“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” John 6:35
Food is a daily part of our lives. It fuels our bodies, marks our celebrations, and brings us together in warm fellowship. But for many of us, our relationship with food can be complicated.
We either obsess over it, misuse it, fear it, or rely on it for comfort instead of turning to God.
The Bible doesn’t treat food—in and of itself—as evil. Like anything good, food, when it is consumed outside of God’s balanced plan, i.e., “gluttony,” that it is an instrument of sin. God created it for our enjoyment and sustenance. The Bible warns us about allowing food—or anything—to take God’s place in our hearts. Paul wrote:
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 NKJV
A healthy relationship with food starts by allowing God to be the one who completely satisfies us. When we use food to soothe our emotions or fill a void we are asking it to do what only Christ can. He alone is the Bread of Life. Only He can fill the emptiness inside our soul—which is the real part of us. Food can nourish the body, but only Jesus can heal and satisfy the soul.
When we are born again, we have the power to bring our body into subjection to the Holy Spirit.
But the battle between our flesh and our born-again nature is the daily struggle. Paul wrote of this struggle and cried out in his letter to the Romans: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24 But Jesus reminds us that to win the struggle we must feed our soul. He said, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
Building a healthy relationship with food is not about legalism or guilt. It’s about inviting Jesus into every area of our lives—including our relationship with food. When we surrender this area to Him, we find freedom—not obsession. We make wise choices not out of fear or shame, but because we love God with everything we are. We want our bodies to be beautiful temples of the Holy Spirit so when people see us they see Him.
God designed food to be a blessing, not a burden. But like all good things, it must remain in its rightful place. If you find yourself overeating when stressed, under-eating to gain control of your weight, or constantly cycling between guilt and indulgence—don’t ignore it. Bring it to Jesus. Let Him be your portion. Let Him teach you what it means to be satisfied in Him.
A healthy relationship with food begins with a holy relationship with God—He fills the hunger of our soul!
Today’s Challenge:
Take a moment today to evaluate your relationship with food. Are you using it as fuel and enjoyment in balance, or are you turning to it for comfort or control? Ask God to help you identify any unhealthy patterns, and invite Him to be Lord over this area of your life. Replace one emotional eating habit with prayer or Scripture reading this week.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life, and in You, I find true satisfaction. Help me to honor You with my body, my choices, and my relationship with food. Teach me balance, gratitude, and self-control. Heal any emotional wounds that lead me to misuse food. I surrender this area of my life to You and ask for Your wisdom, peace, and strength. In Your name I pray, Amen.
