Daily Journal: 19 February

Feed Yourself Well

Life may not be what we thought it would be. We may feel it lacks the richness and happiness we think we deserve. We may find ourselves becoming embittered and miserable because of circumstances in our life.

Jesus is the answer.

John 10:10 (NLT)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

But, we may say, I follow Jesus and my life isn’t rich and satisfying. Where is God?

John 16:33 (GWT)

I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world."

The human heart has to have love as its motivation for anything in life or it becomes putrefied. That is, it breaks down and decays. We are created in God's image and therefore our first love comes from God's own heart. If we're not seeking that first, above anything else that matters to us, our heart will break down and our mind will suffer.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

We have eternity in our hearts because we want to know if there is more than what we see and experience. There is. We want it all now, but it won’t come now. It will come in eternity if we are faithful now. Sin rules this earth now, so nothing will feel complete. But Jesus Christ rules in eternity.

God waits to see if we will follow Him for just a little while, or if we will remain faithful despite the seasons of setbacks in our lives. God waits to see if we’re consistent in our thinking and our heart’s desire for Him first.

These things are important to God because He knows that what is in our heart will ultimately steer our boat.

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

We need to feed our mind with everything that is good, just as we would our body. Would we put a piece of bruised apple in our mouth? Would we eat food that smells bad? What messages do we allow into our mind? What things do we tell ourselves?

Feed yourself well.

If we tell ourselves how miserable we are, how lacking, how dissatisfied we are, we will become more miserable, more lacking, and more dissatisfied. If we live with a heart that celebrates what we have and the people around us, that seeks opportunities, that seeks wellness of soul and rejoices in God for it, we will feel rich, even if our circumstances are not all that we would desire.

What you feed yourself is vital to the experience you live.

There is more in life. The more is Christ Jesus.