Walking in the spirit (small “s”) is a consequence of healthy spiritual diet and exercise.

“Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”
—Deuteronomy 8:3. Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4

As human beings, we are made of both body and spirit, and understanding this dual nature is key to living in alignment with God’s design.

In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses reminds the Israelites that their survival in the wilderness wasn’t just about having physical sustenance (bread) but also having the right spiritual sustenance (God’s Word). We need both physical bread for our physical bodies and spiritual bread for our spiritual bodies.

Centuries later, when Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread during His 40-day fast, He quoted this same Scripture to emphasize that physical nourishment is only one part of our existence. To truly thrive we need more than this physical world can provide. More importantly, we are called to live by every word that comes from God.

We all understand the serious consequences of neglecting our physical nutrition. Ignoring our spiritual nourishment has an equally serious impact on our quality and experience of life.

The Physical vs. The Spiritual

There are two aspects to our humanity: the physical and the spiritual. The physical side of us—the body—requires food, water, rest, and other earthly needs to survive. We know that because when we ignore those needs we become uncomfortable.

Bread, in our verse, represents all that is necessary for physical life. But Jesus teaches us that true life goes beyond the physical realm. While bread sustains the body, it cannot satisfy the human spirit—the deeper, spiritual needs of the human spirit (small “s”). Besides our physical needs being met we also need spiritual sustenance, which comes from God’s Word.

Ignoring our spiritual health will leave us feeling “uncomfortable.”

God allowed the Israelites to experience hunger in the wilderness not to punish them but to teach them a critical lesson: life is not sustained by bread alone.

He did this to to teach them to live by the power of the Spirt (big “s”) enabling them to live greater and more fulfilling lives, surpassing anything they could have accomplished through their own strength, resources, or abilities.

“Dear friend, my wish for you is that all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body AS you are strong in spirit” (3 John 1:2)

For us to connect to Spirt (big “S”) we need strong a spirit (small “s”).

Although the exiles were driven by physical hunger to seek food, their greater need was for God’s Word to truly sustain them. We must also recognise that much of what we do is not driven by physical hunger, but rather, spiritual hunger. We may not always recognize it, just as the Israelites often did not.

Our lack of proper active spiritual focus on God’s word—on His promises—is why we are often so fixated on and hypnotised by own physical circumstances, just as the exiles were. Instead of “facing” our physical circumstances, we should rather “face” God, and let Him “face” our circumstances.

We often become consumed with meeting our physical needs—money, food, security—all valid. But our true life, our lasting fulfilment, our true strength to live victorious lives comes from the trust—that is, faith—that God’s Word produces in us.

“As a consequence, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

When we overlook our spiritual well-being, our physical health also deteriorates. Simply putting in more effort in the “flesh” doesn’t resolve this issue; in fact, it only makes the situation worse.

The Flesh and the Spirit in Conflict

There is a constant tension between our physical desires and spiritual needs. Our flesh craves the temporary satisfaction that physical things bring becasue it is preoccupied with survival. Our spirit on the other hand cannot be satisfied with material things and yearns for the eternal nourishment of God’s Word and the connection with God it brings.

Jesus’ response to Satan in Matthew 4:4 shows us that we cannot allow our physical desires to take precedence over our spiritual calling. Both are important. Both need attention.

This battle between flesh and spirit is one we face daily. Do we live to satisfy our physical cravings, or do we prioritize feeding our spirit with God’s truth? The Word of God is the spiritual food that nourishes, guides, and sustains us in ways that physical bread never can. Just as we need daily food to sustain our bodies, we also need a steady diet of God’s Word to sustain our spirit.

Living by the Word

When we live by every word that proceeds from God by spending time with and in it, we align our lives with His design and experience His power in our lives. This is not to diminish the importance of our physical needs, but rather to place them in their proper context. God knows we need bread, but He calls us to depend on Him by placing spiritual needs first.

To live by the Word means filling our hearts and minds with His promises.

It means choosing faith over fear, trust over worry, and connection with God over self-reliance. Jesus, even in His moment of physical weakness during His fast, chose to rely on God’s Word rather than give in to the temptation of immediate satisfaction. This teaches us that our spiritual well-being is always more important than temporary physical desires.

Applying This Truth

As you go through life, recognize (pay attention to) the pull between your physical and spiritual needs. Both are important and both need attention.

Today, reflect on your dependence on God’s Word. Are you living by bread alone—focused on the material aspects of life—or are you making sure you are being nourished by every word that comes from God’s mouth? Remember God gan can do for you than you can do for yourself, but He can’t make you spend time with Him or with His word: that part is up to us!

The fullness of life that Jesus promised comes from aligning ourselves with His Word by dwelling in His word and letting His word dwell richly in us.

You Are What You Eat

In the previous post, we explored the need to develop spiritual consciousness to access God’s kingdom and His provision for us.

If we focus solely on satisfying our physical needs, we risk becoming spiritually dull and powerless. However, when we prioritize our spiritual well-being through proper nourishment, we grow spiritually strong and attuned to the Spirit (big “S”) of God. The age-old saying holds true: we are what we eat!

KEY TAKEAWAY: “Walking in the spirit” (with a small “s”) as discussed in 001, is not something achieved by our own effort. It is the natural result of a healthy spiritual diet and regular spiritual practice.

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A Prayer for Today:

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that life is more than just physical sustenance. Teach me to live by every word that comes from You. Help me prioritize my spiritual well-being above my physical desires so that I can perceive and receive all Your provision in every area of my life. May Your Word saturate my thoughts and heart so that can I find true fulfilment in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.