Nutrition for Body and Soul

When we choose God’s wisdom over our own cravings, we don’t just heal our bodies—we quiet the noise of the world so we can finally hear His voice.

One thing I have learned is that every time you share a truth with someone else, it sinks deeper into your own soul. As I have continued to share the principles of B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. Living, it has helped me identify areas in my own life that need to change. In our journey, we should be ever learning and growing; otherwise, we cannot possibly experience the fullness of joy that God has for us.

Today, we are exploring Part 2 of the "N" in B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. Living:

• Physical: N = Nutrition for Wellness

• Spiritual: N = Nourish Yourself with God’s Word

I want to start with a challenging question: What motivates my food choices—God’s wisdom or my cravings and convenience? Let’s look at the wisdom of Solomon:

Proverbs 25:27-28 (KJV) "It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

What this verse says to me is that it isn’t just what I put into my body that matters, but also how much. We can actually eat too much of a good thing! We are called to have rule over our appetites. When we don't, we are like a city without walls—vulnerable and unprotected. And we can’t do this alone, we need to lean on God and ask for His power.

Consider how this connects to the fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

We often think of temperance as simply avoiding the "bad" and being moderate with the "good." But as I pondered these verses in relation to my food choices, I realized that all of these words apply.

When I eat what is best for my body, I feel better. And when I feel better, I am better able to show love, joy, and peace. When I have an overstuffed stomach or eat "junk" that makes me feel sluggish, I am crankier and definitely don’t feel like showing love to others. God’s Word offers us so much—not just for our souls, but for our physical vitality.

Now, let’s look at the spiritual side of the "N." How can we truly nourish ourselves with God's Word? One of the best ways to nourish the soul is through meditation. But what does that actually look like?

Psalm 119:15 (KJV) "I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways."

We cannot properly meditate on God's precepts if we don’t respect His ways. Often, we lose that respect because we cannot focus. I’ve seen in my own life that my desire for Scripture is diminished when I fill my life with worldly distractions. Sometimes, it’s not even "bad" things—we can "overeat" a good hobby or a busy schedule until we’ve crowded out our personal connection with God. We must quiet the noise of everyday life to focus on Him.

Psalm 63:5-6 (KJV) "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches."

Just as we choose what to put in our bodies, we choose what to put in our minds. Are your thoughts focused on the negative? Or can you lie in bed at night, satisfied with your day, and give God praise regardless of what happened? Just as we are drawn to "junk food," our fallen nature is often drawn to "junk thoughts" and negativity. It is the enemy's plan to get our focus off God. I want my last thoughts of the day to be on the glorious ways God led me.

Finally, we have our "check-in" verse. This should be the filter for every decision we make—from what we watch to what we eat.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV) "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

If you have a poor memory, ask God to remind you of this verse every time you face a decision. It has amazed me how much this applies to our physical health. God wants to engrave these instructions into the very fiber of our being. My prayer is often: "Lord, make me willing to be made willing. Change my desires.”

Our physical and spiritual lives are not two separate compartments but a beautifully intertwined whole in which one constantly influences the other. When we choose Nutrition for Wellness, we honor the temple God gave us, creating a clear mind and a steady heart, better prepared to receive His truth. Conversely, when we Nourish ourselves with God's Word, we gain the spiritual strength and temperance needed to discipline our physical appetites. Ultimately, whether we are feeding our bodies or our souls, our goal is the same: to choose God’s wisdom over our own cravings so that we can live in the vibrant, balanced joy He intended for us.

I want to make a commitment to surrender to the God who has all wisdom and power to guide me on this journey.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You that You care about my whole being—body, mind, and spirit. I confess that I have often chosen convenience over Your wisdom and distractions over Your Word. Today, I commit to nourishing my body with what honors You and nourishing my soul with Your Truth. Give me the temperance to say "no" to excess and the hunger to say "yes" to Your Presence. Make me willing to change my desires so that they align with Yours.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

5 Action Steps for B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. Living

1. The "Philippians 4:8" Filter: Before you take a bite of food or open a social media app, ask: "Is this choice lovely? Is it of good report?" If it doesn’t bring virtue or praise into your life, it’s not nourishing you.

2. Practice Spiritual "Fullness": We often eat until we are stuffed, but we leave our souls starving. Today, try eating until you are just satisfied physically, then spend that extra 10 minutes feeding your spirit with a single Psalm.

3. The Night Watch Reflection: Instead of scrolling through your phone before bed, recount three ways God led you during the day. Meditate on His goodness so that you can wake up satisfied rather than drained.

4. Rule Your Appetite: Identify one "junk" habit—physical or mental—and replace it with a "precept." When the craving for the negative hits, memorize one Bible verse to build the "walls" of your city back up.

5. Quiet the Noise: Find 15 minutes of intentional silence today. No music, no podcasts, no talking. Give God the space to speak to your heart without the competition of worldly distractions.

Living a B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D. life means realizing that the physical and spiritual are deeply intertwined. When we nourish our bodies correctly, we are better equipped to serve God. When we nourish our spirits correctly, we have the self-control to care for our bodies.

I want to leave you with one final, thought-provoking question that deserves an honest answer:

If your physical body was a direct reflection of your spiritual nourishment this week, would you be thriving in health, or would you be starving?

Checkout the video version: HERE

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