LIVING ON SOUL FOOD
PART II
THE SOUL FOOD RECIPE
In my last post, I established the need and benefit of living on Soul Food. Below are the five major ingredients necessary for nourishing your spirit and transforming your life.
A. To anyone who has reflected on life and asked, “Is this all there is?” the answer is a big NO. You can be among those who live in the shade of God’s Shadow of Grace, and know, and trust you have an eternity to look forward to in heaven. None of your good works, or perceived self-righteousness will qualify you, though. You must first agree with God and confess to Him that you are a sinner. You must believe and accept, by faith, Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God, who was crucified on the cross for our sins. He died, was buried, and resurrected as the living, eternal LORD and SAVIOR, through whom all who believe are saved from eternal damnation (hell), and separation from God. Only then are you redeemed, and spiritually set apart to become a growing, born again believer. Your genuine acceptance and belief seals you as an adopted child in the Kingdom of God, and guarantees eternal life with our Father. The gifts of salvation and eternal life in heaven are explicitly that. They are gifts you receive only by faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus’ life on the cross, for our sins. Eternity is promised to everyone. What you choose to believe about Jesus Christ determines how and where your eternity is spent.
B. Confession and repentance of our sins — 1 John 1:9 tells us if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This includes sins of omission and commission. Confession should be daily, up to date, and specific.
C. Pray that God will reveal all He wants you to see in His Word, as you daily feed your spirit from the Scriptures. If reading the Scriptures is new to you, I recommend beginning with the book of John, in the New Testament. The Book of John lays a great foundation on which you’ll grow in your understanding and knowledge of God’s unfathomable and magnificent love. You can also find online guides for reading the Bible in six months, one year, or following a chronological timeline. Consistently meeting with the Lord, in the first hour of your day, reading His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to pour applicable truths and guidance into the portals of your spirit, will prepare you to receive Spiritual discernment, empowerment, and the magnificent Grace and Peace of God, to deal with whatever lies before you. And that, Kingdom Sons and Daughters, is what I call Day-to-Day Salvation.
D. Don’t stop with early morning quiet time, though. The ear of God is listening twenty-four-seven. On-going, moment to moment communication with the Father is one of our most precious privileges. He wants us to seek and trust Him in all areas of our lives. Our heavenly Father seeks a love relationship with you. He wants you to know His thoughts toward you are to give you peace not evil; to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV). The best way to know our holy God and all of His righteous, just, and loving attributes, is to study the living and imperishable Word that sustains and nurtures your soul. Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My Word, he shall never see death,” (John 8:51 NKJV).
E. Pray God leads you to a church body with Bible teaching, Spirit led leadership, and a welcoming, supportive body of believers. These are the church attributes that nurture spiritual growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as well as provide spiritual kinship within the body of the church. Know that believers are the church, not the building in which they gather.
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-24 NKJV)
Heed the encouragement in the Scripture above and experience the blessing of an extended family.
Find even more Soul Food benefits, in my next post.
Peace be unto you and those you love. God Bless.
under HIS SHADOW 