The Appetite

 Today is day 2 of our monthly fast, and we're continuing our study of nutrition in relation to our spiritual walk. We began with a nutritional assessment of our spiritual journey. And with that knowledge let's address the core of our not so nutritionally dense choices. 

For example let's think about physical nutrition for a moment. All foods are permissible, in that the body is capable of digesting different foods. Yet not all foods are nutritiously dense and beneficial to our overall health. Some foods are recommended for daily consumption, others we should have on occasion and some foods omission is best all together. Now let's jump back into the spiritual sphere. Consider some of your main desires, coping mechanisms or things you have noticed you gravitate to in times of despair, crisis, frustration and the like. Would you consider them nutritiously dense. As in are these choices helping to pattern you after the heart of God?

Our appetites will always deceive us. The fall of man started with submission to appetite for "when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." (Genesis 3:6) The word desired in the above verse is hamad in Hebrew which means delight, covet, lust, or pleasant. That's an appetite issue. As humans we can recognize when something appeals to us, the challenge as believers is to surrender our desires since Paul implored us to "live is Christ."(Philippians 1:21)

This concept is tough. We've been trained to listen to and move based on our feelings. Which is opposite of Heavenly order. As children of God we're called to submit to the Holy Spirit "for the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot." (Romans 8:7)

Our walk with God will always include a sacrifice of the desires of our flesh. Whether that's fasting, going to church when we're not in the mood, prioritizing prayer, or simply not indulging in a so called good thing so we can prioritize time with the Lord.

 In the book of Daniel we see Daniel lay aside his appetite to honor God for he said "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."(Daniel 10: 3) The word pleasant in this passage is also hamad in Hebrew. An example that our appetites don't have to govern us. We can acknowledge the pleasantry and choose the path least taken of self denial. 

What are you going to deny today?

Read and meditate on the verses below

Colossians 3:5 

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

Ecclesiastes 6:7

"All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied."

Titus 2:12

"Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,"

As we spend time in prayer ask the Lord to reveal desires that we have or even indulge in that pull us away from Him. Are we using earthly things to cope? May we be delivered from what easily ensnares us. 

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