Mastering Your BodySample

Engaging the Holy Spirit

Daniel 1:8 (KJV) says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

What does “defile” mean? To defile is to poison, corrupt, degrade, or alter the pure state of a thing. Although food may not defile our spirit, food can defile our bodies. Some foods negatively affect the brain, hormonal balance, and general well-being, and some help the human body function efficiently.

Daniel understood the spiritual and physical effects of food under the old covenant, leading to his determination not to defile his body and spirit with the king's diet. He was a wise man with the Spirit of God and was intentional about what he consumed (Daniel 6:3; Proverbs 23:2). With that in mind, it is spiritually intelligent or wise to observe our emotional state and physical reactions after consuming certain foods.

When Daniel purposed in his heart not to eat foods that would defile him, he practiced and modeled self-control. Self-control is the ability to restrain ourselves despite the freedom we have. Are we going to use our freedom to defile our bodies or master our bodies? It is common for Christians to say, “I can eat anything because I am under grace”. The question is- How is that working for us? Are we healthy?

Let’s hold 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT) in mind when making food choices: You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.

Please ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the foods that defile you and empower you to exercise self-control. I have discovered a few and eliminated them from my diet. I encourage you to do whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to you.