Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” So the disciples began to say to one another, “No one brought him anything to eat, did they?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.“ John 4:31-34
New English Translation
There are things we know we need: water, sleep, food …. and more sleep. Those each are essential to living, each provides sustenance for the body. However, what about those times when we’re running on E and no amount of water, sleep, or Krispy Kreme donut and gingerbread, white mocha latte is going to fix that? Those are the times that something else is missing. Just like being dehydrated, it’s completely avoidable if we take care of ourselves.
We need spiritual food.
How do we know this? Well, did you read the verses above? Jesus didn’t eat anything, He just was living life with God. That sustained Him because God is life-giving. Also, read these verses:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-4
So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth. Deuteronomy 8:3
New English Translation
Humanity needs to feed their soul. Otherwise, we’re going to be drained, and nothing will ever help. If we’re not spending time with God, feeding on His words, both those in Scripture and those He is speaking directly to us, then we’re eventually going to be dragging along.
I’ve experienced this so many times. I let myself go so long without feeding my soul and it’s almost impossible to get anything done because I can’t focus and my energy is lacking. In those times, I’ve let myself go so long without spending time with God that there’s nothing left for me to give. I even convince myself that it would take too much energy to read my Bible, when that’s the only thing that will help me start to get life again.
The biggest lie we will ever believe is that we don’t need to spend time with God, that Sunday is enough, or that we can put it off until another day. That’s the enemy’s greatest lie to get us in a vulnerable position. So why are we letting him have this advantage over us?
Now’s the time for us to take initiative and feed our souls. Why wait until we’re nearly drained of life to start taking care of ourselves? Would you wait until you need an IV to drink water? No! That would be stupid. So why do that with your spiritual sustenance? Are you ready to let God feed you?