Everyone Eats: Reflecting Christ in Your Daily Eating

Everyone eats every day. Every day everyone eats.

(Unless of course you are fasting, on an unhealthy diet, or have an eating disorder. To the latter two, I hope this brings you clarity and conviction that causes you to run to the loving arms of Christ.)

Eat every day, everyone.

I am writing this to explain why healthy eating is an important part of walking with Jesus. God has infused in me a passion for nutrition (I’m actually about to declare a minor in nutrition), and I promise it’s from the Lord because before I knew him I just ate a lot of candy. You can ask my parents. My nickname as a child was “candy bones.” Plus, one time when I was in fourth grade, I ate so much junk food when I got home after school that I threw up in the middle of the night because I was so sick from what I ate. Praise God for redemption and my selfless mom who cleaned up the smelly concoction of Drumsticks, cheese puffs, and Slim Jims when I didn’t make it to the toilet in time. Thanks, mom.

On that note, let’s begin.

1. Your Body Is a Temple

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says our (those who put their trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ) body is:

{ A temple of the Holy Spirit }

This is a big deal. The Spirit of God now dwells in your body. Therefore, you, as an individual saint, are a vessel, and we, as the body of Christ, are vessels set apart because of the Spirit in us. Because of He who is now in you, your desires are changing to look like those of Christ. The way you talk is different than the way you used to talk; the way you think is different than the way you used to think; the way you approach schoolwork, converse with co-workers, treat people, date and see yourself are all different from before you knew Christ because He has shown Himself to you and granted you with His Spirit. So then, is the way we eat not also supposed to look different from that of the world?

In Galatians 5:23, when it says self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit, does that only apply to anger or to all aspects of our life including the way we eat? I want to clarify that in the same way self-control doesn’t mean controlling your tongue to the point where you never speak (it’s necessary to speak truth, talk with friends, and share the gospel), it also does not mean controlling yourself to the point where you never eat – or to the point where you’re consumed by constantly watching what you eat. We’ll discuss this more in depth in the fourth point.

{ Not your own}

You. Are. Not. Your. Own. It's not about you. It's not about me. It's not about John Piper. It’s not about Charles Spurgeon. It’s not about C.S. Lewis. I know those last three really cut to the heart for some of ya’ll, but seriously if anything or anyone is on a pedestal in your life besides Jesus Christ, it is an idol. God owns you, and praise God that He’s finally got a hold of you because you have no clue how to run your own life. 

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died, and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV).

Brothers and sisters, let the love of Christ seep into and control every aspect of your being. It is so much better than controlling your own life.

{Brought at a price (the blood of Jesus Christ)}

This goes off the latter part of the verse above this. The love of Christ controls us, and we are no longer our own because we have been bought at the price of Jesus’ blood. Man, what a heavy truth, but what a great reminder that in exchange for our dirty rags, the Lord gave us His Son, so that we may have life and life to the fullest. I truly think if we remind ourselves of this truth, it will change us even down to what food we consume and the size of the portions we eat. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Spirit permeates every detail of our lives, and He will not stop doing so until He has all of you.

{For the purpose of glorifying God}

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

What does this mean? How did I bring praise to God in the way I eat or drink?

Let’s jump back a few verses to verse 23, “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.”

In the Old Testament, there were multiple laws about what kinds of meat to eat. When Christ came, he fulfilled the law. The law was only a shadow that pointed to the person who is Jesus. I don’t know if the Jews in this passage still follow the law and do not believe the Messiah has come yet, or if because they have lived under this law for so long, they still feel guilty for eating the meats they were once commanded not to. Regardless, Paul is telling the church of Corinth (who are not Jews) that although they have freedom to eat any meat they want, they should not do so with those who are Jewish for the sake of Jews’ conscience.

Paul’s self-control of not eating certain meats when he was with Jews, the selflessness of giving up a freedom for the advancement of the kingdom and for unity’s sake, and his humility in all this reflects the character of Christ. In this passage, which is pertaining to what and how they should eat, Paul exhibits self-control, selflessness, humility and love, and in these ways reflects God’s character (His glory) in the way he eats.

