(Photo by Selma Komisky)

Holiday Health: Dining with Dietary Restrictions

By: Michele Massie

When it comes to holiday health and dining with dietary restrictions, do you need a new focus? Are you looking to help your family start new culinary traditions? Are you ready to move from your former holiday habits to new paths that God is paving in your life?

As you navigate toward the coming new year and you look at the spiritual control panel of your life, the road may be fraught with fears of unfamiliar foods.  What do you see when you look at the dashboard of your life? Do the dials indicate that you need to change? There are adjustments you can make. Beloved, don’t resist the guidance of the Lord. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you.” The Lord encourages us in His word, assuring us with His guidance that He is leading us to a “glorious destiny” including a glorious Christmas dinner (Psalm 73:24 NLT).

The dashboard of your life may be sounding off with emergency sirens.  For each of us, life will be a series of choices, and there are many pathways that can be taken. Beloved! The Lord alone knows the best way to take! Are you ready to let the Lord lead you through the transition to a new era in your life?  An era that will give you the necessary fortitude required for the ultimate call and purpose for your life.

God provided the perfect food for the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus). There were those who complained and this rebellion caused the great trials that they suffered. God guided them and provided the daily food that they needed called manna. The Lord saw them through, and He will see you through. God has given you good food and perfect provision for your special needs, physical and spiritual. Consider your gift of food, even when it’s different from others at the table. Whether it’s turkey or tofu, beyond meat or beef, gluten free or gluten gooey – give thanks to God and receive blessing from His abundance. The promise of God is to know you and to love you, so trust God and receive. He will provide at every turn in your dietary road. He will meet you at every corner. Beloved, He’s going to provide your new culinary traditions…and it will be good!

“You will make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, With eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11 (NIV)