Food is a big deal in my family. Cooking and eating are possibly our biggest activities of community. Today My Grandma and aunts came down to see our new house and visit before I leave. So what did my mom and I spend half of our afternoon doing? Cooking delicious food. What did we all spend half of our evening doing once the family arrived? Eating (both as a meal and snacking) and then taking a nice long walk to feel a little better about ourselves. And we had a blast just being together that whole time. There’s something about food that unites us.
It diffidently helps that there are amazing cooks on both sides of my family. I think I learned how to bake a cake around age 5-6, and it was pretty darn good (I had help). But it’s more than that. There’s a comfort in food just as there is a comfort in relationship. We share a meal like we share conversation.
This really struck me because before I began preparations for their arrival, I really felt led to pray for people in the world who where hungry and starving. I did a water only fast from midnight til dinner (~7pm) and every time I thought about how I was hungry or about getting something to eat, I prayed for the people who didn’t have anything to eat.
It was so foreign for me to consider what it would feel like to not have the option. If I’m eating less than 3 meals a day, that’s only ever by my own choice. It broke my heart to think of all the children out there who haven’t had anything to fill their bellies for who knows how many days and here I have a cupboard full of stuff I might not even eat this week. I am so grateful for the blessing of provision but I am also distressed by how little I have shared this blessing.
Then by an interesting “coincidence” today’s chapter (I’m reading the book Compelled by Love, by Heidi Baker- amazing read. You should totally get it!) was titled, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In this chapter Baker talks about how in impoverished countries people are often physically hungry while people in first world countries are spiritually malnourished. Then she shared some miracle experiences she’s had/ witness in this area- it’s really cool stuff.
I love one thing she said, “When everything Jesus has is ours, we can start to feed the nations. Attending a conference is not enough. You must eat and drink until you are dripping Jesus. You must be so full of Him that you start leaking Jesus. You must eat a lot- more than just twice a year. You must eat enough for a nation.”
If I invested as much time with God as I do preparing food what kind of difference would that make in my witness of Him? If I spent as much time feeding on His presence and word as I do eating and snacking, how much healthier would I be? If I treated my spiritual need for God as seriously as I treat my physical need for food, I can’t imagine how different I would be, how much more like Jesus I would become.
As I go to share Jesus with people who’ve never met him before- people who are spiritually (and some physically) starved- I’m struck by the great importance of soaking Him in as much as I possibly can before I leave. Because I’m about to be in a season where it’s not only difficult to get time alone with Him, but also a season where I’m going to be constantly pouring myself out to others. This is going to be wonderful in so many ways but if I don’t prepare properly, I might get myself into some serious trouble.
So starting today I’m taking my spiritual commitments to heart. No more excuses about not having enough time to read and journal and meditate as much as I used to. No more watching one more tv show when I know I need to go to bed so I can get in the word (which results in me falling asleep with my Bible still open in my hands). No more hanging out on FB for three hours catching up with peps when I need to focus on what God wants me to spend my time on. From here on it’s God before food, entertainment, etc.
I want to become the woman God’s created me to be. I don’t want to go on this race and come back the same person I am today. He’s so much bigger and better than that. So please pray for my journey. Pray for me to dig in deep with God. That I would never be satisfied with how much of Him I have now. That I would always be hungry for more of him and seek more of Him. Pray for me to be filled with Him daily so I can spread His presence around like the loaves and fishes. I can’t do this without Him. I’m too small to go it alone.
Thank you again for partnering with me on this endeavor. You may not think you’re really involved but just by reading and praying for me (even if it’s only this one time) you have united with me on this quest and I thank you for your support. I love you all dearly.
This post may be a little rough around the edges/ scattered (I’m still processing) but I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the progression of today’s train of thought. Please interject below if you have any thoughts you’d like to share. I’d love to hear them!
Also, if you’re the praying type, please take a moment to consider supporting me financially on this journey. Even during these few weeks of preparation I feel God working on something big. I know there’s something crazy amazing about what’s going to happen on this mission’s trip. I still have over $8000 to raise to be fully funded (including costs outside of overhead- the figure you see at the top of the screen). I would love to see God take care of this by the time I leave on September 6th. Thank you for your consideration.
May you be blessed on the path where God leads you.
