Spiritual Calories

So I have started this new fitness challenge at my gym.  Part of the challenge involves tracking calories and workouts.  EVERY step and EVERY bite is supposed to get logged into a website... not really my thing.  I know how to eat.  I know what is sound nutrition and what is junk.  I know that if I move my body more, and eat less I will be healthier all around.
If I go through McDonald's drive thru for that yummy breakfast, eat it fast, then hide the evidence so no one will see my gluttony, I am a fool. It is really not going to be hidden when it shows up on my bum!
Not really brain science, right?   When I am eating wholesome, it shows.  My skin looks better.  I have energy and self confidence.  When I am eating junk,  I lack energy and feel depressed.   We spend so much time (and money) TRYING to get the magic formula for quick weight loss, but really it's simple... Eat Wholesome.  Move more. (and always give yourself a little grace!)

Well, the same is true with our spiritual lives... if we fill our time with empty spiritual calories and give no attention to spiritual fitness, it will show.  We must feed our souls with His Word.  Devour the Bible.  Take out the junk.  Replace it with goodness.  Wholesome nourishment.  In Rev. 10 an apocalyptic angel told St. John to take a book and eat it... Seriously... he tells him to eat a book.... "Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth."  This is a metaphor for the Word of God....  "Get this book into your gut; get the words of this book moving through your blood stream; chew on these words and swallow them so they can be (Eugene Paterson, Eat This Book)"  ... METABOLIZED!  The angel tells John to get the words off the printed page and get them out there... sharing them!!!  Shout them,  sing them,  pray them, and most importantly.... LIVE THEM!   Like with a fitness goal, an intention isn't enough... there has to be an ACTION behind the INTENTION... aka: commitment.    James 2:17 tells us that faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is DEAD!
  If we truly are feeding our souls with His Holy Word.. if we are DEVOURING His word... it will show in our life.... in goodness, faithfulness, love, joy, peace, faithfulness, self control, patience, kindness.