God gives us food as a gift.

What is your immediate reaction after reading that? Do you agree with praise and gratitude, or do you consider food to be more of a burden and stress? We see from scripture that food is a gift from our gracious and loving father and God's first gift. Today, I want to help us see food as a true gift.

In the story of creation, we see God's many attributes. He creates, He hovers, He speaks, He names, He separates, He blesses, and He watches. He declares His works as good, but we see Him provide at the end of the chapter, in verse 29. The first act of giving that He performs is providing food to His beloved creation. In Genesis 1, God says, "Behold. I have given you every plant and tree that moves." After the flood, God adds animals as seen in Genesis 9:3 that says, "All creatures that move shall be food for you." As I gave you green plants, I give you everything else.”

Food is a beautiful gift from God, but much of the food we are offered today is far from being the fruit of God's creativity. It lacks nutrients and flavor and leaves us craving more. To be truly healthy, we must change our eating habits. Food must be seen as the gift God intended. We must savor the wholeness of His creation.

Modern society has many misconceptions about healthy living, including the idea that healthy food is bland and that food that appeals to the senses is unhealthy. The process of learning a new and different thought process may seem daunting, but it's much easier or more enjoyable than you think. Adapting the body takes time, just as adjusting our minds does. Your palate may need time to adjust to new flavors, and you'll need self-grace as you become more proficient at cooking new dishes.

Whether it's the way we view food or the way we prepare and eat it, it's wise to start where you are, with whatever is manageable. You can't change yourself overnight with a big step, a big goal, or even a big plan. Instead, it involves small actions that you repeatedly do, followed by more small actions as you master one after another.

Our eating should evoke praise for God's goodness, making us incredibly thankful rather than an expression of excess or anxiety. One day and sometimes, one bite at a time, I too am still learning to choose food that makes me grateful. I'm also learning to eat that food with a deep awareness of his goodness and grace.

Let's take one step today to change our eating habits and then stop and thank God, who gives us all good things.