Jesus declared, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
After my last blog post about Follies to Feasting, I challenged myself to try to “feast” for 14 days. I am now going on my 28th day (missing a few calendar days). This has been an interesting journey. When I think about a feast, I see a big table full of food and people. In this big crowd and long table, the only people I am really engaging with are the ones directly in front or next to me. So instead of a full table, it is really a feast with an audience of one. Maybe that is not so bad because the engagement though limited produces the quality I need for that moment. That is what feasting with God looks like for me. In the midst of the chaos of life, I set aside time to just engage with an audience of one for quality time. God is always faithful to show up to give me a word of encouragement or phrase I need for that day to prepare me for the moments throughout my day.
Here is what “feasting” looks like for me. I sit and anticipate having a meal with God. Engagement is the key factor. Setting aside the distractions of the day and really engaging with my entire being – prioritizing my relationship with Him. What I choose to feed my mind will feed my soul and ultimately penetrate my heart. God knows this and that is why one of His greatest commands is to love Him with all my heart, soul and mind.
The conversation always needs to be led by someone. Listening is the best approach. God already knows my struggles and knows my future. A wise man listens and becomes wiser. (Prov. 9:9) Listening provides the avenue for connection. I listen for a word or phrase that God wants to illuminate in my reading of the Bible or in my devotion for the day. This feasting captures the word with my heart, soul and mind. Really discerning His truth and allowing it’s transformation to occupy my being throughout the day. To really live, move, breath and have my being in It.
At the close of the day, I reflect back on how this phrase or word supported me and brought me joy. Reflecting on how God guides, provides and blesses me keeps the feast going. It is this reflection and engagement that brings a greater connection. Remembering and reflecting draws my heart, mind and soul back to Him. It creates the desire for further engagement and connection the next day and the next.
Feasting has transformed how I read and engage with the Bible. It has made me spiritually stronger – desiring more of God’s truth. Each day the focus and meditation on the Truth nourishes me completely – heart, mind and soul. Feasting brings clarity and purpose to the chaos of this life. God desires to engage with us and feasting keeps the conversation going.
Faithful to Feast
Engage. Listen. Reflect. Repeat.
How much do you like to feast? How and when do I engage?
If you need some support feasting, here are a few helpful resources:
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-always/