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!

Just as physical strength comes from physical food, spiritual strength comes from spiritual food—and that strength is what we call faith.

We know that in order to build strong, healthy bodies, we need proper nutrition. The same is true in the spiritual realm. To grow in faith and walk in the Spirit, we must consistently feed on God’s Word.

Just as we wouldn’t expect to eat one meal a week and consider it sufficient, we need to go beyond depending on a 20-minute spiritual snack on Sunday and expecting it to carry us through the next seven days—let alone strengthen us enough to deal with any challenges that may arise.

The Bible is clear about this principle:

“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Faith “comes” from spiritual food in the same way energy comes from physical food. You can’t expect to grow physically strong by neglecting to eat, neither can you expect to grow spiritually strong by neglecting (not consuming) God’s Word.

And here’s the issue: when you lack spiritual strength, you automatically fall back on your own physical strength, abilities, and resources to face life’s challenges. It’s a natural response because without the foundation of faith and spiritual nourishment, we tend to rely on what’s tangible and within our control.

This is where the struggle begins. We try harder, push our physical selves to the limit, and often end up feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or defeated. Does that sound familiar? It’s like trying to lift a heavy weight without training—no matter how hard we try, our physical strength alone can’t carry the load.

Importantly: you can defeat spiritual obstacles with physical strength.

When we aren’t feeding our spirits regularly, we lose access to the super in super-natural that comes through faith. Instead of walking in God’s power and relying on His provision, we end up fighting battles in our own might. And let’s be honest, our human efforts can only take us so far before we burn out.

When we feed on His Word, it nourishes our spirits, strengthens our faith, and equips us to face life’s challenges. Our spiritual strength doesn’t come from our own effort or willpower but from our consistent intake of the spiritual food that God provides.

FAITH: THE RESULT OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT

Faith is not something we conjure up by sheer will; it is the natural result of spiritual nourishment. When we feast on God’s Word, our spirits are strengthened, and we begin to see the world through the eyes of faith. This is not something we “try” to do, it is a natural result of a healthy spiritual diet.

This spiritual strength enables us to overcome fear, doubt, and temptation—and those pesky challenges along the way. Without proper spiritual food, we become weak and susceptible to the influence of the flesh and the demonic, just as the Israelites became when they rejected the heavenly manna and craved the food of Egypt (Numbers 11:5-6). Their lack of faith was a direct result of their failure to embrace the spiritual provision God had given them—the heavenly bread of His word.

THE CONSEQUENCE OF NEGLECT

Walking in the Spirit, as mentioned before, is not something we can accomplish on our own. It’s the natural outcome of feeding our spirits with the right spiritual nourishment.

The greatest error we can make is to neglect or “despise” the heavenly bread of God’s Word, which is designed to take us from natural living to supernatural. To despise Gods word means to treat it with disdain, as if it is unimportant.

Jesus Himself reemphasized the importance of having Gods word in you, when He said,

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Our physical senses may be drawn to the world, but only by nourishing our spirits can we truly experience the life and power of God.

When we neglect our spiritual diet, we become spiritually malnourished, and as a result, our faith weakens. When that happens, we lose the “super” in supernatural. Without that “super” component, all that remains is the “natural.”

This explains why so many Christians experience a powerless, routine version of Christianity. It’s not that God’s power is absent, but rather that we haven’t fed our spirits enough to access and operate in it. Living only in the natural leads to frustration, exhaustion, and the feeling that something is missing—because we’re not drawing from the strength and abundance that comes from faith.

We can be so focused on feeding our bodies and meeting physical needs that we starve our spirits. This is why many Christians struggle with weak faith—they are spiritually underfed. They consume the spiritual equivalent of “junk food” that the world offers in terms of so-called entertainment. What Egypt offers—distraction and corruption—in exchange for our time is what makes us slaves. Instead of the nourishing Word of God, and as a result, they lack the strength to walk in the Spirit.

REMEMBER, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

It’s an age-old saying, but it applies powerfully to our spiritual lives: you are what you eat. Feeding on heaven makes you heavenly. Feed on this world makes you worldly.

The Word of God leads to spiritual vitality, strength, and growth in faith. Neglecting it leads to spiritual weakness and dullness. The key to spiritual strength is simple: feed on the Word, and your faith will grow strong. As you feast on His Word, you will be transformed by it, and your faith will rise up to new heights, enabling you to walk in the Spirit and live out the fullness of life God intends for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the life-giving nourishment of Your Word. Help me to prioritize my spiritual diet, feeding on Your Word daily so that I may grow in faith and strength. Teach me to rely on Your Word for everything I need, and remind me that just as physical food strengthens my body, Your Word strengthens my spirit. May my faith increase as I feast on Your truth, and may I walk in the fullness of life You have promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.