We can also apply this principle to the context on our own culture. For example, you have the freedom to eat a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a root beer. Is it OK to eat this everyone once in a while? Sure. Is it beneficial to your body to eat these types of things more than every once in a while? No. Another thing to consider is when you eat this hamburger, are you thanking God for the freedom to be able to eat this in moderation, or are you indulging in your fleshly desires? I am not saying eating a hamburger has to be an over-spiritual activity, but God should not be separate from anything you do. You reflect the self-control of the Spirit and the humility of Christ when you recognize your body is no longer your own to do as you please, but rather His vessel to be used for His purposes.

In summary, your body is a temple of God and should be treated like so. Your body and its entirety is God’s; it has been bought with His blood, so you are no longer to indulge in the passions of the flesh but rather walk by the Spirit. In light of these truths, we are to care about the many aspects of our lives including what food we consume and the portion sizes of food we eat.

2. It Is How Your Body Is Designed

When you eat well, you feel good. You have more energy. Your body functions efficiently. You don’t get sick very often (unless you’re not sleeping enough). Overall, when you’re giving your body proper nutrients, you live a fuller physical life, and this pours into to your emotional and spiritual well-being. 

“Eating a healthy breakfast is associated with improved cognitive function (especially memory), reduced absenteeism, and improved mood,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

God was precise in the composition of our bodies. He structured our organs, muscles, blood, nerves and bones to live off the plants of the field, fruit of the trees and vines, animals of the land, and fish of the sea. It was meant to be good! The burst of juicy flavor when we sink our teeth into a grape is supposed to remind us that God has created the very taste of this fruit, for from Him and to Him and through Him are all things. Food, as all things, was created to reflect the goodness of God and lead us to worship the Creator. But, as all things, we have worshipped the creation rather than the One who created it.

3. You Have Limitations

There are consequences to your eating habits. If you go on eating as you please, eventually you will go to the doctor for a checkup, and the doctor will inform you that you need to cut certain things out of your diet because your cholesterol is too high. According to the CDC website, “A poor diet can increase the risk for lung, esophageal, stomach, colorectal, and prostate cancers.” 

You have limitations. Recognize them. Embrace them. They are how Christ’s power is made known through you.

I want to add that because you have limitations, you will not always eat the perfect amount of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and proteins that you are supposed to eat every day. It’s OK. There is so much grace. We rest in the finished work of Christ, not our own. However, out of a heart that has experienced the grace and love of Jesus Christ, let us honor Him, brothers and sisters, with the temple that belongs to Him.

4. My Intentions for Eating Healthy Are Not OK

Maybe you are eating healthy because you are concerned about your outward appearance. Maybe eating healthy is like a competition to you; you want to do it perfectly and you are disappointed in yourself when you fail to meet the daily recommendations. It could be that you think eating healthy is eating as little as possible and only when necessary. Perhaps you have taken healthy eating to an unhealthy level, and it has begun to consume you to the point where it is an idol in your life.

First, let me clear up a few of these lies.

A benefit of eating healthy is a lower risk for obesity, but so many guys and girls think they are overweight when they are not at all. Although eating healthy and exercising could very likely cause you to lose weight if you are overweight, this is not where the focus for eating healthy should be.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV).

In this verse, Samuel is looking for a king to replace Saul, and he has come upon a man named Eliab who was probably tall, strong, and good-looking. Samuel says surely this must be the Lord’s anointed (v. 6). Then God says you don’t get it Samuel; I’m not looking for the tallest, strongest, most handsome man in all of Israel, but the one whose heart loves me and walks in all my ways. Then David, who was the youngest of all his brothers and was short, which was not a highly regarded physical quality of a man or a king, was chosen to be king of Israel and became one of the greatest kings.

God does not so much care if we lose the right amount of weight or eat perfectly healthy, but he does value your heart in doing these things. When we recognize our bodies are not our own but are the temple of God and in light of that truth, desire to be careful about what we put into that temple, this is honorable before the Lord.

