Nougat 1

Happy Blessed 2022 to each of you! We made it only by God’s grace. Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What does it mean to eat or drink to God’s glory?

This is an intentionality in recognizing God as our Source, and as Provider and Sustainer of all. If what we eat is for God’s glory, then it means that God directs us so that we only nourish ourselves with that which has the potential to improve our circumstances. We may need to forego a favourite food or to add something new to our food routine, but whatever it is, it’s not just for vanity, it’s about God’s will for us. This could be as extreme as a Daniel diet, a Johanine (John-like) fast, or even eating like Peter As Per God’s Instruction. Or we may find favour, and be given choice foods like Esther.

We recall that in Daniel 1, the exiled Hebrew boys were instructed by God to forfeit the rich food of the Babylonians, and stick to simple, unprocessed foods similar to the Jewish produce. When Daniel and his friends obeyed, they found themselves Healthier, Wiser and far more advanced in ALL facets of their lives than the others in the king’s court. Please note that this is very different from the Daniel Fast, where Daniel forfeited food, drink and lotion as he sought God’s intervention in his dire situation.

John the Baptist, like Samson, was called to be a Nazarite from the womb. However, John’s meal was even more restricted than Samson’s. His aged parents were instructed that he would feast only on locusts and honey. Whether this refers to real locusts or a specific type of fruit, it doesn’t matter. We realize that John’s diet rivalled the Raw Food and Keto routines of today. God not only kept John safe on this extreme diet, God also anointed John’s ministry to impact his world in anticipation of Christ’s birth.

While Daniel and John had exemplary dietary restrictions, Peter was offered a vision that was not only a metaphor for his spirituality; but also one that indicated an Open Heaven filled with God’s bounty. And as Peter avoided the ‘unclean’ foods placed before him; he was assured More Than Once – to accept the blessings provided by God, and not disdain them.

We cannot forget Esther, the young Jewish orphan who found herself in the king’s court, gaining the favour of one of the eunochs, who guided her on what to eat and drink, what oils and perfumes to prepare her body and how to dress FOR an Entire YEAR prior to being selected as the king’s new bride.

Is God calling us to reorder our eating and drinking habits for 2022? What do we need to add to our physical and our spiritual diets to matina and exceed our current state of physical, mental and spiritual well-being? Are there items that need to be eliminated ASAP for us to walk in the fullness of ALL God has called us to be?

Might I propose that on this the first day of our collective New Year, we spend some time inviting God to order even our intake, so our lives reflect God’s glory in more tangible ways?

May God bless and keep us, make God’s face shine upon us and be gracious to us; I pray the light of God’s countenance be visible upon us and that we experience God’s Shalom in all we think, say and do in 2022.

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May all we seek be found in Christ