Life can feel overwhelming. Long to-do lists, demanding schedules, and constant responsibilities can leave your mind restless and your heart weary. I started a simple practice during breakfast …eating while reading the Bible … and discovered a beautiful truth: a quiet meal with the Lord can restore your soul.
We all know the comfort of sharing a good meal with a close friend. How much more restorative is it to share a meal with the One who knows you fully, loves you perfectly, and guides your steps? This is the essence of the Chat and Chew Challenge: combining nourishment with Scripture and conversation with God.
Why This Works
Psalm 23 shows God’s care beautifully:
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies… He restoreth my soul.” — Psalms 23:5, 3
And Jesus reminds us:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” — Matthew 4:4
Even a simple meal becomes an opportunity to nourish the soul — a pause to reflect, receive care, and experience God’s presence.
The Benefits: Body, Mind, and Spirit
- Calms the Body – Eating activates the “rest-and-digest” response (assuming there’s not fear or anxiety present), slowing your heart rate and relaxing muscles. Your body signals safety, making your mind more receptive to God’s Word.
- Pleasure and Comfort – Meals naturally bring satisfaction. Combined with Scripture, the experience is joyful and comforting, like a conversation with a close friend.
- Focus Through Calm – When your body is nourished and relaxed, your mind is free to reflect, listen, and meditate on God’s Word.
- Worship in the Ordinary – 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31
Even a simple meal can be an act of worship.
My Daily Chat and Chew
This morning, I read Psalm 23:1:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
I reflected on the word shepherd and asked God why He describes Himself this way and why I still have “wants” even though He provides all I need. I looked up shepherd in the dictionary and in the Strongs Concordance, and learned that God is my shepherd because He cares for me and leads me. I am still praying and reflecting on what it truly means not to want.
A Pleasant Surprise
At first, I worried I might be disrespectful by reading while eating. Yet each morning, God meets me in my meal, not upset that I haven’t separated study and nourishment. I sense that He enjoys these meals with me — turning ordinary moments into times of peace, guidance, and relational delight.
An Invitation
Perhaps this practice is especially rewarding in my transitional, preparational, and consecration stage. Seasons of change, growth, or crisis call for extra soul care and clarity.
If you’re in a similar stage, I warmly invite you to start regular Chat and Chews with the Lord. Even a few minutes at a meal with Scripture can provide restoration, guidance, and focus that carries into your day.
Practical Tips
- Choose a meal – breakfast, lunch, or a quiet snack that signals a pause.
- Select a verse or passage – start with something familiar or something you’re wondering about.
- Reflect – meditate on a word, phrase, or concept that stands out.
- Ask God questions – silently or aloud.
- Optional journaling – record insights or prayers.
- Flexible timing – five minutes or twenty; there is no “right” way.
Takeaway:Amid life’s long lists and challenges, spiritual restoration often happens in ordinary, intentional moments. The Chat and Chew Challenge invites you to delight in a meal with the Lord, reflect on His Word, and allow Him to restore and renew your soul, one bite, one verse, one conversation at a time.
Curious how this works for kids and teens? Check out our Chat and Chew Challenge for Students in the For Schools blog.
