Daily Food

Central Ohio is blanketed in about 10” of snow today.  I love it – because, for one thing, I don’t have to be out driving in it, and also, it is beautiful – sparkling in the sunshine like hundreds of tiny diamonds.  It covers the ground giving everything a refreshing white cover, except for the tracks and trails of the various animals, critters and birds that come through the yard looking for food.  The birds actually appear to be in a feeding frenzy as they dodge each other vying for a place at the feeder.  I was trying to take pictures but there were so many birds, especially cardinals that I could barely catch them staying still long enough to get a good shot.

I admit, I feed the birds all year long, even in the summer when food is plentiful.  In the winter, I feed them because food is scare.  So, consequently, I have beautiful song birds flocking in most of the time.  The cardinals and blue jays love the black oiled sunflower seeds; the woodpeckers and flickers enjoy the suet feeder and the smaller birds take their turns on the feeder with the smaller-sized food.  Even the squirrel steals a time at the feeder, his little paws stuffing his mouth until I chase him off!  I also provide water for them with a heated birdbath.  The little coiled heater keeps the water from freezing, so there is always water to drink and/or bathe.

Just watching the birds in their quest for food and to stay warm in this snowy season makes me think of us and our quest for sustenance each day.  Where do you go for your food?  I’m not talking about what grocery store is your favorite shopping place; I’m speaking of the source of the feeding of your soul and spirit – the Word of God.  John 6:35 says, “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life.  He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’”. 

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said we should ask Him for our “daily bread”, meaning the nourishment His Word gives us to live each day.  We are encouraged to “feed” on the truth that He teaches and share that truth with others.  This must be a daily occurrence.  Just as one meal is not enough to sustain us, sporadic study in the Bible is not enough.  It must be a consistent and habitual event.  If I only filled the bird feeder once a day, or once a week or once a month it would not be enough to continually draw the birds in.  In the same way, we dare not neglect daily reading, prayer and meditation on God’s Word. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  His Word will satisfy and fill us with what we need to continue each day – until He returns to take His church to the place He is preparing in Heaven for us now.

This old hymn says it well:

Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord to me, As Thou didst break the loaves beside the Sea.  Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.

Thou art the Bread of Life, O Lord to me, Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me; Give me to eat and live, With Thee above; Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

Dear Lord, make me hungry for Your Word each day. Fill me up and use me for Your Kingdom.