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“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17, NLT

Outward Focus

Caroline is a Christian. She’s also suffers from emotional pain that she doesn’t know how to handle and isn’t willing to confront. Instead of working through her problems in a productive manner, she attempts to cover them up by eating…and eating…and eating.

Obsession with food creates a vicious cycle of temptation and indulgence, which leads to intense feelings of guilt, shame, and self-disgust. After several failed attempts to gain self-control in this area, a food addict feels hopeless and helpless to change. A person like Caroline often sinks into deep depression and isolates herself from family and friends em. Unfortunately, Caroline and those like her will continue in that lonely existence until they move from a selfish way of thinking to a life that’s passionate about serving God and others.

Your spiritual growth is stunted when you remain in bondage to the sin of overeating. Disobedience blocks the abundant life God has for you and holds back his richest blessings. But, oh, the glorious freedom you experience when you surrender and your vision is restored! God removes the guilt of your sin and places a fresh desire in your heart for him. The wonder of his unfailing love causes compassion to rise up within you, and you are motivated to serve others.

I’ve experienced this situation in my own life. When I feel sad or depressed, I usually stop talking (that’s when you KNOW something’s up) and withdraw. I also lose interest in activities that I normally enjoy, such as cooking and exercise. My emotions are at rock bottom, making me vulnerable to the enemy’s schemes, which causes me to make poor choices with eating. This behavior may go on for a few days until I listen to the Lord’s reprimand of, “Get over yourself, Kristen.” Finally, I do what I should have the moment I started feeling sorry for myself. I sit down, open my Bible, and let the light of God’s Word shine into my heart. The black cloud of despair is lifted. I say good-bye to my pity party, and vision is restored. The focus is no longer on myself but on God and the people he wants me to reach.

Peter Sinclair, a devout environmentalist, has a powerful quotation that more than likely wasn’t intended to have spiritual implications. However, it brilliantly describes this aspect of the healing process:

“Depression loses its power when fresh vision pierces the darkness.”

What a beautiful picture of what happens when the blinders Satan has put over your eyes are removed by the truth of God’s Word! Everything in your life has color again. You overflow with hope. You see each day as a gift instead of drudgery. You forget about your own problems and seek opportunities to bless others.

An ongoing struggle with food is merely Satan’s attempt to distract you from living out God’s purposes for your life. The enemy has discovered one of your weaknesses and has pounced on it.

Stop letting him steal your joy! Close your ears to his lies! You’ve been listening to his foolishness for far too long. Now is the time to stand firm in your faith and believe God’s promises. Remember, the Lord has “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).” The Lord is waiting to lead you into the promised land.

God will give you victory in this area of your life. Do you believe it? I hope so because it’s true! The Lord promises to provide the strength you need for lasting change, but you have to trust him. Begin thanking God today for rescuing you from the chains of food addiction because he already has. Go forward in freedom, my friend, and live boldly for your God!

When Food Is An Idol, Part 4: Upward Focus
When Food Is An Idol, Part 3: Inward Focus
When Food Is An Idol, Part 2
When Food Is An Idol

A note from Kristen:
I pray that this series on food addiction/emotional eating has been a source of encouragement. When I began writing it this week, I had no idea what direction it would take. Each day I waited for God to give me words to share. If you have questions or want to share your story, please email me. Thank you for being open to listening to what God may want you to hear. Even if it was for only one person, it was worth it, especially if that person was YOU. 🙂

May the Lord bless you and pour out his favor on your life as you surrender to Him.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Cor. 15:57, ESV

If you have a habit of turning to food when you’re sad, lonely, or depressed, you’re guilty of idolatry. However, food addiction is not the unpardonable sin. The Lord offers forgiveness and hope to those who long to be free from this particular stronghold.

Yesterday we looked at the first component that’s involved in overcoming an obsession with food – the inward focus. This step requires that you acknowledge your sin (confession) and repent (genuine remorse that results in changed behavior). Today we’ll look at the second component, the upward focus.

Upward Focus

People who struggle with compulsive eating battle distorted thoughts about themselves and are confused about the proper role of food in their lives. Let me assure you that such negative thoughts do not come from God. Instead, they are whispered into your ears by the enemy of your soul. Some of Satan’s culinary classics are:

“This cake will make me feel better.”

“If I keep eating, I can stop the pain.”

“I don’t want to feel empty inside. Eating makes me feel full and less lonely.”

“Food makes me happy.”

“I need something sweet.”

In every one of the above statements, the underlying message is that consuming food will solve all your problems, which is a LIE! Satan wants you to believe that food is your comforter, your helper, your friend. The truth is that those roles are reserved for the Lord. He is the answer when you feel sad. He’s the One you need to lean on when you feel weak. He is the only God you should serve.

Satan’s goal is to steal, kill, and destroy anything good in your life (John 10:10). Even though the enemy is strong, God is more powerful! You don’t have to fall prey to the enemy’s tactics. You can resist his attacks. Jesus said in John 8:31-32: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Freedom from food addiction is possible when we look to the Lord and his power instead of relying on our own wisdom and strength.

