For almost a year now I’ve been praying, pondering, and trying to practice more of the spiritual disciplines. I have been intentionally weaving increased prayer, meditation, Bible reading, silence, etc. into my routine, believing that as I seek to surrender my heart, mind, and body to God, He will in turn draw me closer to Himself.
As I have prayerfully sought God more, He has faithfully grown both my love and my hunger for Him. My spiritual life has become more intentional, a bit more sacrificial, but best of all, more delightful. I want to be closer to God!
What?!
Then I heard this prompting from Him, “Surrender junk food! That will grow your love and dependence on me.” Surrender junk food?! Why not cross the burning desert on my hands and knees? Perhaps I should climb Mount Everest over the summer break? Maybe I’ll sell all that I own and move to Idaho? (Does anybody really live in Idaho?) These things would be a whole lot easier.
The truth is I LOVE junk food. Any kind. And I eat it. A lot .
Besides, who ever heard of a spiritual discipline called Denying Donuts? Maybe I should just get up five hours earlier to pray more.
My Struggle
And in this struggle I began to see. What a hold sugar has on my heart! What a priority indulging myself has become. It’s shocking how quickly I’m willing to throw off my desire for more of God to hold onto a few extra carbs.
It’s not a weight thing, although I could certainly stand to shed a few pounds. It’s not about fitness though being able to climb the stairs without resting halfway would certainly be nice. In part, it is a health thing, taking better care of the body that houses the Holy Spirit of God. But mostly, it is a God thing, wanting Him more than ANY thing.
The Spiritual Side of Food
This is why Lysa’s thoughts in Chapter 2 really resonate with me. “This wasn’t really about the scale or what clothing size I was; it was about this battle that raged in my heart. I thought about, craved, and arranged my life too much around food… God was challenging me to surrender… to the point where I’d make radical changes for the sake of my spiritual health perhaps even more than my physical health.”
I am so glad that I am not alone.
This is a spiritual journey for me. The battleground may be food but the war is for the affections of my heart. Strategies may unfold that will help me through each day, but this war will only be won through utter dependence on God.
“Lord, each time today that a craving hits, or I unconsciously head to the fridge, or the ice cream begins to call my name, let that be a clarion call to prayer. To surrender. To obedience. To faith. You are better than anything, and I want to know You more.”
Jump Right In
To increase accountability and encourage others PLEASE take a minute to comment below: introduce yourself, share your successes or struggles, add your food list or simply say ‘hi.’
The journey to change will be more successful if you walk it with others.
What do you hope this healthy way of living will do for you in your relationship with God?
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Wow, Kim, I can so relate to this post. I, too, have been studying the spiritual disciplines (well, I bought a book on it at least) and trying to learn more about self-discipline. Why do some people seem to have it in abundance, and I, not at all?
What struck me most about your post today, and the information Lysa covers in Chapter Two, is the decision between choosing God and choosing our favorite decadent treats.
What I want most from this journey is freedom-from my unhealthy dependence on food, from the emotional ties I have with food. I want to move that emotional tie/dependence to God.
Really loved this post. Thanks!
Amen. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”
All I can is we’re only in Chapter 2 but I am finding so much of ME in the author’s words. Realizing food is my crutch for most things in life is giving me most definitely “food” for thought. Praying for the shift to take place that my crutch will be in Jesus and not food. One day at the time ….
That one day at a time idea is one of the things that helps me the most.
God has been gracious to me this week in giving me these words, which play over and over in my mind, and I’ve filled my mouth with them instead of snacks: Filled and satisfied, with the Lover of my soul.
I pumped up the tires on Bella the Bike this morning, and we went for a ride. And yes, Montana Kim, the wind in my hair (what’s left of it since it got cut yesterday) was delightful.
Congratulation! Go, Susan.
My attachment(?) to food is about comfort, control and dealing with frustration and worry. And just about everything in my life has been frustrating me the past few years. So when that flares up I eat - it’s about as automatic as breathing. I’m intending to use that frustration and worry as a signal to turn to God. Can this really change??
