|31 Days| A Nourished Woman

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She is like the ships of a merchant; she brings her food from afar. - Proverbs 31:14

Food is one of my passions. I love to prepare it, eat it, and share it with others. When I read this verse, I think about the ways in which our food is carried to us today. We have stores with thousands of food items that stock the shelves. There are aisles and aisles of choices. How do we know how to properly nourish our bodies when there are so many books and diet plans that bombard us through the magazines we read and the fads we see on television? Should I be Paleo or vegan? Gluten-free or vegetarian? The choices are endless. I am not a registered dietitian, nor do I claim to be any kind of professional.

But here's what I know: food was meant to be enjoyed. Our God is an amazing Creator who made thousands of amazing foods that are completely delicious on their own without additives and chemicals. I cannot claim to be an expert nor a perfect example of what it means to nourish yourself well, but I can tell you that I want to be someone who eats to live, not lives to eat. Oftentimes, I find myself in the latter camp, as I am constantly thinking about the next meal- wondering what I'll make for dinner when I get home as I eat my lunch. You know how it goes.

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Eating well can take an obsessive turn if we aren't careful. As women, it is easy for us to rationalize our obsessive behaviors when counting calories or working out too hard, saying that we are "just taking care of ourselves." Hear this, ladies: self-deprecation and starvation are never ways that we take care of our bodies. Yes, we should avoid junk and look for ingredients that will strengthen us and give us vitality. But let's not allow ourselves to slip into the trap laid by the enemy that gives one more reason to think less of who Christ made us to be.

I want to be a woman who eats well and nourishes her body so that it is able to more fully complete the will of God. If I am not at my best physically, how will I be able to walk in obedience to what God has for me? Being a Proverbs 31 woman means that I take the time to seek out good food- food that is not only satisfying and tasty, but that can nourish and energize me, giving me the strength I need to fulfill all that God  has called me to do with stamina. From a runner's perspective, I am going to perform so much better when I eat well than if I scarf a Chick-fil-A sandwich beforehand. You feel me? Let's be women who eat to live by taking care of the temples God has entrusted us with for this life.