want to refresh? (part 2)

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Seeking true refreshment for your soul? Here is part 2 of the answer…

2. NOURISH YOURSELF WITH GOD’S WORD.

Just as our physical body needs both water and food to survive and thrive, so does our spirit. Once we surrender to Jesus, accepting the free gift of salvation, we are made new in Him…but we’re still in this world and wrapped in this fallen, sinful body. And, friend, the world is continually force-feeding us some serious junk food…the lies of media, the perversion of culture, the warped sense of “reality” through social media.

So, we must ingest the Truth of God on a regular basis—our daily bread. We don’t eat food just once a week, right? We need the Word every single day. And I can guarantee we don’t go a whole day without checking Instagram or Facebook or turning on the news—right? As we feed on those things of the world, they’re creating in us a famine, malnourishing and poisoning us.

But God’s Word truly nourishes—our mind, our heart, our spirit. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:7-8

His Word gives us life (Matthew 4:4). His Words are spirit and life (John 6:63).Knowing and following God’s Word is the only way to navigate this world and walk in the direction of obedience toward eternity. God’s Word teaches us, corrects us, trains us, equips us (2 Timothy 3:16). Especially as the “norms” and “truths” of this world shift so quickly, and right becomes wrong and wrong is right. We have to stand firm on His Truth, or we will fall for anything. God’s Word is our light in an ever-darkening world. And, as Paul tells us in Ephesians, the Word is also our sword (our weapon) against the enemy and his hissing lies.

And as we nourish ourselves with God’s Word, spending intentional, daily time in it, we get to know the Lord better and better—and we come to a deeper and deeper understanding of His love for us. We are filled up by the Truth of who we are in Him, satisfied in this fact…and, like when you finish up an amazing meal and you’re completely happily stuffed, when we’re satiated with Truth, there’s no room for lies.

Lord, thank You for Your Word—a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, nourishment for my soul.