Won’t Satan be disappointed when we take the frustration he causes and turn to God to meet our needs
Lucinda, you and I are in the same boat!! Food is my comfort, control, frustration and worry. I read your response and it was as if I wrote it myself.
I’m drawing closer to God through this process. It’s to the point where every time I indulge in ‘comfort food’ the Lord gently whispers in my ear, “Why don’t you trust me enough?” Sigh.
I am enjoying this journey through the book and am glad to know that I alone do not struggle in this area.
Joyous, what book did you buy about spiritual discipline?
Have you noticed how many ‘Kim’s’ we have in our study. Hmmmm… maybe everyone with the name Kim has a genetic attraction to comfort food…
As Lucinda has just said, emotional eating is as automatic to me as breathing. Yesterday after lunch I popped a few cookies in my mouth (and you ask why they are in the house??? I am sure I could come up with SOME sort of rational for OREOS!) So last night I was working on some business….business that excites me and scares me at the same time……and I am constantly asking God if I am worthy to take the next step….so I found myself staring down those oreos in the jar. I prayed and realized I need to reach for God when I have that excited/scared feeling and NOT the cookies. During the night, I awakened to words that were not from me but have helped put a piece of the puzzle together with my work. Knowing God is “feeding” me what I need to do and who I need to be…..Those oreos have provided no inspirational words for my work….just guilt! (Deep breath) I pray that today God shows me more of HIM again!
Praying with you…
Sometimes I feel like I totally do not understand the sugar and carb cravings in relationship to craving God but I believe I am getting closer to “getting it”. I love this chapter and have been praying and sens the peace from God instead of the food…Why do we settle for junk when we can have the very BEST THERE IS…..I love these blogs…
Lucinda, I agree with what you said-food is my comfort and I’ve noticed that I don’t only reach for it in times of stress but also boredom (mid-afternoon snacks anyone?) and also when I’m really happy and want to celebrate. . . with food of course! I think it’s important that we are at least recognizing this pattern. A lot of people don’t.
Kim, the book I bought and am sloooooowly reading is “Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth.” There’s a workbook also which is helpful. There’s a lot of great info (well, in that first chapter I’ve read so far!) it just takes awhile to get through it if you’re trying to apply at the same time. I know this is an area of need for me and it will change my life. . . if I let it. Ah, but there’s that control issue again!
Joyous — “Celebration of Discipline” is an outstanding book - and yes, a long slow read! It is one of my favorites along with the much easier to read “Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary Life” by John Ortberg.
I am going through the book “Sacred Rhythms” by Ruth Haley Barton with a small group of ladies right now and it is a wonderful interactive exploration of the spiritual disciplines. I love it!
Dr. Charles Stanley once stated “Be careful what you allow yourself to be hungry for.” That comment really resonates with this book. Usually we are hungry for something we see as off limits or missing in our lives. And if we are not careful, we will feed those cravings and make some poor decisions. This chapter is causing me to really examine the pattern associated with food and other things in my life. Am I obsessing over the lack of something rather than glorifying God over the abundance He offers.
Great quote. Thanks for sharing it…
Yesterday I was making better food choices-fresh fruit, fresh vegtables, fish-but I was amazed that even when I was filled to the brim with all the good food my mind wanted those chips that were way back in the cupboard. Isn’t it amazing how we can be filled with the good yet Satan keeps attacking and tempting.
Congratulations on the better food choices yesterday. God is good
Lucinda, I have heard of the book by John Ortberg-actually I think it’s on my wishlist. I’ll have to check it out, thanks for the recommendation.
Janet, I love that quote. I’m going to write it down. And I think you’re so right-”if we are not careful, we will feed those cravings making some poor decisions.”