Back to the main point. Your intentions are probably impure to some degree in just about everything you do because you're in the flesh. For example, I want to honor the Lord in my schoolwork, so I work diligently and with excellence, but many times I find myself working for my own selfish gain, on my own strength, and desiring to receive the praise from my hard work. When I do this, I have put my schoolwork before God in some aspects, and it has become an idol. Should I stop doing my homework and quit studying? Should I drop out of school? I sure don’t think my professors, parents, friends, or the Lord would say yes to either of these questions. The same principle applies to eating healthy. Because your intentions are impure, should you stop eating healthy? No. Eating healthy is a good thing, but the motives and intentions of your heart have made it wicked. So what should you do? What can you do? Absolutely nothing. There is nothing you can do to change your own heart, BUT the Father has the power to do anything. Absolutely anything. Pray that the Lord would change the perverted intentions of your heart in eating healthy, and He will. He is faithful to do the things His children ask in His name, according to His purposes.

5. How Do I Do This?

I hope by now you understand why Christians are called to a different standard in their daily eating, but let’s get practical about this healthy eating thing.

Here is a link to a very helpful website:

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate

On this website, you can get helpful tips on how to eat healthy, but the most beneficial thing you can do on this website is on this link:

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate/index.aspx

Here, you can type in your age, gender, weight, height, and amount of daily physical activity, and it will show you how much of each food group you are recommended to eat daily.

Some general tips from me:

· Be aware but not obsessive. Examine the nutrition labels because it is important to know what you are putting into your body and the nutrients you are taking in.

· Try to eat more natural foods with fewer preservatives.

· Buy a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.

· Take multivitamins daily (I take kids chewable vitamins because they taste good, give me necessary nutrients, and are cheaper than the others).

· Try to include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein foods, and a little dairy throughout your daily meals.

One last thing, I do not want to hear that eating healthier is more expensive. Maybe if you bought all organic groceries from Sprouts then yes, it would be substantially more expensive. However, fruits and vegetables are inexpensive. Also, it is not usually more expensive to switch out your bread for whole grain bread, pasta for whole grain pasta, or chips for whole grain crackers. I have inherited from my father the wonderful quality of being cheap, or, as I like to call it, being wise with my money. If I can eat healthy on my budget, you can too my friends. 

Don't Be Mad at Eve

Through my once-a-month battle with God’s curse on women, the Lord has brought me to a greater understanding of his truth, grace, and love. While I understand this is not the most conventional or comfortable topic to read about, – I can just feel some of you feeling so awkward as you read this – let not your hearts be troubled because I am not going into details of anything about menstrual cycles (it’s a weird word – I know). Even I, as a female, can say that periods are strange and gross. Mostly what this blog will be about is what I have learned from dealing with the monthly pain.

Attention: From now on, I will be referring to “periods” as “surprises” for the sake of the brave men reading this post.

To women reading this:

I hope this brings you encouragement, understanding and clarity on why the heck this is happening to your body once a month.

To men reading this:

I know you feel a little uncomfortable reading this, but I’m proud of you for even making it to this point. Although you do not directly experience this, you indirectly experience it from being around your sister, mom, friend, and/or girlfriend during their surprises. In addition, you may or may not be united as one with a pretty lady someday who will have to go through this once a month for a substantial amount of years, so it might be beneficial to you to somewhat understand this mystery. Bear with me. It’s going to be okay. I really do think you will find this interesting.

