Let God’s Word become nourishment

"man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  — Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)  It's easy to think of faith in terms of what we give up. But Scripture tells a deeper story.    In the wilderness, God allowed hunger—not to harm his people, but to teach them where life truly comes from. Israel learned that bread alone could not sustain them. Later, Jesus would echo these same words in his own wilderness, showing that dependence on God's Word is not a burden, but a source of life.    Faith is not only about restraint. It is about being fed—learning again to receive nourishment from God himself.  A word about manna and meaning  The NIV Study Bible, available with Bible Gateway Plus, reflects on this passage with clarity:  This perspective reframes hunger in Scripture. The wilderness becomes a classroom of trust, where God teaches his people to rely not just on what fills the stomach, but on what sustains the soul.  As you begin this week, you might hold a few questions before God:  When I feel empty, tired, or restless, what do I instinctively reach for first—God, or something else?  Is there a simple, realistic way I could fast (from food, media, or noise) to make more space for Scripture?  What might it look like to treat time in the Word as daily bread—something I cannot "skip" and remain well?  Reading slowly, with trusted notes alongside Scripture, can help God's Word become nourishment rather than a task—something that feeds you day by day.  Start Your 7-Day Free Trial Make space for Scripture this week.  Have any questions? Please write to us at support@biblegateway.com. *All prices are USD. Additional sales tax may apply. The 7-day free trial is available to new subscribers only.    This email was sent to alitealbum.biblegateway@blogger.com by 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214, USA. You received this email because you're a member of the Bible Gateway Plus service. If you have questions or comments about this email, please contact us.   Manage all Bible Gateway communication | Opt Out of all Bible Gateway communication   VIEW THIS EMAIL IN YOUR BROWSER  ►