Following are four steps you can take to take Satan’s lies captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5):

1. Read the Word.
I can’t stress this one enough. Just as your body requires nourishment to give you energy, your spirit also needs to be fed on a daily basis. If you have gone weeks or months without opening God’s Word, you’re in a state of spiritual starvation.

2. Recognize the lies of the enemy.
When you read the Bible on a regular basis, you will be equipped to recognize when Satan is trying to pull a fast one on you. Jesus warned us about his devious ways in John 8:44: “There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The more time you spend reading God’s Word, the more quickly and easily you will recognize Satan’s deception because you will know the truth.

3. Replace lies with truth.
Find verses in the Bible that speak specifically to areas in which you struggle. For example, if you feel weak and hopeless, say Philippians 4:13, which is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If you struggle with fear, meditate on Psalm 56:3, which says, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Such verses will give you strength as you focus on what is right and true. When possible, say the Scriptures aloud, which will build your confidence in the Lord and His ability to supply all your needs.

4. Renew your mind.
When you read the Word, recognize lies, and replace the lies with truth, over time your thought patterns will change. Your mind will be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and you’ll no longer be enslaved by your fleshly desires. You’ll see yourself as the Lord sees you and enjoy the blessing of food without guilt or condemnation.

This healing process takes time. You can’t retrain your mind overnight. However, keep on fighting, and don’t get discouraged. Persevere. The Lord will reward you for earnestly seeking Him (Hebrews 11:6).

As you put your trust in the Lord, you’ll find rest in his promises. Your mind and body, once tormented by lies will flourish in freedom, allowing you to be all that God created you to be.

The last component I’ll share this week is the outward focus and how surrender flings the door wide open for ministry and service to others.

Tomorrow: The Outward Focus

When Food Is An Idol, Part 3
When Food Is An Idol, Part 2
When Food Is An Idol

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” – Psalm 32:5, NLT

A few years ago, my church adopted the motto “upward in worship, inward in commitment, and outward in evangelism.” The idea is based upon the fact that in order to be effective in reaching others with the gospel, our lives must glorify the Lord, inside and out. Otherwise, our ministry efforts are futile.

These areas of focus – upward, inward, and outward – are also key factors in overcoming sinful habits, such as food addiction. Let’s start by taking a look at the first component, the inward focus.

Inward Focus
If you struggle with food issues, and most people do to some degree, the first thing you must do is repent. Repentance is more than saying you’re sorry and feeling bad for what you’ve done. It’s getting alone with God and confessing your sin to him. State specifically how you’ve violated his commands. For example, tell the Lord if you’ve sought comfort in eating when you should have turned to him. Admit when you’ve been a glutton and medicated yourself with food. Acknowledge that you’ve worshiped a false god.

Once you’ve repented, though, you are forgiven. God doesn’t hold your sin against you, so you don’t need to punish yourself. This is an area in which God has had to help me. My tendency is slip into self-loathing when I do something I shouldn’t. However, a friend once shared something that has helped me release my shortcomings to God and leave them there. She said, “When you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re basically saying what Jesus did on the cross was not enough.” She’s exactly right. What a huge insult to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross! I’ve learned (and am learning) that when God forgives, there is no condemnation. If there is shame, it’s not from the Lord.

Next, ask God to search your heart and reveal your motives for confession. Are you broken over your rebellion? Or, are you merely listing your failures in prayer just to clear your conscience? God requires that we come to him with sincere and complete remorse. When we do, He receives us with open arms. Psalm 51:17 says, “You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” Once you’ve confessed your sin, the Bible says that God purifies you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). His mercy and grace cover you. You’re clean in his sight.

Finally, if you have truly repented, you will change, first in your mind and then in your behavior. That doesn’t mean you won’t occasionally stumble. You might even fall flat on your face. However, the overall direction of your life with regard to food and eating will be different. You won’t keep on making the same mistakes over and over again. You’ll begin to trust God for the self-control you need instead of giving in to the cravings of your flesh.

Although it’s necessary to look inward to overcome a food addiction, it’s just the starting point. You can’t stay there. You have to move on. What you do at this point in your healing process is absolutely critical and will determine whether you walk forward in freedom and victory…or go back into slavery.

Tomorrow: When Food Is An Idol, Part 4: The Upward Focus

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-25

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” – Acts 3:19

When Food Is An Idol, Part 2
When Food Is An Idol, Part 1

“You must not have any other god but me.” – Exodus 20:3, NLT

Mariah had always been athletic, playing various sports throughout high school and college. However, after 10 years of marriage, Mariah found herself in a place she never imagined she’d be: morbidly obese and extremely dissatisfied with her life. Her husband and three children weren’t the issue, though. She adored them. The problem was the ongoing battle inside herself.

