His Provision, Our Health

by Victoria Gaines
Published August 21, 2008

"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven." ~ John 6:32

On a quest for better health 10 years ago, I started walking, lifting weights, and lost nearly 60 lbs. while I detoxed from every form of junk food. As some predicted, I suffered a little withdrawal when it came to giving up sweets, but I had to stop flirting with sugar. Sugar, working undercover as sucrose, fructose - even lactose - had deceived me long enough. Artificial sweeteners were no better. They tricked my pancreas into secreting insulin, just like sugar. Upon learning that additives, preservatives, food dyes, yeast, trans-fats, and sugar were making me sick, I wanted my life back. I started eliminating all dietary troublemakers, added some essential fatty acids to my regimen, and noticed how perky I started to feel. These few changes made a profound impact on my health. Well into my 40's, I suddenly had a new lease on life.

But willpower didn't get me there.

Until I was miserable, sick, and hurting all over, I actually enjoyed my junk food. I lived in denial for years with whacky hormones, ill health, feeling way out of control. After many 'willpower' attempts to change, I gave up and prayed. I wanted to stop sabotaging my own health. I wanted to stop using food like a drug. But I couldn't do it on my own. Slowly, I began to move more. My taste buds adjusted to whole foods. As I began to reap the benefits of change, a sense of joy returned to my life.

Over the past couple years I've drifted away from my healthy regimen, constantly resolving to "do better tomorrow." Have you been there? I can't do anything apart from Him - not even diet. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" is true, but the raw consequences of neglecting His provision for my health are: higher triglycerides, hypertension, and that wiped-out, here-we-go-again feeling. Granted, thyroid issues and heredity played a small part, but that doesn't negate my need to take care of this body. Even for this, I need continual enablement.

How do we receive God's enablement? Not by begging Him over and over again for something He freely gives. His wisdom, strength, grace, and provision all come as we abide. My need is met as I trust Him to do exactly that. He won't force His provision; He waits for us to open the door, confessing our need and dependence.

And our intentions are good. We keep meaning to open His Word and stay connected, but time slips away. Maybe we go to Him for certain things, but in other matters we shut Him out.

More often than not, we relish our spoon-feedings of spiritual additives or downright pablum, substituting fast food for real spiritual nourishment. Many friends (I've done this, too) rely on a favorite author or devotional book to sustain some kind of spiritual life. Even when these teachings are rich with biblical truth and inspiration, second-hand supplements are just that - supplements. Man's teachings can never replace the need for each one of us to abide in Christ. This bears repeating especially since much of today's teachings deliver mixed messages of legalism and grace (another subject entirely), confusing even the most devoted. We must allow the Holy Spirit to speak truth to our hearts as we turn to Him in the written Word.

All the devotionals in the world won't help during a crisis if we're not abiding in Christ. Every believer needs to be strengthened and renewed daily in the confidence of His love. The Lord God lives to provide for us.

Are you hurting, worried, or afraid? Feeling neglected or overwhelmed by life? Join me in eliminating fast-food (and junk) from our spiritual diets as we turn to the Bread of Life together. Sometimes it's not until we're hurting that we're willing to lean on the Living Word with regularity, expectancy, and utter dependence.

Remember, He LIVES to provide for me and you.
~~~

"For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."~ John 6:33

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