Rev. Krista Ducker, pastor and chaplain from the Dakotas Conference.

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with
thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. ~I Timothy 4:4-6

Nourishment: what does this word conjure up for you? Contentment? Growth? Health? In 1 Timothy 4, this word–occurring only here in the New Testament–means “to be sustained in” or “to be fed in” (en-trepho). In the context of the passage, it is a word of encouragement to the faithful to rest in God’s unlimited abundance and be filled by the good, nourishing words of scripture and faith.

“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving…”

Sometimes, words associated with health are also linked with ideas of scarcity–words like nutritious, healthy, and nourishing may bring up anxious thoughts of foods we “should” avoid in order to be “healthy.” What if we just playfully flip the script on these restrictive thought patterns around food and health? Just for a moment, let’s think of nutrition and nourishment from a place of abundance rather than scarcity.

I’ve found that the anxiety around scarcity sometimes hits me at the end of a long day of work–that space between the end of my workday and when supper hits the table. When I’m depleted, it’s tempting to reach for the easiest quick fix (hello, box of cheesy crackers in the pantry!) But that is the voice of scarcity. These days, I am learning to listen to the voice of abundance, a voice that encourages me to reflect on what I really need in that moment.

Am I tired? I need a nap. Dehydrated? A cup of hot tea or cold water. Sore? A hot bath. Emotionally depleted? A hug or encouraging word from a loved one. And sometimes I am hungry, and I need a nourishing snack (hello, bowl of apples on the counter!) There are so many ways God blesses and nourishes my body, mind, and spirit when I am tired and depleted–truly, everything God has made is good.

Through initiatives supporting clergy well-being, I have received support in pursuing a healthier approach to eating and nutrition: Noom. It’s an app that uses insights from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help users find a healthy, sustainable balance in their mental, emotional, and physical health. It has helped me, not only to manage my physical health, but improve my attitude toward food, manage my stress, and cultivate healthy habits. Have I lost some weight? Sure. But more importantly, I have cultivated better stress management skills and improved my habits around movement and nutrition for the long haul. For me, it has been a great tool that helps me attend mindfully to my physical, emotional, and mental health–but what works for you might be different. We are all unique!

Nourishment comes to us in many ways. Sometimes, it comes through food: a bowl of homemade oatmeal with some ground flaxseed and chopped pecans, a salad with lean protein, a sheet pan supper with roasted veggies and fish–and maybe a celebratory splurge with friends once in a while. And, nourishment comes in the form of good self-care, time spent in worship and attending to the ordinances of God, and giving and receiving love in nourishing ways. How are you receiving the abundance of God’s creation in your body, mind, and spirit? May you sense God’s goodness in refreshing and nourishing ways today, and may you receive it with gratitude, in Jesus’ name.

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Additional resources to support physical well-being:
My Fitness Pal is an app to help you track your food intake and your movement output.
EatRight assists with finding a registered dietician or nutritionist to consult with in-person or virtually. These individuals have been certified through the The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Simply enter in your information to see who is in your area.
For those with HealthFlex insurance benefits through Wespath, consider Weight Watchers and Omada. 
For everyone, Weight Watchers continues to be a highly regarded and effective healthy nutrition program even if weight loss is not your goal.  
Also explore the Mediterranean Diet or the MIND Diet which are more than “diets” but a healthy eating lifestyle guide.