The Medicine Cabinet: Eat Well — Thursday
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (NIV)
So far this week, we’ve talked about why food matters in our relationship with Jesus, the invitation to lean into His wisdom as we pursue eating well, and the freedom Jesus offers us in our relationship with food.
But all those things—inviting Jesus in, pursuing a healthy approach to eating, and taking steps toward freedom—require commitment, discipline, and humility. And if you’re anything like me, your visceral reaction to the combination of those three words is... Yuck.
So how can we motivate ourselves to make the changes we need to make in this area of our life, or any area for that matter? I’m no expert on motivation, but I do think two questions are helpful to start with.
The first is… Who are you doing it for?
If you answered “Jesus”—yes, congratulations, that is the ultimate correct answer! As we’ve discussed throughout the week, following Jesus means learning how to glorify and exalt Him in every part of our lives, including how we approach food. But one of the primary ways we can glorify God is by loving and serving those He has entrusted to our care. Toward the end of his message on Sunday, Scott had some powerful questions for both men and women. For men: “Is what I’m eating helping or hurting my ability to provide for and protect those God has entrusted to my care?” And for women, “Is what I’m eating helping or hurting my ability to nurture and care for those God has entrusted to my care?” Whether it’s our spouse, kids, elderly parents, coworkers, students in our classroom, patients we care for, or people we serve in a ministry setting—when we actually consider who in our lives our choices affect, it quickly puts things into perspective and helps us realize just how much is at stake.
But another equally important question is… Who are you doing it with?
Proverbs tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” If you’ve ever experienced the power of having gym buddies or following an eating plan with a friend, you know there is simply no denying the power of accountability. It’s truly a game changer when you do hard things alongside other people who are committed to doing them with you, or people a little farther down the road who can encourage you and set an example for you to follow. Now, I know from personal experience that letting people in and allowing them to speak into your life and your health can feel very vulnerable and scary, but finding the right friend or professional to do this just might be the determining factor in your ability to lose the weight, cut the habit, gain the energy, find the balance, or break the destructive cycle.
In all things, community matters deeply, and eating well is no different. So do it for them, and do it with them.
Thursday’s Reflection
Who’s depending on you to fuel yourself well, and who can you depend on to help you do it?
