Yesterday while standing in line to pay for a few items at a local Dollar General store, I noticed a headline on the cover of a magazine in the rack strategically placed to encourage last minute purchases. It worked because I bought the magazine. The headline read “Foods that WORK LIKE A DIET PILL! They’ll make you 600 calories less hungry every day! LOSE 28 LBS without dieting!”

Now that is a great headline. I purchased my very first Woman’s World magazine.

The accompanying article was about hydrophilic foods or water-absorbent foods like apples, oatmeal, cabbage, peas, beans, citrus fruit, pear, plum, etc that swell when they take on water, thus leaving you with a greater sense of being full or satisfied. The idea is that you’ll eat less because you don’t feel hungry. Less cravings equals less eating, thus fewer calories and more control over your weight. Drinking water when eating these foods is also important.

Since I’ve lost weight and am determined to keep it off, that headline grabbed my attention. Yet I also had another thought standing in that checkout line. God reminded that a similar thing happens in my spiritual life every day.

When I fill myself on the good things of God’s word, I’m less attracted to the sinful things of the world. When I feast on scripture, I’m less likely to feast on those things that weaken my spiritual resolve.

The longer I live the more I appreciate the value of Philippians 4:8: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

I can choose to fill my life with those good foods that feed my soul and my walk with Jesus. Doing so will make me a spiritually healthy disciple.

Just like an apple and a glass of water can help me physically, a few minutes spent reading God’s word and praying can help me spiritually.

I’ve got my apple, a bottle of water, and my Bible with me right now. What about you?

Pastor Steve Hogg