The same amount of food will provide more satiation if it is chewed thoroughly rather than gulped down. The extra chewing allows us to more fully savor its texture and better satisfys our hunger.
The same is true of the daily bread God provides, regardless of its form (food, shelter, clothing, fellowship, work, etc.). We get much more out of it if we take the time to consider what God has given us, to mentally and prayerfully “chew on” those good things, rather than wolfing them down and moving onto whatever next comes to mind.
That is particularly true of the subtle, but very rich, blessings we only partially enjoy if we don’t give them extra consideration. Perhaps that’s why scripture tells us over and over to give thanks to God—it forces us to consider the many blessings He provides everyday, and increases our appreciation of them. See Ephesians 5:20, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:17; I Thessalonians 5:18.
Is that easy? Not always, but it helps deal with those situations where God, in his infinitely superior wisdom, provides less than we, from our far more limited perspective, feel we need. If we look gratefully at what God has provided we are less likely to miss the things he hasn’t. Either way, we’ll have what we have, so we’re better off appreciating them to the fullest. Maybe that’s the way to “be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11.
(Other images about savoring God’s blessings were posted on May 16, 20, July 7, and 15, 2005.)
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