September 29, 2026 - Consecrated Food
“They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”
1 Timothy 4:3-5 NIV
This reminded me of a podcast I just listened to. It is about Christians who believe that all the laws of the Torah need to be followed. It is shocking to me that anyone can read the bible and not see that it tells us over and over again that there is nothing that God has created that is bad. The only time that things that God has created for us become bad is when in our sinful nature we make it an idol. For example food is good and should be enjoyed but when it becomes gluttony it is now sinful. I love that it says, "nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." What a great way to make sure the good things of God do not become sinful. Just looking at food, if we pray before we eat with a heart of consecrating it to the Lord would it not more likely change how we see food. I must admit praying before eating is the one thing that I struggle with doing consistently. And overeating and eating unhealthy foods in excess is also a struggle for me. I am going to try harder to pray before I eat. And when I pray, I want it to be to be for thanksgiving but to also consecrate it to the Lord. The word of God has already consecrated it as clean and good and a gift from God. So, if I consecrate it to the Lord in prayer I will think more about God than about the food and I pray that God will change my attitude about food.
To consecrate something means to set it apart for God's service. I do usually pray for the food to nourish our bodies to better serve Him. But it is just words. It does not penetrate me heart. I need to get my heart right before I even begin to pray. I also think I need to add something about keeping food in its place of nourishment and enjoyment not as my source of pleasure and comfort. Acknowledging the Lord as my source of comfort and service to Him as my greatest pleasure taking the power away from food and placing it in the Lord's hands.
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