For Your Health: Nourishing Body and Soul

After a big feast I wonder how I can ever be hungry again. Yet, I’m ready to eat the next time a meal rolls around. How can this be? Because God has given us bodies that need daily nourishment, and fresh is better when it comes to nutrition.

Our spirits also need daily refreshment. In the Old Testament, God supplied daily manna from heaven to sustain the children of Israel during their stint in the wilderness. Each morning they collected manna, and at the end of the day they threw out the leftovers. Those who disobeyed this command woke up to a foul-smelling, worm-infested mess (Ex. 16:20).

The only exception to the rule of throwing out the unused manna was the Sabbath. The manna collected the day before the Sabbath remained fresh throughout the Sabbath day of rest.

Moses applied the need for daily manna to our need for daily spiritual food. “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3, NIV).

God’s word is our spiritual manna. It is living, sweet, and satisfying. (Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 19:10). We need a fresh serving each day.

Spiritual Application:

  • The Israelites ate manna seven days a week. They did not feast one day and fast six. How many days a week do I feed my soul on God’s Word?
  • They collected the manna six days out of seven, but rested one day from gathering it. Perhaps we could compare that to reading our Bible for ourselves (or collecting manna) six days a week and being fed by a Sunday sermon and Sunday School lesson one day a week.
  • Left over manna did not nourish except on the Sabbath. Remembering how God has spoken to me in the past is not the same as listening and walking with Him today. Hearing what God taught someone else is encouraging, but is not the same as spending time with Him myself.

This need not be complicated. Some days you may only be able to meditate on one verse. Other days you can feast on a passage. Just keep it fresh and living.

Physical Application:

After posting “Part of a Miracle,” several asked for my green smoothie recipe. Besides the recipe posted in the comments under that blog, here is a recipe that is sure to satisfy your body and sweet tooth. The most nourishing foods are living, fresh, and naturally sweet. Take in a variety daily.

Chocolate Almond Butter Smoothie

In a high powered blender mix the following per serving:

1 cup coconut milk (I like So Delicious found in dairy case) or almond milk
1-2 cups of dark leafy greens
1 Tbsp. almond butter (easier to digest than peanut butter)
2 tsp. cocoa or carob powder
1 Tbs. (or to taste) raw agave nectar to sweeten
1-2 frozen ripe bananas
Few ice cubes

Optional: flax seeds

Blend and enjoy.

Blessings for total health,

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4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Pat Waggpner

    Isn’t God wonderful and He has told us everything we need to know if we would only listen and obey.

  2. Diane

    Thank you Debbie. I love your devotions. I am so glad that God is working a miracle in you. You are very special. Hugs to you and Larry.

  3. Renee Peebles

    love love it! so encouraging

  4. Tara Furman

    So true – nothing like hearing God speak personally in our ears. So well said. I’ve been reading Deut as of late. You are encouraging!

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