Good morning, brothers and sisters.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 9:19, “And taking food, he was strengthened.”
If you’re not on the Ketogenetic diet, or Keto for short, then you know someone who is. As one of the most popular forms of weight loss, the Keto diet is known for producing significant weight loss in individuals as they eliminate or greatly reduce their intake of carbohydrates and increase their consumption of fat. As a weight loss plan, Keto requires dieters to avoid bread, pasta, fruit and many vegetables and indulge themselves on higher-fat foods such as meat, cheese, and eggs to enable their body to burn fat for energy instead of carbs. But as with any extreme course of action, there are certain risks and unknowns that come with Keto, and certain things that the dieter should be aware of. One of those concerns is the effects that Keto has on your kidneys. The high intake of animal foods can cause the blood to be more acidic, which leads to an increase in the excretion of calcium into the urine. As this waste passes through the kidneys, the calcium can be more likely to settle as calcium deposits that eventually cause problems as kidney stones. Likewise, individuals with existing kidney problems are advised to avoid Keto as it can worsen the existing condition. Another concern is the effects on blood sugar. As low carb diets can be used to help manage higher sugar levels, the danger exists for those with diabetes of reducing the blood sugar too low and setting off an episode of hypoglycemia, especially in people with type-1 diabetes, which can be harmful and life-threatening.
Not surprisingly, going without spiritual food will have an effect on your spirit, as dieting does on your body. And just as shortcuts and modified plans have their strengths and weaknesses in the world of diet and nutrition, so do they in the spiritual world. Even eating well cannot overcome other harmful and destructive habits that one may be putting their body through. So, too, is the adverse effect of sinful habits on our walk with Christ, despite our routine nourishment of spiritual food. What is best is what has always been best, a well-rounded commitment to a relationship with Jesus, full of time with Him, time in His word, time with His children, and time serving others, all the while avoiding the sin and temptation that would gladly destroy the fruit of the Spirit. So take food, in healthy amounts and enjoyable fashion. And do the other things that make for a healthy you. And give that healthy you in a fulltime, whole-life commitment to walking with Jesus, being strengthened each step along the way.
As we seek Him today, let your spiritual food be consumed all throughout the day, equipping you for the work of the Lord.
Have a wonderful Monday.
