Feeding Off Of...

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Feeding Off in this way, “to gain strength, energy, or support from (something).”
This past Sunday our Pastor made a joke while he was preaching and those in attendance burst out in laughter…it was evident that he fed off of their laughter. He laughed with them and was able to transition into his connecting thought because of the support he felt at the time.
Sometimes when working out I feed off of the type of music I’m listening to.
You see, whether it’s music, laughter, the news, or whatever it may be, people feed off of something or someone…what or who is it that you feed off of? Is it evident to others as to where your strength, energy or support comes from? As you're being fed, are you then helping feed others? What are you feeding them…anger, bitterness, wrath, pride, unrest, anxiety, fear, vengeance, backbiting, spiritual weakness, tearing down, or fruit of the spirit / image of Him / His characteristics…what is it and what needs to possibly change? Do others sense or feel your support, help, kindness, love, encouragement, forgiveness, spiritual strength, humility, etc.? Hope it helps to think through these questions and the verses below...
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Verses to Reflect On…

• Gain Christ.
  • Philippians 3:7-11 (NLT) 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
• Feed off of His Help and then be a helper to others. 
  • Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT) 1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
• Feed off of His love and then love others. 
  • 1 John 4:19 (NIV) We love because he first loved us.
• Feed off of His kindness, compassion and forgiveness and do the same unto others. 
  • Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
• Fee off of His strength, be strengthened by it and then strengthen others too. 
  • Exodus 15:2-3 (NLT) 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him! 3 The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!
  • Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
  • Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT) 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT) 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
  • Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT) 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
  • Philippians 4:13 (NLT) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
• Above is not an exhaustive list…Are there other thoughts or verses that you can think of?