Spiritual Snacking

Morning dawns and, with sleep still in my eyes,
I make my way down the stairs.
I walk past the computer,
noticing the photos on the screensaver,
making my way to the kitchen cupboard.

I grab one of my favorite mugs
and take it to the coffee pot on the counter,
which has been storing hot coffee for me.
The sleepy eyes begin to widen
as the steam from the coffee reaches my nose.
I add a little cream, a little sugar, and lift my mug
as I shuffle to the computer chair.


As I begin sipping my hot coffee,
waiting for that moment when I feel more awake,
I start to read various things online...
discussions of spiritual things on Facebook,
composing an email or message to encourage others,
verses here and there from the Bible program on my computer.


The children come down the stairs to greet me
and to grab a quick breakfast,
then head back upstairs to play for a while.

I'm awake now and focusing very intently on
the spiritual discussions, composing emails,
and searching verses on my computer.


The children come down, again...
this time ready for lunch.
Wow! Have I been sitting here that long?


There's much to get done
before the afternoon arrives and passes...
so I head to the kitchen to make lunch,
then work to get some things accomplished,
checking those spiritual conversations and verses,
that I left at the computer, in between tasks.
I continue on in our afternoon activities.

Evening arrives, supper is made,
husband walks through the door.
We enjoy our meal
and share about our day.
Supper is finished,
we clean up our supper mess,
load the dishwasher,
and some time together as a family
before it's time to put the children to bed.

We finish a few tasks here and there
and sit to spend the evening with my husband,
to check the computer for the
spiritual conversations from earlier, as well as new ones,
and a few more searches
for Scripture on the computer program,
before we head to bed for the night.


We turn out the lights,
make our way up the stairs,
and retire for the night...
wake in the morning...
repeat cycle.


Some time passes and I start noticing
how I seem to be struggling more often...
easily angered, not getting much accomplished,
feeling defeated, depressed, robbed of joy...

I don't understand. What's going on?
Why do I feel as though
I'm just not satisfied in my soul?

How did that happen?
I've been feeding myself with His Word...
haven't I?

But I'm hungry.
I'm starving.


His still, small voice speaks to me,
"My child,
I offer a feast to you each day...
but you, dear one,
have only been spiritually snacking...
In the midst of your busyness,
your distractions,
your own interests and pursuits,
you have only been taking nibbles
of spiritual fast food.
You lack nourishment, strength,
and health from your spiritual snacking.
You have missed the meals
I have prepared for you.
Meals of the meat from My Word.

Sit, My child, and eat.
Daily, sit at the table of My Word
and let Me feed you
with the spiritual food
you need for life and health.
Eat."





"And He humbled thee,
and suffered thee to hunger,
and fed thee with manna,
which thou knewest not,
neither did thy fathers know;
that He might make thee know
that man doth not live by bread only,
but by every word that proceedeth out
of the mouth of {YHVH} the LORD
doth man live."
Deuteronomy 8:3



"... I have esteemed the words of His mouth
more than my necessary food."
Job 23:12