What are you feeding your spirit?
As we start off another year with renewed focus to eat healthier or shed the excess weight, Micah member Nana stresses the importance of paying attention to our spiritual diet
We’ve all been there, at some point in our lives. Whether it's for a special event, a holiday or the start of the New Year, we decide that we're going to change our diet. We want to detox our bodies, deprive ourselves of our favourite guilty pleasures and start eating healthier.
We understand the need to do this for our physical body, but are we doing the same for our spirit man? Just as we need to eliminate unhealthy foods that have no nutritional value, and to replace them with good food, so too should we be mindful of our spiritual diet, as our spirit is shaped by the content we feed on.
We are not our own
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm we are God’s children.
Romans 8:16 NLT
As his children, God has given us his Spirit to lead us into all truth. He has chosen us to work in partnership with him, to build his Kingdom, here on earth and he has given us the Holy Spirit to help us.
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
God has chosen this life-giving Spirit, to dwell in our physical bodies. Our bodies are “temples'' or the Spirit’s dwelling place. Our bodies are the shrine, or the sacred place, in which the Spirit lives, and where God is but is also to be worshipped, revered, and honoured.
Therefore, what we expose our ‘temples’ to, through what we watch and hear is pivotal, because it can impact our ability to discern the things of God. We need to become more attuned to the voice of the Spirit, and understand the will of God (Romans 12:1,2).
The power of sound
There is something about sound that creates an atmosphere for God to move.
When we enter into true praise and worship and open ourselves to worship we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. We begin to feel a shift, and are reminded of God’s greatness, and our spirits are encouraged and uplifted, reaffirming us in the promises of God.
Satan understands these spiritual principles so we must clearly discern what we are opening ourselves up to when we listen to the news or to certain types of music. What are we inclining our ears to? What spirit is behind what we are listening to? After listening, are we encouraged by what we hear, or do we become more fearful, with a spirit of heaviness, and a desire to do things that are against God’s will?
Let's be alert and partner with the Holy Spirit by asking, Is this something that you want me to listen to?
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 (ESV)
Guarding our emotions
We have to be knowledgeable about what we are watching. It may be a favourite TV show, or a show that’s trending and our FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) leads us to watch it. After watching a season or two you begin comparing your life, craving and having thoughts that were never there before. Guard your emotions and understand that it is God’s Spirit that gives life and not the things we watch.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 6:63 (ESV)
It’s a spiritual battle
Some of the messages at Micah from the Advancing God’s Kingdom agenda series (2023) have been speaking to me powerfully about the need to feed our spirits. Nothing is random in the spiritual realm; everything plays a strategic part in building a kingdom. We are intentionally or unintentionally building the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan. One speaker, Tunde reminded us that we are in a spiritual battle in
Advancing in the power of God.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesian 6: 12 (NIV)
If that is the case, we can't win this battle if we are giving more to our flesh. We need to weaken our flesh and strengthen our spirit.
In
Where do we grow from here? our speaker Sam, spoke about submitting to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. There are necessary seasons in our lives where we must give more to our spirits by spending dedicated time in the presence of the Lord, allowing his Spirit to reveal his truth.
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatian 5:17 (BSB)
A healthy spiritual diet
If we're going to win the battle, though, we're going to have to do more than eliminate the harmful content influencing our spirit; we need to replace it with nourishment that gives it life and health - just as we do for our bodies.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6 (NLT)
Here are a few ways that we can nourish our spirits:
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Prayer: Prayer is a profound way to connect with God and the Holy Spirit. We can engage in daily conversations, offering gratitude, seeking guidance, or asking for strength.
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Studying and meditating on scriptures: Reading and reflecting on scripture can provide deep spiritual insight. You could select a specific passage or verse and spend time contemplating its meaning and how it applies to your life.
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Creating an atmosphere of worship: You might play your favourite worship songs while you engage in prayer, or simply during quiet moments of reflection. Allow the lyrics and melodies to uplift your spirit.
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Journaling: Keeping a spiritual journal allows you to document your thoughts, prayers, and insights. It can help you track your spiritual progress and gain clarity in your relationship with God as you write about your spiritual journey, record answered prayers, or express your hopes and struggles.
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Fellowshipping with others in Christ: Being part of a church community can provide invaluable support and encouragement as you share your faith experiences and learn from each other.
The key is to cultivate a consistent practice that resonates with your heart and draws you closer to God.
Search my heart
Finally, God's Word says that we need to make a decision every day to follow Christ and we need to understand that it takes discipline to do what he has asked us to do (Luke 9:23). So, let us go to our heavenly Father daily asking him to search our hearts and reveal to us the things that break His heart, and to show us the areas we still need His help to work on.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
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Remember: you are loved, you are valued, you are important.