Food for Thought

Just as eating healthy foods nourishes your body, Bible study nourishes your spirit. There are many similarities between healthy eating and Bible study:

Healthy eating and Bible study are both activities that you need do every day. They give strength and increase energy.

There are different ways to perform each. You may eat healthy at home or at a restaurant. You may enjoy different food groups. Similarly, you may read your Bible at home or in a group. Also, there are many Bibles to choose from.

Both build healthy relationships. When eating, you can enjoy the company of your family and friends. When reading your Bible, you can build a healthier relationship with God.

With a pure motive, they both delight God.

(Taken from Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual and physical health)

Recipe for Success

1 Book
Reading the ___________ provides you with wisdom, instructions, and comfort – “nutrition” which helps you stay spiritually healthy. The Bible is food-for-thought and as with eating food, it is also important to “digest” God’s Word.

8 cups of water
When the body gets the water it needs, it will function optimally. Water boosts your __________, suppresses appetite, increases short-term memory, prevents fluid retention, improves concentration, maintains skin, relieves constipation and rids the body of waste. The recommended water intake is eight to 10 glasses a day. Drinks containing ______________ do not count because they are diuretics, which increase water loss. You need to drink enough to keep your urine clear, light-colored and plentiful. A dark, gold colour urine may mean you are dehydrated.

4 tbsp of garlic, 4 pounds of chicken, 4 tsp of sesame seeds
Try not to eat the same food within a _____________-day period. Enjoy many different kinds of foods to get all the energy and nutrients you need. God created a variety of foods that you can enjoy to meet the needs of your body.

½ tsp each ground cumin and paprika
Focus on ______________. Add chilies, hot mustard and salsa to your meals, instead of high fat butter, rich cream or cheese sauces. Try non-fattening flavorings such as lemon juice, herbs and curry powders. And try low fat cooking techniques such as baking, broiling, steaming or boiling.

1 cup each chopped onions and red bell pepper
Reduce the amount of processed foods you buy. If you really want to be healthy, get back to the basics with ____________foods. Try to eat food the way God made it or as close to it as possible.

3 pounds of fat-free tortilla chips
________-_______ snacks may include pretzels, light microwave popcorn, vanilla wafers, fig bars, dried fruits, low-fat bran muffins, graham crackers, angel food cake and frozen yogurt.

Answers:
Bible; Energy; Caffeine; Four; Flavour; Whole; Low-fat



Plan of action

Can you remember a time when you may have had an intense yearning for something meaningful? Did the void feel insatiable? Did you turn to food to fill this void? If you feel like you still have this feeling, than your relationship with food has to change. It can no longer be looked to as your comforter, but instead you can look to the true Comforter. When you are feeling that emptiness, you can turn to your Bible and read the Word. That empty space can only be filled with God. Instead of giving into the craving, realize what it is: a deep call to spend time with God. Only God can fill the void.

Bible study cleanses your spirit. The word Bible means “the books”. It is the product of one Master Mind. The Bible itself internally claims to be God inspired and is something more than literature or history, it is God’s Word. It is the best-selling book of all time.

Bible study is not boring or irrelevant with over 40 different authors from all walks of life including priests, fishermen, prisoners and doctors. The writers came from a variety of locations and different eras. They used different writing styles including psalms, love songs, history, biography and letters.

Not just one big book, the Bible consists of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament for a total collection of 66 books. 400 years lapsed between the writing of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The writing of the Bible spanned over 1500 years, surviving cultural, geographic and political changes.

Benefits of Bible study
Provides insight and wisdom
Details God’s interaction with people
Instills peace
Promises hope for the future
Builds a relationship with God
A pure motive delights God

Examples:
I plan to cut fresh vegetables and keep in a container in the refrigerator
I plan to participate in at least one Bible study each year
I plan to keep a water bottle with me at all times
I plan to read my Bible daily for fifteen minutes before the kids return from school


Your turn:
· I plan to:
· I plan to: