Taste and See
By Michelle Lazurek
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. – Psalm 34:8 NIV
Because of some bad blood work results during a doctor's visit, I was informed that I needed to take control of my diet. My doctor recommended an anti-inflammatory diet, which meant no soy, gluten, or dairy. I told my husband it's called the “no fun” diet.
With this news, I had to switch my mindset from having whatever I wanted to more specific foods. This caused me to go to the grocery store and be more vigilant about looking at labels and seeing what ingredients my foods contain. At first, I was sad about the change, unable to eat what I wanted or have fun, and I gave up many of my favorite foods. I adjusted to this new lifestyle and reflected on why God might do it. Reflecting and praying, I realized something: I put my worship into my food.
There's nothing wrong with having things that you enjoy. Although there’s also nothing wrong with eating and enjoying food with friends while we are enjoying a fun activity, it becomes a problem when I would rather eat foods that I want and have fun that way than take charge of my health and make healthier choices so that I can live longer and serve the Lord. When I rebel and eat what I want out of convenience or preference, I make an idol out of food. At first, it felt like I was being punished, but I realized God was redirecting me to a healthier lifestyle to provide better service to him.
Instead of tasting and seeing that the Lord is good, I was too busy tasting foods and allowing that desire to rule my life rather than my desire to serve the Lord. God gives us glimpses of who he is. In heaven, we will know God in full. But for the present, we may not experience him thoroughly to understand his goodness. Other things in my life that thwart my attention from experiencing God entirely are food, shopping, watching TV, etc.
It hinders my ability to serve him wholeheartedly. My heart is divided between fleshly desires like eating and shopping and godly desires to serve him and see that he is good because the temporary fulfillment I find in eating and shopping fills the voids I feel when challenging circumstances cause me to become weary and tired.
I must fully yield my life to him to taste and see God's whole goodness. This does not mean I can’t have fun activities like shopping or eating, but I must stop when they consume my thoughts or actions. If I have indeed tasted the Lord’s goodness, I’ll be able to stop fun activities from overtaking my life. When other things consume my life, I’ve made an idol out of them. Experiencing the Lord’s whole goodness means I can squash idol worship more easily.
Take a moment and look at your life. Do you taste and see that God is good? Do you see dire circumstances or trials as punishment by God? Or do you see them as a redirection where God is moving you into areas where you can better serve him? Do you know God is good, or do you see trials as punishment? When our hearts are entirely devoted to him, we can taste and see that he is good. When our hearts are divided, we make idols in our lives that, when erected, become more difficult to knock down.
Anchor yourself to the word. Read and know God intimately through the pages of the bible. Read and hear his voice regularly. Experience him as if he were your friend. Walk in step with him daily.
Father, let us experience you fully. Let us taste and see that you are good. Let us see you in those moments that don't make sense for times when we feel like you are distant or punishing us. Let us know that you are always working things on our behalf. Your goodness extends every situation in our lives. Help us to see your goodness and experience that entirely in our lives. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In what ways do you feel you have not experienced God fully?
Are there things in your life where you may have erected an idol? How can you rid yourself of that idol today?
Further Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:23
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Domepitipat
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