"..Food For Thought.."

Are you in bondage to food?

There is no doubt that health experts, and nutritionalists, are great in helping us to keep our bodies healthy in order to live longer healthier lives here on the earth..

But did you ever see such conflicting advice going around about this diet versus that diet..one minute this particular food is so beneficial, next minute it isn't..

Yesterday, a new book arrived in the post which was all about a 'revolutionary new diet'.
It was written by someone I really respect as a dietician, so when I saw it advertised, I joined in with all the excitement and ordered a copy hoping to gain some greater insight for healthier eating..

Well, I'd barely got through the first few pages when I felt what can only be described as a 'strait jacket' coming upon me. Yes, there were many good insights and advice, but all the information about the 'do's and don'ts' was becoming overwhelming..

There were all these warnings regarding certain diseases caused by wrong eating...not to mention all the possible consequences of what could happen if I continued to eat certain foods..

All of this along with the need to keep a check on myself in order to stay within a certain 'zone..'

I went to bed that night, no longer at peace as I thought about all the untoward chemicals present in tinned food, and how I must make sure I was eating meat that was raised in the right way..on and on..

Oh, and add to that all the latest scientific findings about plastic microbes from the clothes we're wearing, apparently now showing up inside our fish?

Funnily enough, the previous day I had been led to a certain scripture in Galatians;

'..Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun your new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit are you now reaching perfection by dependence on the flesh?' Chap 3 v 3 (Amp)

So, am I saying all such diets are wrong?

Of course not, but God, Who is the True Divine Dietician, wants us to live freely, and not to be all focused on ourselves and obsessed with every least bit of food we're eating..

After all, it is He Who created each of our bodies, so matter how qualified, and how much expert knowledge a doctor or nutritionalist may have, at the end of the day, only He really knows what's best for each of our bodies..

Jesus said in Matthew 11 v 30;
'My yoke is easy, and My burden is light..'

He wants us to live in peace..

Plus, it may surprise you to hear that Father God actually wants us to enjoy our eating..which means, by surrendering our eating habits to Him it won't necessarily all be about 'lettuce and spinach'..

Of course, it may be a good idea to begin limiting certain carbs in our diet, certain cereals, and some processed crammed with salt and sugar, but when that also includes bananas and beetroot?

Hang on a minute..bananas are a great source of potassium, and beetroot is very nutritious!

Also, in my own situation, having surrendered my eating habits to the Lord a few years ago, cow's milk began to be replaced with soya milk..but some say soy is bad for us..

Confusing, hey?

With so many conflicting views around, what should we do?

The answer is, to pray for wisdom regarding our diet, then read any information with our spirits.

In other words, consciously allowing the Lord in on it to guide and counsel..

Some things may apply, some not..

He may say to someone who has just been diagnosed with a serious health issue;
"..Buy this diet book, and obey everything in it.."

Or, to another, He may lead to buy a certain book, but only highlight one principal in it..

I know; 'Let's allow God to be God, and live in peace..'

Oftentimes, the wisdom of the Lord will make no sense to our natural minds..

Well, obey His leading anyway, because scripture tells us;

'..Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom..'
2Cor 3 v 17

Think of Namaan who was in dire need of healing from leprosy..
Then, on the advice of his wife's servant girl from Israel, he came before Elisha the prophet..
(2Kings 5 )

He was probably expecting a big ceremony with all the local dignitaries present plus, a buffet tea to celebrate..

But Elisha, the prophet of God told him; "..Go dip 7 times in the Jordan river..'

What!?

It made no sense..but finally, he obeyed, and healing was the result..

Sadly, it is true nowadays that there is no longer much integrity left in the food industry, with most bowing to the 'God of mammon' in order to keep down costs..

And if it wasn't for the pressure from government watch dogs to keep control against certain dodgy ingredients and practices, things would be a lot worse..

So, we can never really know the true origin of our food, or what process it's been through before it gets to us, whether from the supermarket, or a restaurant, but I can assure you, God does not want us all caught up worrying about it!

So, where does that leave us, as Christians?

Well, we are to be an example to others by not succumbing to fear and worry..because Jesus assured us in Mark 16 v 18 'if we drink anything deadly it will not harm us..' (which means 'inadvertently', by the way, not presumptuously on purpose).

So, by faith, we are to pray over our food remain at peace, and unless He guides us otherwise, enjoy it!

One last thing, if you're not sure about the Lord's leading about whether or not, to give it up a certain food..then just keep bringing it before Him each day, He will soon make it clear. and you will know in your 'knower' exactly what to do!'

Notice the accompanying picture showing a scrumptious dessert?

Well, though I have radically changed my eating habits over the years, I do still have something like this occasionally, whereas, some folks may feel to give up sugar altogether..

That is freedom, my friend.. and that is how our heavenly Father wants us to live..

'..It was for freedom that Christ has set us free, no longer to be held in a yoke of slavery..'
Galatians 5 v 1

Selah..