digestion...

Crazy days. How many of you are having some crazy days lately? I know I am. Work, play, family, friends, and anything else that pops up just seems to be kooky and quirky to say the least. It’s not just one thing here and there, but a slew of things all over. It can make one wonder what they are doing... But let’s not get distracted, because tonight, I’m feasting on Chinese food. In particular, cashew chicken with a spring roll... Mmmmm.

Cruising down the boulevard, windows down, breeze blowing, temperature is just right, and no one in front of me for a mile! The tunes are cranked but I can’t tell whats playing and that is ok. Just then I glance upward and give the Lord a wink. I was thinking, I haven’t addressed You in a while and I wanted to say, “Hey!”. Drives like this are a delight!

The moment described above is what I believe God delights in. A random act that comes back to Him and says, “howdy”. Suddenly, the Spirit begins to open the channels and a back and forth commences. As I wait to get home to eat my lovely feast, I get a word spoken, “digestion”. Whaaaat? Yes, digestion. Remember David said that the words of the Lord are pure having been tried (Psalm 12:6a)...

Illumination occurred in a moment and a story began to unravel in my mind, a few pieces of scripture popped in as well. That’s when things began to takeoff.

Our bodies are designed to dine on food and water. We need this sustenance to exist. When we eat and drink our bodies absorb the good portions of the meal and then removes the crap... that is left over! (I crack myself up sometimes!) When our bodies don’t replenish enough of the good stuff, we take vitamins and such to assist in maintaining a healthy temple. This is what we do. Our bodies are designed to digest the good and excrete the bad.

Jesus told his apostles as much in Mark 7, “Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enterth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it enterth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats (v18-19)? The Lord told his followers that food isn’t what defiles you but that which comes from the heart. We can eat all foods, but all foods don’t provide the same benefits. Sometimes there is a better way.

Daniel a man favored by the Lord was given a position to eat from a king’s table, but he declined those delicacies for a better way, asking only for vegetables, fruit, and water. The meat and wine the king’s steward had offered provided no benefit to him or his brethren. God noticed Daniel and had placed great favor on him (Daniel 1: 11-16). In these few versus we can catch a glimpse that a better path had been chosen and provided for Daniel. He digested on things that profited him and kept him in relationship with his God.

So back to the drive I had and God’s word ‘digestion’. What are we digesting? All things can be consumed, but not all things profit the same. There is a better way. When it comes to the things of God, He looks for a people or persons who will understand and seek Him (Psalm 14:2). He longs for the individual who wants more than what he or she has been told.

God has made all things and His words have been tried like silver in a furnace (Psalm 12:6b). He looks for those who will seek Him so they can understand they better way. In the better way a person will begin to put on a bit more of the Lord. The Lords likeness will reflect through that person. As in Daniel, he was favored. He chose a better way. His story is quite compelling and is worth a read. It is found right after the book of Ezekiel.

So today I encourage you, to put on a bit more of God. Listen to His Word in a bible app, read it, play some worship music, spend a few more moments in prayer. Its not quantity He is seeking it is quality. Just like I did in the car, a little wink upward and He responded! Love it and love Him!

Godspeed, The JourneyMan

Ps. Today’s entry is for you and me to digest on the things of God a bit more. Our time is all He needs. Little bits as we go along add up. Then maybe the next time we lookup we will see Him looking back and we can awaken with His likeness (Psalm 17:15)! Bible versus are from the King James in today’s journal entry.

Psalms 12:6 KJV “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

Psalms 14:2 KJV “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”

Psalms 17:15 KJV “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

Daniel 1:11-12 KJV “Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.”

Daniel 1: 15-16 KJV “And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.”

Mark 7: 18-23 KJV “And he saith unto them, ‘Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enterth into the man, it cannot defile him; because it enterth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?’ And he said, ‘That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.’”