Author Amy Seiffert realised she wasn’t feeding herself with spiritually nourishing things. Here she explains five things she did to make a positive change.
We needed someone to hold our hands. We had never heard or seen anyone else doing this diet. But if we were going to put Crohn’s disease into remission for my son, we were willing to try. Because he had been eating, but he was starving.
After my oldest son was diagnosed, we decided to swap out the food that was starving him—causing painful inflammation—for different nourishing foods. We found a meal plan that held our hand along the way, guiding us every step. By day three on the plan? His pain was gone, and he was in remission.
At the same time, I saw the immediate need for a spiritual diet change in my own life. Spending nights on the internet, I was exhausted trying to find solutions. Feeding my anxiety, I would go over all my fears, one by one, in the middle of the night. Scrolling my social media feed for an escape, I was overwhelmed. I needed a new spiritual diet plan. And maybe you do, too. If you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and tired, this is my hand extended toward yours. I offer you five practical ways to stop ingesting spiritual junk food and to start taking in real soul nourishment.
Feeding my anxiety, I would go over all my fears, one by one, in the middle of the night.
Firstly, trade scrolling for silence. Make a plan to practice five minutes of silence a day. This could be at any break throughout your day. Sit quietly by a window and take in God’s beauty. Let yourself settle into receiving God’s love, by just sitting there. This will tell your body you are here, in the present, and you are safe.
Second, trade fear for a worship walk. There were many days fear snuck up on me when my son was first diagnosed. I would then take a ten-minute walk around the block with worship music in my ears. Allow someone else to sing goodness and mercy and truth over your fears.
Third, trade anxiety for peace. Anxiety wants to rob us of our agency and peace. Take back your peace with a truth that sums up Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. Repeat it slowly for one minute. Or try this breath prayer: Inhale: “My God will …” Exhale: “… care for me.”
Fourth, trade shame for being God’s beloved. Jesus gave us a vivid picture of God the Father who runs toward his lost and ashamed son and fully embraces him as his beloved. Take time to internalize this story in Luke 15. Slowly write out verse 20 and underline each verb assigned to the Father. This is your story.
Finally, trade exhaustion for a Sabbath. So many of us are physically and emotionally tired. God designed a rhythm of work and rest for us to restore our depletion of energy. Take the time to plan a Sabbath day of rest this week, maybe starting with three hours if a whole day feels challenging. God will provide for you as you rest!
Choose one of these practices this week and experiment. See which one God is nudging you to try and have fun with God in the practice.
Amy Seiffert’s new book Starved is out now - you can get your copy here.
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