What have you eaten today? 

Obviously I have no idea what time you’re reading this. Maybe you’ve been up for less than 10 minutes and haven’t even had the opportunity to eat anything yet. If that’s you, then try to think back to yesterday. What did you eat? Was it healthy? Did it fill you up? Did it accomplish what food is supposed to accomplish? That is, give you energy? 

It’s no mystery that eating healthy is important. This is something that is hardwired into us from a young age when we’re taught the food groups in elementary school. An apple a day keeps the doctors away! 

So what if I told you that what you’re feeding yourself, not related to food, is equally crucial to your health, your energy, and your life? What’re you eating relationally? Emotionally? Spiritually? What do you consume on a day to day basis that sets the tone for how you think, act, and talk? When it comes to following Jesus, the comparison between our spiritual life and food is all over Scripture (just check out Matthew 4:4, Ecclesiastes 9:7, John 4:34, John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Peter 2:2 if you don’t believe me). 

For our time here, I like what Jesus has to say on this subject…   

Matthew 15:17-19

“Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

Did you catch what He’s saying? You are what you eat. The words you speak (which is saying the life that you live) comes from the heart (that is, who you really are). There are things in life that you can consume that are nutritious for your relationships, mental health, and future. But the opposite is also true. There are things that you can give your time, attention, and devotion to that are detrimental to how you live your life.   

So the question becomes, how do you know what you’re consuming? Let’s take a shot  at answering this right here right now!  

First, take a look at how you spend your time. On a normal day, what do you do? Of course there are things like school, homework, jobs, and sports that take up your time, and those things are (in general) good things to be committed to! But what about the rest of your time? What do you do when you first wake up? What do you do with your free time? What do you do when you’re alone and no one else is around? What is your daily screen time (make sure TV shows and video games are included in this too). This may help you begin to dig into what you’re actually consuming. 

Second, evaluate your closest friends or relationships. Who in your life has the most influence over you? Who could get you to drop your plans for them? Who determines how you talk, act, and even dress? Are these sources of influence even people that you know face to face or are they influencers online? Who are you trying to impress (oh man… that’s a tough one to answer). 

See? Pretty simple. But if you’re really honest with yourself in reflection you will probably begin to see that you’re consuming some unhealthy things. 

So, take those different things that you evaluated and ask the question, “Are these things making me more or less like Jesus?” Jesus was kind, patient, loving, joyful, and peaceful, are you? Run every show, every song, every friend, and every influencer through this filter and you will get a pretty good picture of what you’re consuming, and if it is making you more healthy (that is, like Jesus) or more unhealthy (that is, like the world).  

Jesus said you are what you eat, so what are you feeding yourself?