Does it ever happen to you that you see a word, a phrase, anything really, come up over and over within a week or even just a few days? I began noticing this when I was a young person and my best guess is probably because I was taught to notice repetition in a passage in the Bible that it was important and so I took this out into life as well. This week the word "nourishing" has come up more times than I can count. Perhaps it's a trending hashtag or something in the news - things I'm painfully unaware of, but I'm taking notice of the word anyway. (Also, sidenote, I've now thought the word "nourishing" so many times to myself it doesn't sound like a word anymore.)
So as I've sat with the word "nourishing" the past few days the verse in Matthew 4 came to mind. "People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." (NLT)
What are these nourishing words? I think the obvious sort of Sunday School answer is "the Bible" but sometimes I like to shake things up. What are the other nourishing words of God?
You. You as a human being thought of. Thinking takes words. Before you were formed, God knew you. You are an expression, a word of God. Each of our lives touches another and we can choose whether to nourish another with words or actions.
Creation. In the story of creation God speaks to bring earth, water and creatures so intricate we're still discovering their beautiful createdness. We are nourished in creation as we sit in wonder. As we are refreshed by touching the ground and water. Feeling restored by the breeze and the fruit that comes up from the dirt.
Mary Oliver wrote "I walk out to the pond and all the way God has given us such beautiful lessons...Love for the earth and love for you are having such a long conversation in my heart."
What nourishing words do you hear or see from God?
How does that nourishing affect your being with God?