Topic: Word Solutions

Text: Isaiah 55

Key verse: Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.

I recently listened to a visiting American lady preacher speak about how we sin against our bodies, l had never thought of it that way. When we eat what will not do our bodies any good, we are abusing it.  I recognize that some people have genetic issues that can make their bodies obese, but many times an unhealthy eating habit can lead to a similar outcome.

God\’s invitation identifies another error in our pursuits, priorities, and habits. What are we spending the money we make on? If you don\’t write down your daily expenses, or keep personal financial records you may not know what percentage of your income goes to junk food, the type of food you eat because of cravings, and not for physical strength. Living by faith is living a life of priority.

The second issue our text addresses is spending money on things that hurt you. Why pay for food that does you no good? The apostle John wrote about the things that are in the world system that influences how men live; For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world 1 John 2:16

Living by faith is spending your resources on value. You cannot respond to everything your eye craves for, or buy food and drink that will taste good to your mouth but cause disease to your organs. Some spend heavily to maintain their addictions ranging from   COLA drinks to different delicacies that are not healthy.

I want you to ponder on the question again, do you have things on your order list that have suddenly become non-essentials and you have survived for weeks without them and life stayed normal?  God is committed to supplying all our needs, not our cravings, especially what will hurt our bodies, minds, or spirit. Feeding your soul with information that breeds fear and depression is not wise. You have to set a gauge on your eyes and ears to ensure you are not paying to buy what will hurt you. Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. God invites us to what is good to pursue and feed on. Someone wrote the book \”Knowledge the new gold\” so acquiring knowledge from God is to feed on value. God calls us to listen to his words, counsel, and wisdom because they are what will truly nourish and satisfy us, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I can readily recall an example that l want to share with you now to clarify how words from God\’s mouth can put physical food on the table.  I had an opportunity to minister at a church midweek service, l taught from a text in Isaiah 46:11 \”I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it\”.  l asked them to pray and ask God for provision using this promise, at the time l didn\’t know what it fully meant, but because l was learning to walk by faith in the word, l prayed it passionately for me too. A few days after, l got a call to provide branding services for a couple, the man had just come in from the UK( distant land), the bride and groom came down to Lagos from Aba( the East in Nigeria) and the contact who supplied me the materials to work for them, was the older brother of the groom(He also had a company that could provide the same services to his brother, but he preferred to give it to me without a reason: he represented the bird of prey) A ravenous bird eats flesh and would not normally pass on such to another; but because the Lord had commanded him to provide an opportunity for me to serve so l can earn an income, he had to give up the business opportunity.  That was the biggest project l had worked on at that time and it was very profitable. Our bills were paid and we had enough to eat for a long time until provision came from another source.

God\’s literal promise can translate to physical food if you learn to mix it with faith.

Prayer: Father please help me learn how to live by faith in practical terms.

Blessings

Roses&Thorns