The majority of my close friends and family know that I got the short end of the stick when it comes to God’s curse on women. Without going into too much detail, the second day of my surprise is always horrible.  I break out into cold chills, get weak and faint, and then cannot do anything but lie down and wait for the stomach pain to go away. It’s not like it works around my schedule either. The second-day process I just explained has started on the first day of my new job, while I was out shopping, and multiple times while I was in class. There is nothing quite like lying on the cold tile floor of a Texas Tech bathroom stall. Every time this happens I ask God what his purpose behind this is. It is sometimes asked with bitterness and anger (I’ve been learning to be honest with him about that), but mostly I really just want to understand his purpose behind allowing this to happen to me. Here are a few things my Father has taught me through it:

1. God’s Sacrificial Love

One of the ways I have experienced my Father’s gentle love for me is through how my boyfriend, Josh, takes care of me through this. Last Christmas break Josh came to visit me in my hometown, and we were at Target when my second-day surprise process started (Target is not the most ideal place to get sick). He ended up having to drive my 1998 black Mustang back to my house, and when I got to the front door, I laid down in the fetal position until he opened it. I remember thinking, “He probably has no clue what is going on and thinks I’m being overdramatic, but I literally do not care right now.” I think later that day he told me he was thinking something along the lines of “I have no clue what’s going on right now. Is she dying?” Anyway, I praise God for how understanding and caring he was that day. It showed me a picture of the patient, loving kindness of Christ. Josh has endured this with me enough times to where we basically have a routine for it. He will always drop what he is doing, come pick me up, carry me up the stairs of my apartment, lay me down in my bed, and get me whatever I need. Every time he carries me, while I lie limp in pain and helpless in his arms, I am reminded of how Christ sacrificial love. It beautifully depicts how love is patient, kind and not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Christ laid down everything for me and pulled me out of a hopeless place and into his loving embrace.

What the Lord has graciously shown me through Josh is only a mere glimpse of what is to come. Someday my flesh will fade away, and my Father will carry me away from all the pain and suffering of this world and into the heavens, the place of true rest, where my soul calls home. O, how vast and deep and great is the Father’s love for His children!

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10, ESV).

2. Our Affliction is Short

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV).” In other words, all physical and emotional pain will be but a shadow in comparison to the glory that is to come for those who love God. The surprise I go through once a month is one of the many thorns in my sides that humbles me and reminds me of my desperation and co-dependence on the One who created and saved me. It has taught me to put my hope in what is unseen rather that what is seen (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Stop for a minute and take a look around you. Everything you see now and every day of your life is temporal, including the eyes you are reading this with and the body your eyes are attached to. May your hope be set on what is eternal and not on the perishing things of this world!

3. Not in the Original Game Plan

The most recent thing the Spirit has taught me is that it is not the way God originally designed it. This curse is a result of sin entering the world in Genesis 3 when Eve ate the fruit she was commanded not to eat. But I’m not mad at Eve, I have just as much bloodguilt on my hands as she did.

All of creation was created, and God saw that it was good. Psalm 34:8 says that God is good, so it was designed to worship and reflect his goodness. However, when sin entered the world, it did not just distance us from God, but infected all of creation. Everything, which was intended to be good, is now shattered and crying out for restoration. The bible is not super specific on what this means, but I interpret it to mean the trees are not as green or as lovely as they once were; the water is not as clear and pure as it was meant to be; the animals and insects have inherited vicious behaviors. The glorious melody the earth once sang in perfect harmony to praise its Creator now sounds something like a gargantuan group of toddlers all trying to play different instruments.

Man and woman were made in the image of God, formed by the massive, holy hand of the King, purposed to mirror his awesome glory, but when sin came into the picture, that mirror was dropped off the empire state building and fractured into millions of tiny pieces. Because of this, God multiplied women’s pain in child bearing (Genesis 3:16).

Romans 8:22 says together all of creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth. So once a month, my body is literally groaning for restoration – to be as it was intended to be. As my body groans, so too does the natural earth in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, etc. The earth longs to be as it once was. All of creation is groaning together in the pains of childbirth awaiting the coming (or the birth) of the new earth and new heavens.

“For behold, I create new heavens

       and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

      or come to mind.”

-Isaiah 65:17

4. Clean By His Blood

When women in the Old Testament had their menstruation, they, and everything they touched, would be considered unclean. However, by Jesus’ blood we have been purified (1 Corinthians 6:11), so now even in our blood women who fear God and believe in Jesus can proclaim with authority “we are clean!” Praise God that I am now clothed in righteousness because of his grace!