Ladies, I was just reading a chapter in “Experiencing God” by Henry and Richard Blackaby, and wanted to share this passage:
“When God invites you to join Him in His work He presents a God-sized assignment He wants you to accomplish. It will be obvious you can’t do it on your own. If God doesn’t help, you will fail. This is the crisis point at which many people decide not to follow what they sense God is leading them to do. Then they wonder why they do not experience God’s presence, power, and activity the way some other Christians do. . . This crisis is not a disaster or a bad thing. It is a turning point or a fork in the road that calls for a decision. You must decide what you believe about God.”
That really spoke to me as I was reading it, from the standpoint of what I, and you, are doing through this study. Hope it’s helpful to you!
Experiencing God is such a great study. What a timely reminder, Joyous. Thanks.
There seems to be a tendency to think all our issues can be solved with more discipline, along with prayer, etc. But while surrender to God is the foundation of lasting change, the answer to our overeating isn’t just more prayer and discipline, but the unearthing of the reasons we misuse food. There is also a very real addictive quality with food, especially salt, fat and sugar. A good publication that exposes the food industry and its quest to addict us to unhealthy food and how to replace it with healthful eating is Nutrition Action Newsletter. The motivation to get healthy comes from an intense desire to fulfill our life purpose in God; positive desire takes us much further than just self discipline and denial.
Hi Lane, I never really thought of the food industry intentionally trying to make that junk food have addictive qualities but it sure makes sense.
And you are so right, self-discipline for the sake of wearing a smaller size has never worked for me for any length of time.
I can only do this through God and for God. He is worthy of my best.
I have hopes that this time of refocusing on God will help me to be more fit spiritually and physically so I can more effectively serve others and live the more abundant life-not a junk-filled one.
Robin, may God bless you and give you those precious desires of your heart.
I see myself so much in this chapter. I need to be honest with myself abut my love for food more than my love for God. I am ashamed that even though I read this book a few weeks ago and I know the truth in my head, I am still working on getting it in my heart. I am doing much better but I have had a few falls and it really bothers me that my love for such a awesome God is not any greater than it is. The old habits are so easy to return to. This new concept is fighting to get to the top of the list and fill my heart with the love God so rightly deserves
I am learning to embrace the idea that my battle with food is not a horrible curse (which is how I have viewed it most of my life) but an gracious daily opportunity to draw closer to Jesus and see him as my portion and delight. I am so easily self-sufficient in my life and am learning to embrace this battle as Jesus’ invitation to “come to me and taste that I am good”.
I’m currently on a 24 hour day retreat by myself. I’m thankful for this time to myself to seek God and His will for me. I have been struggling getting into this Bible Study on Made To Crave. I have a stubborn heart and I know in my heart that I want to be healthy… but my will is much stronger than my “wants” right now. And today’s study hit me H.A.R.D and square in the heart! I am beginning to embrace the idea that clinging to Jesus IS the answer for all my needs. I have a very long journey ahead of me; but so very thankful that I have the Best Teacher and Encourager to help me along. Oh, and the M&M’s I bought for my “retreat” remain unopened …
Hi Diane,
I love your honesty and authenticity, and I know that God does as well. I pray that your retreat reawakens your heart to the beauty of Christ in a fresh and vital way.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
I love your reply, Kim, to one of the comments above regarding John the Baptists saying, “He must increase and I must decrease.” So true! It’s been so easy to rely on food for immediate satisfaction of our cravings rather than God. It takes less of me tor rely on Him (truthfully, but it seems so hard. Guess it means I have to get over myself!) . But when I do, his peace is amazing! Abstinence is easy. When I rely on me, abstinence is impossible. I am doomed for failure.I have to lay my requests at His feet and surrender completely. Faith plus action equals victory! Victory in Him and through Him and by Him….and only Him. Not a binge, not a purge (in my case too), not by any other source of what the world (the enemy) is telling me to lean on. Just Him.
Your thoughts today remind me of one of my favorite sayings, “I can’t, but He can.” Some days I have to say this to myself all day long - but it’s true. With God all things are possible and without Him… Well, I don’t even want to think about what my life would be like without Him.
My God be the deepest satisfaction of your heart as you go through this day!