Soul Care: 7 Days of Life-Giving PracticesChikamu

Day 2: Nourishment

Let me tell you a little secret that isn’t usually preached from the pulpit but is clear in Scripture: Some of the most soul-filling practices you can do for yourself aren’t spiritual practices at all. Because God created us as intricate, holistic human beings made in His image, each part of us impacts the whole.

When the teachers of the law asked Jesus to tell them the greatest commandment, Jesus said without hesitation: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:29-31).

Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.

Feelings, emotions, mind, and body—they’re all connected! Part of loving God with all our strength comes down to the practice of caring for our bodies.

We often take this for granted, but our bodies were made to be fueled, and one of the most basic (yet often neglected) practices of soul care Jesus modeled for us was the act of nourishing His body. He took the time for important daily disciplines such as eating and drinking! There are numerous passages in Scripture about Jesus taking time to eat (Luke 11:37), urging His disciples to eat (John 21:12), sitting around a table and sharing a meal (Luke 7:36), or having a meal prepared for Him (John 12:2). Luke 7:34 even says that the “Son of Man came eating and drinking,” which is not what people expected of the Messiah! His human nature came with important human needs that required His attention.

Sometimes, while trying to do more, we actually set ourselves up to do less. We neglect to nourish our bodies, then we feel awful when our blood sugar drops. We get moody as a result, and hangry, and irritable, and then we think we’re under some sort of spiritual attack! We may be tempted to overspiritualize these negative experiences and feelings, but often they are simply the body signaling a basic need: We need to stop and care for ourselves, to fuel ourselves with the nutrition and hydration our bodies need to function most effectively.

I think it’s safe to say that too many of us have been taught to shame our bodies rather than to honor them. We look down on our bodies instead of feeling proud of them. But the cycle of shame always leads us away from the path of health. When we are cynical, negative, critical, and constantly degrading towards ourselves, our emotions respond accordingly. And when you’re filled with sadness, frustration, discouragement, and hopelessness, you’re more likely to make choices that lead you away from health rather than toward it.

The most motivating thing you can do for yourself is to honor your body with gratitude. Gratitude that God made you strong. Gratitude that your body is made in the most wonderful way (Psalm 139:14). Gratitude for the miracles of living, and breathing, and moving (Acts 17:28). And above all, gratitude to a God who knows every detail on your body, every single hair on your head, and exactly how you were formed (Luke 12:7). When you honor your body, you’re honoring the temple God resides in. So listen and respond as Jesus says, “Come and eat,” and fuel your body well.