Mood for Food?

"But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:32, 34

The other day my daughter stood at the cabinet and just stared. I'm sure we've all done this on occasion. She said, "I'm in the mood for oatmeal, but we don't have any." She then made it expressly known that "no other food appealed to her" at that point. I laughed and said, "Oh my, you can't base your choice of food on your mood!" We have to choose from what we have available.

I wonder how it is possible for us to be "in the mood" for certain foods anyway? I've "been there" too! I'm feeling like something Mexican tonight! Or what about that old TV commercial for a product by Knorr, "I feel like Chicken Tonight!"

Now you're probably wondering, "where is this going, Tammi, and what does it have to do with our walk with the Lord anyway??" Well, thanks for asking. LOL Because just tonight the Lord showed me how the degree of our hunger for God's Word can vary, depending upon what sort of MOOD we're in. In my personal experience, when circumstances are overwhelmingly bleak, I've noticed I tend to just fall apart, and "lose my appetite." That's the same old trick of the enemy---"Why bother? It's no use anyway"---and the Bible and devotional just sit there behind the "closed cabinet door." I'm certainly in NO mood to spend time in the "kitchen" cooking up some quality prayer. Have you noticed a similar pattern in your life too? Discouragement gets the "best of us."

Stress can cause us to lose our physical appetite for food, as well as for our Spiritual Food---God's Word. Jesus said "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever." (John 6:51a) The main ingredient for our spiritual food is Jesus. We need to hunger for Him not only every day, but especially in our storms.

Since Jesus said His meat (food, nourishment) was to do the will of God and finish His work, it's safe to say that we can find our nourishment by feasting on His Word and doing His will for our lives.

No matter what your mood is, keep on going back to our only Source for REAL nourishment: and that's God's Holy Word. Jesus is the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) No wonder He said, "...and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51b)

So...what mood are you in? For Mexican? Italian? No matter, because our mood will not determine what Spiritual Food we choose. Look on that shelf, grab that Bible of yours, open it up and DIG IN! Don't forget to ENJOY! God's Word: It's Always Available; Never Expires; Has something to offer, even for the "Pickiest Eater" in your family; And it NEVER RUNS OUT! The best part is: It's F R E E!

Oh Father, thank You for using my children to teach me little lessons like this. Thank You Holy Spirit for speaking to me and helping me see how even our moods determine our hunger for Your wonderful Word. Jesus, please give us a hunger and thirst for YOU, for we know that as we dig in to YOUR Word, enjoy Your friendship and presence, we'll find the most fulfilling 'meal' we've ever had! We'll just grow more into Your image! No guilty feelings when I look into the mirror then! I love You, In Jesus' Name, Amen.