Spiritual malnutrition stunts growth in relationship with God and love of others. We see others as means to ends rather than brothers and sisters with Christ and children of God. Our expectations and judgments push the “yet to be Christians” and “new confessing Christians” to feast on strong meat while we ourselves still need to crave spiritual milk to continue on the path of righteous living. Instead, we crave things, people, and positions, suffering many trials to reach these temporal goals. Spiritual milk, delivered through daily devotion and prayer for understanding, will give our souls proper spiritual nourishment to equip us for whatever comes our way. Remembering that none of us need feel alone in our pursuit of righteousness, God will connect spirit with spirit to provide guidance, encouragement and support at just the right time. We only need believe and trust the plan of salvation. We will grow strong in the Lord and stand steadfast in the face of trouble, knowing that we have received the education, preparation, and training for the very moments we encounter. Like Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, we can eat a different diet and declare a different path, emerging stronger than we thought and wiser than we could imagine. 

Our Provider and our Sustainer, All Knowing and Ever-Present God,

We have grown fat on snacks of worldly riches and sweets drenched in sugary words and savory alliances. It’s time to satisfy our deepest hunger and constant thirst with You. Show us how to feast from the table of promises You have assured would be a part of the righteous way. Let the taste testing cease on toxic values and selfish motives, guide us directly to the portions that will satisfy our doubt, curb our fear, and increase our endurance in belief of Your power and strength. Our levels of faith and love desire elevation to see the possibilities in others and in our ability to stay committed to the Way. 

Evil tendencies and sinful ways convince us that we are always hungry and never satisfied. Cleanse our palette! We need to crave pure spiritual milk and partake of it as often as needed to ensure spiritual fitness and maturity in wisdom. This is our prayer, this is our pursuit. In the name of a risen Christ, a Holy Messiah, our portion, our Savior. Be glory, honor, and majesty, now and forever more.