Starving & Feeding

Sometimes people come to me asking about how to handle certain hang-ups and problems in their life. One of the best scenario's I've come to realize is that we must be willing to starve these hang-ups as well as feed the spiritual man. 

Sometimes people will attend church for weeks, months, and possibly years. Yet during this entire time these same people aren't doing anything spiritual outside of the 2 or so hours they sit in church during Sabbath worship. This person is starving themself spiritually and let not this man think that he will be able to battle in the spiritual warfare that this world offers. Just as a person who starves himself literally will eventually pass away, so will the person who starves himself spiritually. I see people who slowly (but surely) fade away into the oblivion when it comes to being a servant to the Most High. I encourage you, if you are one of these people, to begin an active plan of reading, studying, praying, fasting, witnessing, etc. Keeping yourself active in these areas is like feeding yourself nutritious spiritual meals. You will begin to grow; be patient though. You've been dead for some time, you will have to slowly bring yourself back to coherence.

While people starve themself spiritually they are usually feeding their flesh. They eat the things that drown themselves in sin. I heard a story once of a man who found a small box on the side of the road and it just so happened that the box was full of pornographic material. Prior to this finding the man not so much as had an unction to look at such filth, but upon looking the first time he began to feed a fleshly desire. Eventually the pornography wasn't enough; he began to attend strip bars and clubs, and then began committing fornication with numerous women. This is one example of how people fade away slowly, and guess what, it is because they are feeding something they ought not be feeding. As long as they feed themselves in this way, they will grow in this way. They more they age in this fashion the more difficult it will be to kill this person.

One thing a person can do who is in this situation is to find someone they can love and trust, and begin the hold themself accountable to this brother or sister. Don't try to make it on your own, you need the help of a fellow Christian. You need someone to talk to about your problems, and sometimes a shoulder to lean upon, and even cry upon. You need a person to tell you what you need to do. You don't need a person who is going to "buddy up" with you and justify your sin right along with you. You need someone who will help "choke out" the sin that has so easily beset you over a period of time. 

Starve yourself of unholiness; feed yourself with righteousness. Plan to begin today.

Matthew Janzen