But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
Day 3 Reflection
I found myself digging deep yesterday. Nothing was ultimately wrong. I just went there. I took a moment to take my mind off of everything that I had going on and coming up, and I simply sat still for a moment and enjoyed the sun beaming down on me in the stillness of the moment.
That’s not my normal modus operandi. That’s not the way that I regularly handle a highly compacted schedule. But I found it both necessary and refreshing. In that brief moment, I was able to refocus and take my mind off the fact that I had not eaten bread in 4 or 5 days. I did not even think about not having meat since Saturday night. In fact, I paused and reflected for a moment on how much I did not feel like I was missing meat. I thanked God for encouraging words from others like Natalie Cone as I pushed through Day #3. It was necessary time to refocus.
Focus on Faith
Matthew 4:4 helps me to negate any notion that our lives hang in the balance without any support from heaven. Let us recall that the Lord is a Provider, often called Jehovah Jireh in the Old Testament. And what the Lord provides is sufficient, enough to carry us through until He comes through again to amply supply our needs and answer our supplications. No, we do not live by bread alone. And the Lord is the source of our daily bread no matter who He might use to get it to us. But we are to daily depend on “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NKJV).
Focus on Fuel
I will refer back to Matthew 4:4. We don’t live by bread alone. If this remains unclear for you, think about the wide variety of vegetables available to you. Take inventory of the varieties of legumes and nuts. Try to keep track of all of the pulses and types of seeds available to us day after day. Let the vast amount of choices provide you with options for your meals and snacks.
Focus on Fitness
Things went a little different yesterday. Instead of a standard walk for a fitness break, I played with the dog and she kept me busy dodging and dipping as we covered about 3/4 of the backyard. Today, I might take another detour from the norm. If nothing else, I know that I have not lacked motivation. I have remained consistent with my mornings of modified pushups and my evenings with some deep breathing and stretches. I have been sleeping more soundly and feel no loss of strength. By this weekend, I might go for a longer run and possibly walk a par 3 golf course. I have yet to decide, but I know that if the last 3 days are any indication of what today brings then I am more than ready to fully engage.
“Success is knowing your the purpose in life, growing to reach your maximum potential, and sowing seeds that benefit others.”
John c. maxwell
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