The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Physical and Spiritual Nourishment” for Wednesday, 7 January 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 119:1-16

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Physical and Spiritual Nourishment” for Wednesday, 7 January 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 119:1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course,
    walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
    doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
    you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
    now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
    keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
    in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
    I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
    don’t ever walk off and leave me.
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
    I won’t forget a word of it.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth![Psalm 119:103 (NRSV)]
A few years ago I decided that I was overweight, so I began a diet and exercise regimen. I had to control the portions and the types of food I consumed. I needed to reduce the cakes, chocolates, and sweets and eat more salads, fruits, and other nourishing foods.
One day my wife gave me some nuts for a snack. I never liked to eat nuts in the past, but I took a handful and ate them. I found that I quite liked them! My sense of taste had changed over the years. I discovered that the fruit and salads I once avoided are now pleasing and tasty to me. I no longer crave snacks such as chocolates and other sweets.
Psalm 119 reminds us that we should long for God’s word. Just as we digest our food, so we should consume God’s words. The food we eat provides us with energy, strength, and life. Consequently, when we read, study, and absorb what we read in the Bible, we can grow as Christians every day.
I now try to control what I eat by choosing more wholesome, nutritious foods rather than rich, fatty sweets and desserts. Likewise, we should look at what we digest spiritually. Just as we have to make time to eat properly, so should we make time to digest what God says to us when we read the Bible and pray.
The Author: Mark Wallace (Suffolk, England)
Thought for the Day: Spending time with God daily makes a good spiritual diet.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for your holy word, the Bible. Help us to digest your word and use it as our spiritual source of energy day by day. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those who struggle with obesity
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