t anything like a good home-cooked meal. Even if it’s as simple as a sandwich. I mean, I’ll have an avocado sandwich every day of the week without a problem! What I prepare for myself is as tailored as can be. Also, homemade has a special taste to it, it is usually far more satisfying than anything else we can find outside our homes.

Spiritually, when we feed ourselves with God’s Word during our personal time with Him, He speaks to the depths of our souls like no one else could. We do much growing out of a personal walk with Christ because it is designed for us alone. God knows why we need what we need, even when no one else may know what we are going through. We don’t even know our own hearts, but God does.

Finding creative ways to walk daily with God will nourish us like nothing else.

A Balanced Diet

So how do you do that? For starters, read portions of God’s Word daily and let it speak to you, reflect on it, meditate on it. If it means you have to cut all your TV shows and a few extra minutes of sleep, do so. The reward is greater than all these things could ever bring.

“For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. —Philippians 3:18–21, NLT (emphasis added).

Let’s not live for our stomachs, considering only this life here on earth. We have been redeemed, purchased at a high price. Let’s set aside, fight against, defeat fleshly desires and let’s live according to this identity we claim so dearly.

It’s Time to Work Out

If you must relax after a long day at work, or need music to be cool while driving, connect yourself with wholesome entertainment.

There is only 24 hours in a day. That is why I don’t waste my time with things I don’t want to grow in my life. This twerking music may sound really good to my flesh, but I want my faith to grow. So instead, I’ll tune in for some Christian music. The flesh may protest, but hey, we can subdue it, right? ‘I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.’—1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT.

Just like working out will make you fit and strong, so will some spiritual disciplines. Pray regularly, give of yourself and your resources, declare God’s Word in times of temptation, join a small group to help growing your faith in a small family-like community, serve in church and be submissive to your leaders, etc.

May God grant us the strength to align with His will. Amen.