Food for Thought
“Negative emotional states make it difficult for people to regulate their eating. Being thankful reduces unpleasant feelings. “ Psychology Today
Godffirmation is a Godblog and a Godbrand. It offers information, affirmation and confirmation based on the scriptures in the Bible.
Key Verses: 1st Corinthians 10:31, Galatians 6:9-11, Romans 1:28-32
Gratitude, grateful, and thankful are words that get spread around during certain times of year. There are gratitude journals, books and products splattered with the color orange. But deep down, I think the term has become commercialized. However, using the scripture as food for thought and reminders of gratitude are helpful. We need the scriptures poured into our hearts to inspire and cause fruitful living.
Fruitful Living
Throughout the scriptures, we are told to ‘be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth’ in Genesis. I know this is the Old Testament but it is an indicator that relates to the importance of fruitful living. Can you be fruitful without gratitude? You will have to ask God to reveal the answer to you and depending on what He says to you, an action plan can be put in place for execution. You may be wondering, why is she shifting to fruitful living and mixing it with gratitude? Well, I am doing so in obedience to God. I have found that being a worshipper, having gratitude can lead to being fruitful.
Since my background involves sociology, I am more than aware that a lot of our habits, behaviors, relationships, personalities, etc have been researched. The documentation of the studies is found in academic journals, magazines, online and in other places throughout the world. Be aware that surveys we fill out may be contributing to a doctoral candidates research so they can defend their thesis. Tracking back to the topic, I found an article on gratitude and healthy eating (yippee).
Eating healthy naturally and spiritually helps us maintain, be sustained, lose weight and drop unhealthy eating habits. What you eat can help regulate or deregulate your emotions. Emotional eating can lead to obesity if you are not making the right choices for food. We also have to eat healthy sermons, and have healthy interpretations/revelations of the bible. Healthy thinking patterns and clear understanding will help you bear fruit (Psalm 1:3).
Necessary Food
You know about the food groups, caloric intake, dietary fiber, protein, saturated fats, unsaturated fats and an array of other things in nutrition. There are vitamins and minerals that are necessary. For example, it is widely believed that Vitamin C can help our system fight the common cold. Vitamin C is found in oranges, brussel sprouts, kale and other foods. Vitamin C helps with bodily functions like
immune function
neurotransmitter production
collagen synthesis
cardiovascular health
wound healing
Remember the neurotransmitter dopamine is important to body functions
If you are deficient in Vitamin C, it can lead to anemia or scurvy. So, you need to have Vitamin C in your diet to fulfill bodily functions and needs. It is a necessity. This is food for thought.
It is important to view the word of God as a necessary nutrient filled with vitamins and minerals that help us live a fruitful life in Christ. Since God created us, he wants us to follow his prescription for healthy living. What does gratitude mean:
The state of being grateful; warm and friendly feeling toward a benefactor; kindness awakened by a favor received; thankfulness.
Greek Words: eucharistia, charis, euchariteo. All of theses are used in the bible and provide meanings like thankfulness, giving of thanks
What does fruitful mean:
Full of fruit; producing fruit abundantly; bearing results; prolific; fertile; liberal; bountiful; as, a fruitful tree, or season, or soil; a fruitful wife.
Hebrew word: parah means to be fruitful or bear fruit (OT)
What state are you in emotionally? What have you been eating (naturally and spiritually)? Whether you know it or not, it has a big influence on what we are doing in life. Be mindful of what you ‘eat’. This is food for thought because what we eat sustains the state that we are in.
Generally when we eat we pray a prayer of blessing over our food. When we study the word, we should also pray that we gain the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that God has for us from the books or chapters we read. We should want to retain God in our knowledge (Romans 1:28). Otherwise the fruit we produce will not be Christlike or godly.
3 Points
Food is necessary
Food has nutrients
Food is sustenance
References:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-new-home/201811/another-potential-benefit-gratitude-healthier-eating
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-foods
https://biblehub.com/topical/g/gratitude.htm
https://biblehub.com/topical/f/fruitful.htm