She couldn’t tell you exactly when the struggle began, but it was soon after the death of her mother. Unable to cope with the sudden loss of her best friend, Mariah sunk into a pit of despair and turned to food to numb her pain. When Mariah ate, she felt better. Soon those moments of temporary pleasure became a continual feast. Food was on her mind when she woke up, throughout the day, and when her head hit the pillow at night. She ate when she was lonely, bored, sad, or stressed. She even resorted to hiding food and bingeing when no one else was home. Mariah lived to eat. Loved to eat. Food was her comforter. Her friend. Her god.

As a Christian, Mariah knew this was not the way God wanted her to live. Her eating was out of control, yet, she felt powerless to change. Shame prevented her from reaching out to family or friends, so she chose to suffer silently, tormented by the desires that raged within her.

Food is a blessing, a unique creation that God provides to nourish our bodies so that we’re physically equipped to serve Him and advance His kingdom. However, when we elevate food to a place of importance and it becomes more than just fuel for our bodies, it becomes an idol.

Idol worship is more than bowing down to a statue, carving, or painting. Idolatry occurs when we begin to value anything more than we value God, when we look to something or someone other than the Lord to meet our needs. Although there’s nothing wrong with enjoying what we eat, it should not be the focus of our lives.

Only God can satisfy completely. The Hebrew word for satisfied is saba, which means “to fill to satisfaction, drink your fill, have in plenty, have abundance.” The Bible provides many verses that help us understand what it means to be content in Jesus. One of my favorite passages is Psalm 90:14: “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

If you are like Mariah and struggle with food issues, you are not alone. You don’t have to suffer silently. You can find hope and healing in the Lord. Get alone somewhere, and talk to your Savior. Tell Him what’s in your heart. Confess your sin, and acknowledge that you have chased after a false god. Thank the Lord for his forgiveness, and trust Him to help you change your unhealthy eating habits.

The next step is to begin the process of renewing your mind by spending time meditating on God’s Word. This week I’ll share four practical steps on how you can have victory in this area of your life by replacing the lies you’ve believed with truth. No longer will the enemy keep you in bondage to food and destructive thought patterns. Remember, if the Son has set you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36). Now, it’s time for you to walk in that freedom!

Eve had passed the tree at least a hundred times. It was magnificent, standing like a mighty tower in the middle of the Garden of Eden, loaded with delicious, mouth-watering delights. Eve was convinced it held the sweetest fruit in the garden. However, she had never tasted it. God had told Eve and her husband, Adam, not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, Eve had kept her distance. One day, though, something caught her eye. She stopped to take a look.

As she stood beneath the branches, Eve considered the possibility that God didn’t want them to eat of the tree because He knew they would gain wisdom and be like Him if they did. Yes, God had been extremely gracious by granting them free reign of the garden. But, if He truly loved them, why would He deny them this one pleasure? After all, the fruit looked scrumptious, and she was hungry. Surely God would understand.

Eve reached up and pulled the fruit down to her lips. She bit into it. Wow, she thought. This is amazing. Even better than I expected! Eve’s taste buds danced with delight. Closing her eyes, she savored the explosion of flavor, not wanting the edible ecstasy to end. Eve took another bite. And another. The taste was absolutely heavenly. She offered some fruit to Adam, who was standing near her, and he ate as well.

Immediately, Eve’s eyes were opened, and the sweetness on her tongue turned bitter. She felt nauseous. The reality of what had just occurred hit her like tidal wave. Eve wasn’t just guilty of a culinary crime. She had committed a grievous sin by worshiping the god of her stomach. The consequences of Eve’s momentary indulgence reached far beyond the garden, sending out ripples of devastation that engulfed her marriage, family, descendants, and all of mankind.

It’s easy for us to look back on that fateful day and place blame on Adam and Eve for all of our problems. We say, “If only they hadn’t….” However, we shouldn’t be too hard on them for being weak and giving into temptation. The Bible says in Romans 3:10, “No one is righteous – not even one (ESV).” Had we been in the same situation, we would have walked in their footsteps. Actually, we do. We consume the forbidden fruit every day.

In our society, where eating is practically a hobby, we often seek fulfillment in created things, such as food. When we’re happy, we celebrate by going out for dinner. During sad times, we treat ourselves to a sugary dessert. God’s Word says that everything He created is good (1 Timothy 4:4a). However, food was never meant to be our friend. Nor was it designed to be our comforter. The purpose of food is to nourish our bodies so that we’re physically equipped to serve God and advance His kingdom. Although there’s nothing wrong with enjoying what we eat, it should not be the focus of our lives.

Do you struggle as Eve did by saying“Yes!” to your flesh and “No!” to God when it comes to food? Do you find yourself thinking about food all the time, eating when you’re not hungry, or bingeing to the point of making yourself sick? If so, I pray that you’ll find strength and hope over the next week as I explore the issue of food addiction and how prayer and fasting can bring victory to this area of your life.

“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy (Psalm 63:3-5, NLT).”

Lord God, you know my heart’s desire is for you. Many times, though, I seek love and acceptance in things and chase after other gods. I confess my sin to you. Please cleanse me of all unrighteousness and renew a right spirit within me. Restore my unwavering devotion to you so that I flee from any form of idolatry. Thank you, Father, for your unfailing love. You are the only One who satisfies.