Are You On A Spiritual Junk Food Diet?

Psalms 119:43, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.”

Psalms 119:103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Psalms 119:131, “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.”

I was thinking today about how difficult it is for people who love junk food to eat right. Most Americans love pizza, cheeseburgers, bacon sandwiches, tacos, sloppy joes, pastas, rice, sweets, breads, et cetera. All of these foods are high calorie-density foods. If you aren't restrictive and careful when eating these foods, you will gain weight quickly.

Even worse, the healthy foods that we should be eating cannot compare in pleasure and satisfaction with the junk foods that taste so delicious.  I don't know about you, but I'd much rather eat a Big Mac from McDonald's than an apple, flaxseeds or oatmeal. I understand that eating healthy foods can become a cultivated good habit, so that our body begins to crave healthy foods; but if we do indulge in junk food, almost immediately our body will lose interest in the good foods and crave the junk food, so that the healthy foods sit and spoil. I have had that happen to me countless times. Anyone who has struggled with their weight and eating healthy foods fully understands what I am talking about.

Likewise, the same thing happens to us spiritually if we lack the discipline to read the inspired Holy Bible, pray without ceasing, attend a soulwinning church, and listen to solid Bible preaching by fundamentalist preachers who tell the truth without compromise or dilution. In truth, these godly things cannot compare to watching Tv, binge Tv series, Hollywood movies, video games, listening to music and all the entertainment available nowadays. In comparison, most church services are boring and lack any thrills.

Consequently, an alarmingly increasing number of churches today have brought in the entertainment, trying to woo the audience with electric guitars and drums, worldly celebrities like Kanye West, CCM (contemporary Christian music), motivational speakers like Joel Osteen, watered-down preaching, bringing pets to church (Steven Furtick's 'Elevation Church' in Charlotte, North Carolina), rock music, promotions, et cetera. Just like eating healthy foods, we must have the discipline to cultivate cravings for the things of God.

Going to church is not as exciting as watching Tv, movies and all the alluring electronic entertainments common to society these days. Someone who is faithful to attend church, abide in God's Word, and doesn't watch Tv would disagree. That is because they have already cultivated proper godly habits. Like everything else in life, it is out choices that make us who we are. I read something this week that resonated with me, great advice...

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive because your behavior become your habits.
Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.

That is so true. The inspired Word of God puts it this way...

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

We are what we think about. When someone emails me, telling me that they are bitter toward people and life, despondent, I know that they've been thinking wrong for a long time. A man is what he thinks about. Whether you think you can or not, you are right. Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” If you sit around and think about all your problems and miseries, and think about how people have hurt and dissed you, you're going to feel hatred toward life.

So what do we do? Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I love this precious passage. Jesus is the author of our faith. That is, the Christian life all began with Jesus Christ BY FAITH, the Christian life is lived BY FAITH, and it will all end with Jesus Christ BY FAITH. Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” You don't live the Christian life dear reader. As a child of God, Jesus lives the Christian life through you. We live by the faith of the Son of God.

The way to overcome bad eating habits is to just start eating healthier foods, and in so doing your body will begin to crave good foods. I have never really cared for fish, but once I started eating baked tilapia, with lemon and butter over it, I crave baked fish. Eating fish is a good way to lose weight, because fish is very low in calories and high in protein. Eating beans is a superfood! Beans contain a very high amount of protein and fiber. Eating fiber makes us feel full longer.

This morning I made a smoothie with my Nutri-Ninja (everybody should have one). I cut up one Ambrosia apple. I added 3 dozen red grapes. I put in a dash of cinnamon. I added 3 Tablespoons of whole flaxseeds. Finally, I added some cold water. Just the 2 Tablespoons of flaxseeds gives me 3 grams of fiber for the day. Eating healthy feels good in both mind and body, because I know why can happen if I don't eat good foods. Diabetes is called 'The Silent Killer," which upwards of 25% of Americans suffer from these days. Left untreated diabetes can cause blindness, amputation of feet and arms, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, et cetera.

Most people wait until they are diagnosed with cancer or some other horrible disease, until they start to eat good foods and take control of their health. But by then it is usually too late. Regarding both our physical and spiritual health, it is 100% true that an once of prevention is worth one pound of cure. It is amazing what eating healthy foods will do for your body, as compared to what junk food does to your body.

Processed sugar is toxic to the human body over time. The average American eats 20 times more red meat than is considered healthy. All of the additives, dies, artificial flavorings and preservatives added to frozen boxed and other prepared foods is frightening! Some foods (like Korean yellow radish) are labeled to warn consumers that they cause cancer in lab rats. Yummy! I make it a habit to read food labels now, before I purchase any foods, to see exactly what I am putting into my body.

Dear reader, what kind of diet are you on? Many Americans are on a slow suicide diet, both physically and spiritually. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) rightly said that behind every tragedy in human character is a slow process of wicked thinking. Dr. Bob was right! People don't just wake up one day and decide to commit suicide, there was a long process of negative thinking. The most miserable people in the world are those who spend all their time thinking about themselves, their own problems and what people have done to hurt them. What we all need to do as saints is to LOOK TO OUR BLESSED SAVIOR!!! Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When I labor on my website ministry, I am living for others for Christ. I am giving myself away to help other people. 2nd Corinthians 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” I get lonely often, simply because very few people can reciprocate the unconditional love of God that I have for everyone. I don't claim to be a good Christian, but God knows that I pray for all of my web visitors and work day and night on my website ministry. The dear Lord knows that in His strength alone, I am earnestly trying to make an impact for God. I give God ALL the praise, credit and glory. John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The psalmist said that the Holy Bible to his mouth was sweeter than honey. Psalms 119:103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” In Matthew 4:4 Jesus quotes a passage spoken by Moses (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) in Deuteronomy 8:3, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” No Christian will be properly nourished spiritually without abiding in the inspired Words of God. The Bible provides our minerals and vitamins spiritually. Sadly, most believers today are malnourished.

The Gospel Of John
(read by Alexander Scourby)