What is our spiritual food?

Quick answer

Spiritual food for believers comes when we believe in Christ and from God’s written Word and His Spirit. Spiritual food allows us to grow in faith and Christlikeness, so we can reflect Him to the world.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible teaches that our spiritual food is God’s Word, both in written form and incarnated as Jesus (Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4; John 1:1; 6:51). In the Old Testament, God encouraged the Israelites to depend on Him, rather than satisfying their physical appetites (Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 19:7–10; Isaiah 55:1–3). The New Testament continues the comparison of God’s Word as a form of spiritual nourishment for believers. In fact, Paul and the writer of Hebrews compare immature believers to those who consume “milk” and mature believers to those who consume “solid food” (1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Hebrews 5:13–14). The lesson? Believers must continue to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God, which is done first by believing in Christ, but also by regular study of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17). The scriptural “food” cannot be understood, though, without the working of the indwelling Holy Spirit in believers’ lives (1 Corinthians 2:12–13). The Bible teaches, throughout, that our spiritual food is what God provides through His Son, His Spirit, and His written Word.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Moses reminded the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:3 of how to be truly nourished in God’s word: “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Jesus quoted this passage to Satan when Satan tempted Him with food while He was fasting (Matthew 4:4).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

Jesus says of Himself in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” We are spiritually nourished when we believe in Christ.
In admonishing the Hebrew believers for not learning the “oracles of God,” the writer of Hebrews compared knowing God’s word to spiritual nourishment : “for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:13–14).
Spiritual nourishment is effective in our hearts because of the Holy Spirit, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 2:12–13: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many countries have guidelines or programs to show what a healthy diet looks like, and parents often encourage their children to “eat your vegetables” in order to grow strong. It’s all part of the desire for a healthy body, which depends on good nutrition. But have you ever considered how much more important spiritual nourishment is? What’s on your spiritual “plate”? How much time do you dedicate to studying and reflecting on God's Word compared to other activities, like social media or entertainment? How often do you spend time in prayer, expressing your love and gratitude for the gift of Jesus? For many, it’s easy for the balance to tip in favor of spiritual junk food, but we can change that today. Make it a habit to regularly engage with God’s Word, pray, and connect with other believers—this is how we grow spiritually. Even if you don’t fully understand everything you read, God has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we can pray for wisdom (James 1:5–8). Our relationship with God should be our priority, and our spiritual “diet” should reflect that truth. The Bible consistently teaches that our spiritual nourishment comes from what God provides—through His Son, His Spirit, and His written Word.

UNDERSTAND

Spiritual food comes from God's Word and Spirit.
Spiritual growth happens after salvation as we nourish ourselves with the spiritual food God has given us.
Jesus is the source and sustainer of eternal spiritual life.

REFLECT

What importance does spending time with God—in prayer, in worship, in His Word—have in your life compared to other activities in your life?
How can you better nourish your spiritual life?
How does the Holy Spirit help you understand and apply the truths of Scripture in your daily life?

ENGAGE

How can we encourage one another to prioritize nourishing spiritual food over distractions that are more like junk food?
What are some practical steps to grow from “milk” to “solid food” in our spiritual lives?
How does Jesus being the "living bread" shape our understanding of what it means to be spiritually nourished?