Meal Planning: Avoiding Spiritual Emptiness

Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David.
Isaiah 55:1-3, NKJV

Have you ever sat down to relax after eating, intending to watch television or to read, yet found yourself distracted by a gnawing emptiness growing in your stomach? If you’re like me, you may find yourself asking, “Didn’t I just eat a big meal? Why am I still so hungry?”

God answers your questions in the opening Scripture verses, Isaiah 55:1-3. He tells you that you can spend your income on food and activities that don’t satisfy when, truly, feeding on Christ and His holy word will not only fill you in ways that nourish you completely, but delight you, as well! Jesus is your Creator, and He alone knows exactly what you need to quench the dry, empty places within you physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, spiritually, and in every possible way.

You may have turned away from God, believing falsely that He wants to control you. However, Jude 24 shows us that His true desire is “to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” (NKJV)

Have you chosen to feed on the word of God every day? How has choosing Jesus as your source of nourishment changed your life?

Almighty God, I can so often choose my own way, stubbornly believing I know best. Yet, Your word clearly tells me that Your ways are higher than my ways, and Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. I invite You into my heart to search me and to know me, O God, that You may cleanse me of all that is not of You and lead me in Your way everlasting. I ask these things in Your holy and mighty name, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Encouraging One Another
Do you struggle with comprehending the Scriptures? Why not try following our CIR Daily Reading Plan, and pray to the Lord at the start of each day, or whatever time during your day is best for you, asking Jesus to give you His revelation and understanding specifically for your life-situation? The following link will bring take you to our CIR Daily Reading Plan for this year; we are reading the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs, and it is never too late to begin:
http://christians-in-recovery.org/attach/documents/BibleReadingPlans/NT-Ps-Pr.pdf

You are special and unique and precious to God, and He wants to share His message with you as you come to Him each day. As you read, pray, and listen to the Holy Spirit revealing your Heavenly Father’s loving words to you each day, we would love to read your post as you share with us what the Lord is teaching you so we, too, can be encouraged together as your brothers and sisters in Christ. We in CIR are all journeying together toward healing in Jesus, and their is nothing better than doing so as a family, supporting and edifying one another in love.

~ BAPearl