DO YOU CRAVE SOUL FOOD?

Let's take a moment to search our brains for our memories of soul food. Does it include a holiday, Thanksgiving, or the fourth of July? It is Sunday after church or every Friday night for sabbath?

Whenever and wherever it is, tap into the taste of well-seasoned food, the smell of dessert in the oven, and feelings of happiness and laughter. Was it oxtail, jerk chicken, rice and peas for you as it was for me? Maybe you had meatloaf, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.

After bringing up all those hunger-inducing memories, I want you to consider food for your spirit and soul. As tasty as physical food and the memories attached are, the experience and long-term benefits are no match for spiritual food.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. - John 6:36 NIV

The spirit requires food just like the physical body.

Craving spiritual soul food is no different than wanting its physical counterparts. We crave the smell, bonds, taste, and the rest, which our bodies often require after consuming our favorite soul food. My spirit craves the presence of its creator, hungers for the eternal bond, and the peaceful rest that comes with consuming the word. I am what I consume. In an effort to move through earth like a child of God, I have to consume the word.

Soul food is prepared by a master chef specifically for you

Many of us cannot afford a personal chef yet. However, God has volunteered to meet all of our needs. As the supplier of spiritual food, He knows your allergies, preferences, and cravings. Every meal is prepared specifically for the needs of your spirit, body, and soul. Any sensitivity is accounted for, as God is intentional.

I’m not sure it can get any more natural, and just knowing its always freshly made is a bonus. It is inexpensive, can be given as a gift, and would meet any environmentally friendly guideline.

No need to split the bill; Jesus has already paid for you

I am a gift giver, so I like to gift a meal whenever I'm hanging out with friends. Recently, God has been teaching me how to receive, so splitting bills or letting someone give me a gift are things I'm incorporating more into my life.

Soul food is easily shared without financially burdening anyone. It's a natural connector grounded in love, removes barriers, and highlights common interests and struggles.

We don't have to worry about who God gives the food to because there will always be more than enough to go around. Not only is spiritual food shareable, the first ingredient of every meal is the healthiest substance to consume in any form.

Spiritual food provides physical and eternal nourishment

Soul food provides physical and eternal nourishment. Physical food by itself may spoil, lose its flavor, or cause an illness. On the other hand, soul food can heal your physical body, strengthen your mind, and prepare your entire being for what is to come.

Physical food can provide nutrients to the body, but once processed, it is happily discarded by the body, yielding short-term benefits.

Spiritual food provides nutrients to the whole being. The more time passes, the more benefits are yielded from the soul food.  It can be processed over and over again, overflowing onto the people we love.

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:4 NIV