Ever since I started struggling with food, it has been interesting to me that something physical (food) can have such ramifications on my spiritual life. Binge-eating hurts my physical body, but this struggle also wages war against my soul. Satan tries to convince me that I will never be free from this battle and that victory is not possible. He uses my physical struggle with food as a lure to draw me away from God, and he has been successful many times.
In Psalm 23, we see all the things God does for His children:
- He leads me
- He restores me
- He guides me
- He is with me
- He comforts me
- He fills me
- He satisfies me
Do I rely on God in these ways or do I rely on food in these ways? Unfortunately, I usually turn to food instead of to God. I usually seek comfort and satisfaction in food rather than in God. This breaks my heart. It also breaks God's heart whenever we are ruled by anything other than Himself.
My physical struggle with food allows me to see the spiritual state of my heart. I must do more than recognize this truth; I must do something about it. Each day I must surrender this struggle to God and trust Him to give me the strength I need to resist temptation. Each day I must choose to turn to Him for comfort and satisfaction rather than to food. Each day I must counter lies with His truth. Each day I must choose to be ruled by Him, not food. Each day I must abstain from my sinful desires, which wage war against my soul (1 Peter 2:11)
Loren,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your transparency. I'm sure our Father looks down on you and smiles. I, too, often grow discouraged that I am so quick to turn to food for comfort. Your posts have encouraged me to stay strong. I pray you know God is using you and that you will rest in His unconditional love for you.
Susan