I lost two pounds last week and did really good until the weekend. Ugh, the weekends are always a challenge for me. During the week, my days and evenings are pretty structured. But on the weekends, it’s anything goes. And it is the ‘anything goes’ part that makes me feel like rewarding myself with junk food.
Why do we feel that junk food is a reward? The truth is in almost every case it weakens our body, clouds our thinking, and enlarges our waistline. Yet for many of us it represents comfort and solace. Think about it. How often do we tell ourselves after a hard day we are gonna sit down with big bowl of broccoli? Instead, we reach for the ice cream or potato chips or whatever is going to make us feel better.
Intellectually, we know that sugar, soda, and other foods like them weaken our immune systems and make us feel sluggish. We know they harm our bodies, yet we continually indulge. WHY? Because we are decieved. Somewhere in our self-talk we think we deserve it, or that it won’t really harm us, or __________(you fill in the blank). It is the deception, the false belief that keeps us in the clutches of a food bondage. (I guess I shouldn’t assume you are in a food bondage, but for me, it is or I wouldn’t be as large as I am)
Thankfully, if you are living everyday with Jesus, even food bondages can be broken! Beth Moore, in her powerful book Praying God’s Word devotes a whole chapter to food related strongholds. I have used my copy so much the binding broke and I had to buy another one. But somehow the worn out one with it’s pages falling out means more to me. It’s like a sword that’s been used and reused in battle. Beth Moore uses so many scripture prayers in each of the chapters in this book it feels like my second Bible. Here are just a few of the prayers from the Food Related Strongholds chapter:
” Lord, when you bring the captive completely back to You, I will be like those who dream! My mouth will be filled with laughter and my tongue with songs of joy! The Lord has done great things for me, and I am filled with joy! “(Psalm 126:1-3)
“God, I am so thankful there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you do not condemn me, I have no right or place to condemn myself. Help me not to get caught up in a defeating cycle of self-condemnation.”
These are just a few of the powerful scripture prayers that Moore uses. You might think about checking it out if you have food issues, or other areas that you want to overcome. Moore’s Praying God’s Word book covers many, many different areas and has such chapters as Overcoming Sexual Strongholds, Overcoming Pride, Overcoming Idolatry etc.
I hope my post today helped you my friend. This weight loss journey has not been an easy one for me. I began the year thinking I was going to lick this thing once and for all, but it has proven to be full of ups and downs. Thankfully, in Jesus there is always hope and always a chance for change. That is one of the most wonderful things about living every day withe Jesus!