You Are What You Eat

Back in my school days, in the lunch-room, there were posters encouraging us kids to eat well-balanced diets. One poster in particular always caught my attention. It read "you are what you eat". In other words, it was saying that the kind of fuel I put into my body determined my performance - the higher the octane level, the higher the output. This is true in the spiritual life, too.

What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions.

Spiritual disciplines help us maintain an attitude of gratitude. They are habits that help us to live with a sense of God's presence and grace and purpose, and because of this, we can be freed from the deep sense of anxiety that drives most of us.

Simplicity brings life and joy and balance and blessing. Both simplicity and solitude are both inner realities and outward life-styles.

Peace is what we long for. Peace is not the absence of storms in our lives. Peace is what we get in the storm. Far too often I do not allow God to give me His peace in the storm because I am too busy trying to convince Him to get me out of the storm.

We make choices. We plan and then pray God will bless our decisions. God calls us to pray and submit our plans first for His consideration and then to wait on Him for a response. But we don’t like the waiting and we certainly don’t like being told no.

We say this or that will increase our style of life but we don’t ask whether or not it will increase the quality of life. According to one author, we buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.

A simple life is a centered life – a life devoted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A simple life is one where a believer truly loves the Lord God with all his heart, mind, and soul. God is first and everything else is far behind.

We all desire peace. We all desire a simpler life-style, but what is it that keeps us from the centeredness of a life hidden in Christ Jesus?

In Matthew 6:24-34, Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.”

The main point of living a centered life is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

In Phil. 4:4-8 the Apostle Paul tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

As Elizabeth Seaton said, “Live simply that others might simply live.”

Simplicity is the cure for anxiety. Practicing the disciplines of simplicity and solitude means finding space in your life to stop, be still, and listen for God's voice – the "still, small voice" which wells up from within us if only we will quiet ourselves deeply enough and long enough to hear it. We must be still and know that God is God.

Take time today to be still and know that God is God.

Lord God, you have given us all that we need to be centered and balanced and whole. Yet sometimes we clutter our lives with people to see, things to do, things to have. In the middle of this clutter it is easy to lose sight of what is most important - your love for us, your kingdom, your righteousness, your command that we love one another as you have loved us. Help us to simplify our family life so that we have time to pray together, to celebrate, to play, to tell stories, to see you alive in our home. Bless us with the knowledge that you care for us. We pray this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.