Food for the stomach and the stomach for food…

– 1 Corinthians 6:13a

This verse says it so clearly. Food isn’t for filling all the empty spaces in my heart.

It isn’t for numbing out when I can’t handle the emotions I feel.

It isn’t to fill boredom.

It isn’t for celebrating.

Food IS for my stomach…for my physical body. Period.

So why do I insist on using food, which God intended for His specific purpose, for my own purposes–those which run counter to His will? Is it any wonder that doing so runs me into a bunch of trouble?

Today, when I am tempted to use food for something other than my stomach, my physical body, I will choose to look at what is really going on, what is really needed, and invite God to show me His solution–what has He ordained to fill the need for this particular emotion, thought, challenge, experience.

Thank you, Lord, that you have provided food for a purpose–for nourishing my body. Thank you, too, that you have a million other things that you offer to me to meet the million other “needs” I have in my life. Help me to use food the way you intend and when something is going on that I am tempted to feed with food, help me to turn to you and invite you to bring your provision to that situation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.