Getting Fueled for the Day

Most mornings, I try to eat a good/healthy breakfast to get my day going.  For me that means eggs, toast, some fruit, including a banana, and of course coffee. My goal is to eat a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat so that I can avoid the morning crash I would face when eating merely a bagel and butter or a muffin or a bowl of cereal. I think of my breakfast as fuel for the day. It’s like putting gas in the tank so that I’ll have the energy and strength to do what needs to be done, at least in the first part of that day.

In the same way, and even more so, I know I need to fuel not just my body but as well my heart, mind, and spirit. That’s where time spent reading the Bible comes in. Thus, each morning, I pull out my Bible (actually on my iPad), and pick up where I left off the day before, reading two passages of scripture, including one Psalm. Often I include a reading from a devotional book as well. 

You see, my time spent reading the Bible is not merely an obligation, but a purposeful means of fueling my inner being as I prepare myself for the day ahead. Coupled with prayer, it’s a way to help me connect with God and make sure I can approach my day with spiritual strength and a spiritual perspective. As I read my Bible, I’m putting gas into the tank of my soul. 

Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament, said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 – NIV) 

God said to Joshua, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8 – NLT) 

It’s true that we need “bread”—i.e., physical food—to fuel our bodies. And I would remind you of the importance of eating a healthy diet to properly sustain the body with which God has blessed you. However, as the Bible reminds us, even more important is our need to nourish our souls. That comes by means of reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word, the Bible. 

So, what’s your diet like? Are you properly fueling your body? I hope so. But more importantly, are you properly fueling your soul?  Today might be the day for you to begin to read your Bible.   

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris