From the Inside Out
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned[e] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 (ESV)
Plant-based, Keto, Vegan, Atkins, Omnivore, and Paleolithic are just a few of the many diets that claim to offer healthy ways to live. Would you agree that figuring out what foods to eat to live and feel our best can be both confusing and overwhelming?
I know firsthand that what I put in my body affects how I live. When I was born, I had severe gut issues that doctors couldn’t diagnose. This left me spending my childhood and early 20s with terrible stomach cramps and pains, missing big events, field trips, and wonderful opportunities due to the food I consumed.
Once I paid careful attention to what I was eating and made healthier food choices, my stomach pains never returned. I realized then that my food choices impacted my life and how I felt.
This same principle can be applied to our hearts and minds. With all of life's stressors, it can be all too easy to let troubles penetrate deep into our souls, causing us to feel anxious and worried. Paul addresses this challenge in his letter to the Philippians, offering guidance on the impact of external factors on our internal states. Feeling nervous and worried can lead our hearts and minds to become imbalanced (Philippians 4:6 ESV).
It is easy to find ourselves indulging in a diet filled with problems, concerns, and worries, but let’s discuss what this is doing to our bodies. Tiredness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, seclusion, and loneliness are wreaking havoc on us.
We must be intentional about nourishing our hearts and minds more effectively. We need to replace negative indulgences with positive alternatives. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to pray about every situation, and the peace of God will stand guard over our hearts and minds. The simple act of sharing our struggles with God and entrusting them to Him allows us to experience peace.
What would it look like if we intentionally ate more “spiritual foods” and focused on what is true, pure, wholesome, lovely, admirable, and honorable (Philippians 4:8 ESV)? Reading scriptures, listening to faith-filled podcasts, and enjoying praise and worship music are excellent ways to nourish our hearts and minds with good, solid food. Engaging in these activities strengthens our hearts and minds, leading to more positive thoughts and feelings.
As with all new lifestyle changes, we may not see results immediately. However, with effort, consistency, and patience, we will begin to notice small shifts in our daily lives. This doesn’t mean our problems will disappear, but these small changes can significantly affect how we think, feel, and react to life’s challenges.
Let’s all take a page from Paul’s book and be more intentional about how and what we allow into our hearts and minds. While we cannot control the problems that life presents, we can control how we respond to them. We can react peacefully in heated moments and extend grace instead of anger. Let’s challenge ourselves to embrace spiritual nourishment this week, so that we can experience and share the peace that transforms us from within.