Breakfast with Jesus

It used to tick me off that food is central to nearly every American activity. In the clutches of anorexia, I despised the pleasure that others seem to find in favorite meals, savory dishes and mouth-watering desserts. I found myself pulling away from friends and family because invitations always included brunch after church, going to lunch, sharing dinner, sipping hot chocolate or munching movie popcorn. The fact that food played a role in all of my relationships injected fear into every interaction with friends and family.

I’m healthy now. I eat moderately, exercise regularly and I am becoming more than comfortable with, but happy in my body. However, the combination of food and fellowship remains a mystery to me, a scary mystery – like venturing into a haunted house where ghosts of old fears lie dormant but not dead.

I don’t believe that Jesus wants me to be afraid of anything. I trust Jesus, I will go anywhere with Him. Recently, He began to point out to me how much He enjoyed food and how much He wants to share the experience of eating with me.

As I sat doing my quiet time this morning and anticipating an upcoming breakfast with friends, “Jesus said to [me], ‘Come and have breakfast’” (John 21:12).

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Ps. 23:5 No matter how terrifying, or how unpleasant the situation, Jesus has set the table before me. I imagine Him pulling out my chair for me. Scooting my chair close to the table He whispers, “I made this just for you. It’s my favorite. I can’t wait for you to taste it.”

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Ecc. 9:7 Nothing I eat, and no pound I gain or lose can take away God’s love for me. If I long for acceptance and to be seen as beautiful and perfect, I can trust that in Christ, God sees me that way.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27).

Worry. That sums up my attitude toward food for much of my life. But my Heavenly Father tends to His creation intimately. I will trust Him to feed me, and I will feast on His faithfulness.

“Trust in the LORD and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on faithfulness” (Psalm 37:3).

Bring it to Jesus, No Matter How it (or You) Looks (Michelle Watson, PhD, LPC)

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