Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.
–Colossians 2:17
Likewise, Paul draws on this understanding to explain that Christ is the reality of so many positive things. We all eat and drink, but Christ is the real food and real drink (1 Cor. 10:3-4). Clothing is important, but we need to put on Christ (Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27). The Lord Jesus also spoke this way, revealing Himself to be our breath, drink, food, light, and dwelling place (John 20:22; 4:10, 14; 6:35, 57; 8:12; 15:5). The list goes on and on. Of course the meaning is not that Jesus Christ is a piece of steak, a glass of lemonade, or a warm polar jacket. The meaning is that Christ is our real nourishment, our real refreshment, and our real warmth, covering, and expression.
Will there be any need for anyone to remind us of Christ?
Not if this is our mind.
The point, however, is not merely to remember all that Christ is to us, but this remembrance should help lead us into the experience of Christ as these things. The way that we do this is primarily through prayer.
All these things in our daily lives should remind us to pray!
Not merely praying to thank the Lord, but to experience Him as these things. "Lord, nourish me with Yourself as the living bread." "Fill me with Your Spirit!" "Lord Jesus, I come to You to find rest and satisfaction (Matt. 11:28)." In this way, we not only enjoy the shadows of all these positive things (i.e. food, gas, or sleep), we not only remember Christ as the reality of these shadows, but we even experience and enjoy Christ as the reality of these things. We can have a daily living full of reality, full of Christ who is the reality of all positive things.
We need to apply the matter of experiencing Christ as the reality of every positive thing to every part of our daily life. As we eat our meals, we should take Christ as the real food. Instead of saying a word of grace in a traditional way, we should speak something higher according to the revelation in Colossians: "Lord Jesus, I do not simply thank You for this food and take it into me. Lord, I take You as the reality of this food."
...In Paul's word about shadows we have a hint as to how we may enjoy Christ in a practical way. Since such things as eating and drinking are shadows of which Christ is the substance and reality, we need to be reminded whenever we eat and drink that the real food and real drink are Christ. When you eat your food, you should simultaneously eat Christ. When you drink some beverage, you should also drink Christ. As you put on your clothing, you should be reminded that Christ is the real clothing, and you should experience Him as such. As you put on your material clothing, you should also put on Christ. It is easy to enjoy Christ in this way. Whatever we do day by day should remind us of Christ as the reality of that thing. Even our breathing should remind us of the necessity of breathing Christ spiritually.
–W. Lee; Life-study of Colossians