5. Pain and Suffering is Real

I really dislike the phrase “well, it could be worse – be thankful for what you have.” While this is true, it could be worse, and you should be thankful for what you have, that does not mean the pain I, or anyone has, does not still hurt. The phrase leaves a bitter, unsettling taste in my mouth that does not lead me to find my hope and comfort in Jesus. It makes me feel like I am being overdramatic and that my pain is completely insignificant in comparison to others’ pain.

2 Corinthians 1:4 says God comforts in all afflictions – not just persecution or deadly diseases, but in ALL afflictions. My brothers and sisters let us put to death the lie that our big God does not care about our small problems. He loves when his children will just cry out honestly to him.

God does not desire to tear his children down by saying “what are you making such a big deal about? It could be worse.” That is what the enemy and our flesh does. God is in the business of healing and building up his beloved (his church).

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10, ESV).

Let Me Break It Down for You

My reasons for starting the blog:
1. I like to write. I am a journalism major. It just makes sense.
2. I understand blogs are trendy right now, but I do not consider myself a hipster, so I'm okay with doing something that is somewhat trendy.
3. I would not like to use this blog as way for my opinions to be heard or to express the injustices that oppress me, such as not being treated as special because I'm white middle class or stubbing my toe on the bottom corner of my bed.
4. I would like to challenge the ideas, perspectives, and thinking of those who read this.
5. I would also like to have better grammar and writing skills than many bloggers. I seriously cannot stand to see the letter "i" not capitalized (this leads us back to reason #1). However (speaking to the grammar Nazis here), I will need grace because my grammar is not flawless, and I do not have my journalism degree yet. After I graduate, I give you permission to be merciless with my grammar.

A warning for the faint of heart:
I am not one to sugar coat the truth, especially when I write (it's easier to be more bold when you're not face to face with someone). I know you just read that, and you're totally on board with it, but the truth can be incredibly offensive.

Content:
I honestly do not know. I do not know what tomorrow will look like, so how am I supposed to know what I will write about. It could range from advice on planting to theology to nutrition to college life. I can say for sure that I will talk about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit because He is so worth talking about, and He has radically changed my life through the gospel of Jesus Christ. You talk about things you love, so naturally (because I am now a new creation with the Holy Spirit inside of me) I will talk about Him the most. If this subject bores you or you don't believe in God, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit then I encourage you to read this blog because maybe I can adequately show you the mystery of why He is so astonishingly fascinating to me.

The significance of the blog title:
The title is a quote from the song "House of God" by Jon Foreman, but primarily it is from Psalm 23, which is my favorite Psalm.
      "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not
            want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
   He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:1-2, ESV)

I was once as dead as Jesus's body that lay in the tomb. But just as Jesus was raised from death to life so too was my soul restored, set free, made alive.

Away from all the noise and distractions - in the still and in the quiet - is where I find Him. This is where I am able to retreat with Him and seek Him. By the figurative (or literal) green pastures and still waters, he makes my soul satisfied in Him. I have found this idea of being still for long periods of time so rarely taught on, but it is in the retreat with Christ where the Lord reveals Himself in new ways and molds me to look more like His Son. He reminds me how he dearly loves and cherishes and adores me as His daughter. No human love has ever come close enough to brush the surface of how great His love is for me - and this is only the love that I have come to know and experience; there is so much more to it than my finite mind could ever comprehend.

God has recently been showing me the importance of listening to Him and sitting still in His presence (see Ecclesiastes 5:1-3). There is nothing too spiritual or complicated about it - I just sit there, recognizing His presence is with me. I read some of His word and speak to Him and ask Him things. Sometimes my mind starts to wander off and think too much and sometimes I get bored, but oh how I cherish and long for those times when I just know without a doubt that He is there with me, and I am in awe of His beauty, grace, love, kindness, tenderness, justness, faithfulness, mercy, and holiness.