By: Arnie Cole
My wife Char is all about being physically fit. In fact, it seems like you can catch her working out 4 to 5 times a week. One of the critical things Char has taught me is that, especially as you get older, physical fitness can never outstrip nutrition. She reminds me almost daily that any workouts or exercises must be accompanied by proper meals and hydration. And even though I want to lose weight as an incentive for all my workouts, she doesn’t allow me to go just one day without eating, because she is convinced I will become fatigued and irritable. At the same time, if I go for a couple more days of diet fasting, my energy will plummet, and I will experience headaches, dizziness, and muscle breakdown. Without water, the consequences are even more dire—within a day, dehydration sets in, leading to confusion and weakness. By day three, our organs begin to fail.
Equally fascinating is this fact about the human soul: we cannot maintain or increase our spiritual fitness without regularly nourishing and “hydrating” ourselves spiritually. When we neglect our primary form of spiritual nourishment—regular time in God’s Word—our spiritual vitality suffers. The Bible, more than any other resource, provides the nourishment we need for spiritual health. Without it, our faith withers.
Jesus Himself emphasized this truth when He was tempted in the wilderness. In response to the devil’s suggestion that He turn stones into bread, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy, saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Just as physical food sustains our bodies, God’s Word sustains our spirits. We are not just flesh and bone but also souls in need of daily spiritual sustenance.
Let’s face it—life can drain us. Work, family, struggles, and disappointments can all leave us spiritually hungry, just as a long day leaves us physically famished. That’s where the Bible comes in. It’s our spiritual nourishment, providing wisdom, encouragement, correction, and strength. Without it, we risk spiritual malnourishment, becoming weak in our faith and more vulnerable to the challenges life throws at us.
Jesus also declared, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). In this powerful statement, Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate source of life-sustaining nourishment. Through the Bible, we meet the living Christ, the Bread of Life, who satisfies our deepest spiritual hunger and thirst. Just as we can’t survive without food and water, we cannot thrive spiritually without engaging with Scripture regularly.
In Psalm 1, we find a vivid picture of someone who makes Scripture their daily source of nourishment:
Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
In this passage, King David describes a person deeply rooted in the Word of God—a spiritually fit person. Like a tree planted by a stream, this person is constantly nourished, yielding fruit at the right time and thriving through every season of life.
When we meditate on Scripture—chewing on its truth, savoring it, and applying it to our lives—we are continually refreshed. This is not a one-time event but a daily practice, much like we eat and drink daily to maintain our physical health. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, the more we flourish spiritually. Our faith will grow stronger, and we will be equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence and hope.
But just as physical nourishment requires intention and effort—we plan meals, buy groceries, and take time to eat—spiritual nourishment also requires intentionality. We need to carve out time each day to sit with the Word of God, allowing it to penetrate our hearts and minds. By reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture, we allow God’s truth to shape and transform us.
At Back to the Bible, researchers at the Center for Spiritual Fitness found that individuals who engage with Scripture four or more times a week are more likely to grow in faith, withstand spiritual challenges, and mentor others. For that reason, we developed a daily spiritual fitness regimen that can be delivered to your phone or email inbox. But regardless of whether you avail yourself of these resources, it all comes down to one simple truth: your spiritual fitness depends on your daily intake of Scripture.
So, let me encourage you today—don’t starve your soul. Feed it with the life-giving, nourishing Word of God. Make the Bible your primary source of spiritual sustenance, and watch as your faith grows deeper, stronger, and more resilient. Just as food and water sustain your body, Scripture sustains your soul. Draw near to it every day, and experience the fullness of life that God promises to those who are spiritually nourished by His Word.
Remember: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). As you make daily Bible reading a priority, you will discover that God’s Word truly is the bread of life.
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