Carbohydrate loading.
The physiological rationale is well-studied and supported. There are a variety of regimens but the basic premise is the same. Before an arduous physical task, such as a marathon race, consuming a diet rich in carbohydrates, one to three days before the physical test, enables the body to store additional energy reserves in the form of glycogen. Athletes who fail to carb load may exhaust their normal supplies of glycogen, reaching fatigue much sooner during their time of extreme physical stress.
Is there a spiritual equivalent to carbohydrate loading? Can we increase our spiritual reserves by “consuming” the proper sustenance and ensure that we don’t weaken during times of temptations or spiritual struggles?
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…
Luke 4:1-2 (ESV)
Jesus Christ faced one of His first great tests at the start of His ministry. After fasting for forty days and in a weakened state, Satan confronted Him in the wilderness, tempting Him with the desires of the eyes, flesh, and the pride of life. But Jesus Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit. Full of the power of God, Jesus successfully prevailed over Satan’s temptations and began His ministry. There are many other examples. Before He selected His twelve apostles, He spent the entire night in prayer with God, the Father. And on the eve of His Crucifixion, Jesus prayed so fervently that the sweat on His forehead became drops of blood. Jesus actively sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We, too, as believers in Jesus Christ, need to seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. We need to always “spiritually load” our souls with the unlimited power of God through the Holy Spirit that indwells within everyone who has confessed and repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
We will never weaken or fail when we partake of spiritual loading through God’s Holy Spirit.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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