Stepping Stones: Are You Starving At The Buffet Table of Life?

Transformational Thought

I love to eat, but I am very picky, which Martine hates. I like buffets where, for a small price, I can sample several items. Have you noticed that at a buffet, all the filler, cheaper, and less scrumptious distractions are offered first? The restaurant hopes you fill up with these and have less room and appetite for the valued items at the back end of the buffet table.

We need food, everyday, several times per day in order to live, to survive. But our country, even though well-fed and overweight, is actually starving. We’re starving spiritually!

Why? Because life operates pretty much the same way as a buffet. Many fillers and imitations of true sustenance are offered upfront, while the really fulfilling, life-sustaining selections are farther back on the table and take some patience and effort to find and swallow.

Even though the buffet of life has many options, none of them will satisfy unless your main staple is GOD and His Holy BIBLE … and unless you are applying it every day. Even though we are well fed we still struggle with anxiety, depression, anger, pornography, addictions, insecurity, other people’s opinions, sleeplessness, guilt, shame, indecisiveness, and … you fill in your issue. Be mindful that food lasts for only a short time, and only meets our physical needs. God is eternal and all-powerful, able to meet all our needs all the time.

God invites us throughout Scripture to come to Him for all our needs. In Isaiah 55, God invites the thirsty. His invitation is very clear and simple. Come, then Listen, then Seek. “Come” means both feet in. Not ready to run the other way at the drop of a hat. ‘Listen’ is to really take it in and let it examine and reshape your heart. “Seek” is to pursue the goal, relentlessly, like you lost a $10,000,000 lottery ticket.

Do you Come, Listen, and Seek God in this way? Why not? Because if you aren’t pursuing God, you are pursuing the fillers, the counterfeits in this way, so don’t be surprised at what you are reaping, the weight you are gaining and carrying while still feeling starved.

Today, go to your Father and really listen. Go to your Father, listen, and seek the mind of Christ. As Isaiah writes, seek the Lord while He is near. This is not because God will move away … but because we do things to place distance between ourselves and God. And we must not forget, don’t let God come to judge the earth before you seek and accept Him. Click on the Spiritual Basics tab and then click on “Salvation” if you are uncertain whether you at the correct buffet table.

Prayer
Dear Father, I come to You today, thirsty, hungry and tired. I thank You, Father, for Your ever-present invitation to come to You. I am learning that, because of my human nature, I will always have ups and downs in my life. I have had many downs lately … I feel spiritually malnourished. When I am really feeling down, I feel distant from You … I feel like a failure. At such times, it’s almost impossible to remember the Joy of Your presence in my life. When I cannot find the way to connect to You, help me at least cling to the promise of You. I thank You that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit … and that Your Spirit will lead me to You, and that I will “…eat what is good.” I pray this and all prayers in the name the Bread of Life, my savior, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor. Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Isaiah 55:1-6