A few years ago God took me on an emotional healing journey, which lasted about 4 years. It was a very hard time in my life, but such a blessing at the same time. One of the areas the Lord addressed was my area of security, or rather, my lack of security in Him. It was really about where I was placing my identity, because it certainly wasn’t in Christ.
It all started when the Lord asked me a question. I had been waiting for a few years for Him to fulfill a promise He specifically gave me in a dream. It wasn’t only a promise, but a desire He placed in my heart. And so in that discouraging time of not seeing the evidence of His promise, He asked me, “If you never had this thing, would I be enough for you?” I remember right where I was, standing in front of our dining room table. I didn’t have to think about His question for very long at all when I spouted off, “No!” I wasn’t ready to sacrifice that promise. Oh, it really bothered me that He would ask me that. How dare He!? And so the journey to placing my true identity in Christ began.
I knew in my head who I was in Christ. I read my Bible. I spent time praying and in Bible studies. I only listened to Christian music. I sang on the worship team at church and was a leader for the youth group. I knew my stuff, but I was so insecure. I had fears. I didn’t like myself. I didn’t even know who I was. And I really didn’t know who I was in Christ.
Over a long period of time, the Lord showed me all of the things I was putting my security and identity in. He would show me one thing, we would work on that one thing, and then it was on to the next thing. I’m glad He worked slowly with me because otherwise it would have felt very overwhelming. I was shocked at the things I was placing my identity and security in. It was in food, in my friends, in my husband, in where I lived, in my past, in being a mother, in my job, etc. There were so many things. I remember the day he showed me how I was putting my security into one particular friendship. I couldn’t believe it!
When I say I didn’t know myself, I mean I didn’t even know the basics about myself. Like, I didn’t even know what my favorite color was. I believed it was blue and purple, but after awhile the Lord showed me that I only liked those colors because they were “safe” colors to like. (My favorite color is actually orange!) Even a little toddler might know their favorite color. (I think my daughter likes pink!) But that’s how lost I was.
I even believed things about the Bible, but I didn’t really have anything to stand on aside from what someone told me to believe. So I had to start at ground zero with some of those beliefs. The Lord took me back to the basics and taught me
His truth so I could know without a doubt why I believe what I believe. I couldn’t lean upon someone else’s Bible teaching. I had to go to the Teacher Himself!
I wore masks. I pretended to be invisible. I didn’t want anyone to know the real me because the real me could get hurt. The real me could cry and feel pain. It felt safer to hide behind all of my false identities. No one could hurt the real me because they didn’t know the real me.
And the Lord stripped all of my defenses away. I had built a wall around my heart, and He began to tear it down brick by brick. There were times it was so scary that I was trying to build up that wall again even as He was taking it down, but of course He won that battle. Praise God! He showed me my true identity in Christ. All of the façade was washed away. All of my defenses were brought down. But I wasn’t left desolate or feeling naked. As the Lord revealed the false identities, He also began to clothe me with my true identity. It really was and is a beautiful work!
I praise Him for what He’s done. I can honestly say that I’m at a place where I know who I am in Christ. Yes, there are times when I’m tried and tested, but ultimately, I am no longer moved or threatened by things as I used to be. I keep my eyes on Christ and He is there with me. There are quirks about me (we all have them), but I rejoice knowing that this is how the Lord made me. And He loves me for me! All of those false identities went to the wayside because I know that I am something without them, but I am nothing without God.
So let’s go back to that original question that started all of this: “Is God enough?”
And my question now is a loud and joyous YES!!!!!!!
I can honestly say that I got to that place where I knew in my heart that if I never saw the fulfillment of His promise, that I would still praise Him. That I would still live for Him. The realization that brought me the most joy was knowing that no matter what, I can still have more of God! He is enough for me!
Nothing fulfills or satisfies me like the Lord does. Like Jesus does. It’s like an overflowing cup. He just keeps on pouring in and I am full of Him. It’s so beautiful! Nothing in this world satisfies my heart like He does. Not my friends, not my job, not my husband, not my house, not my role as a mother, not food, not anything.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:35
It was a journey. Four years feels like forever when you are in the midst of it. But it was so worth it. Maybe you are in the midst of a similar journey. Maybe you have no idea who you really are or who you are in Christ. My friend, He will show you! He wants to fulfill that desire. He wants to satisfy you. No food will satisfy that. No person will. No job. No amount of money. No friend. Only Jesus!
You are precious in His sight. He loves you. He wants to be your Protector. He wants to clothe you in Him and His righteousness. He is drawing you to Him. Allow Him to take down those defenses and those false identities. And He will give you all that you need, He will not leave you defenseless.
Your identity is in Christ. He is Your rock! Stand upon Him!
How about you?
Is your true identity in Christ, or are you hiding behind false identities? How do you see this come into play with your eating? If God were to ask you if He was enough for you, would you be able to give him a joyful “YES!” or would you tell Him “No!” like I did that first time? He is our strong tower, our refuge…run to Him and HE will keep you safe!
Tonight (before this posts tomorrow), the Lord has been prompting me to ask another question. What if you never reached your “goal weight”, would He still be enough for you? He’s not saying you won’t get to your God-given weight. What He wants to shine His light on is, are you focusing so much on a goal weight or size that it’s become a false identity in your life? Have you used food, dieting, or your reason to lose weight as something you have hidden behind or have found comfort in? He wants to be enough for you, no matter what your weight or size. He is more concerned about your heart. Is your heart fully His?
Exercise. It’s a love-hate relationship. And for those of us who have come from the world of dieting and intense exercise plans, exercise could be more of a “hate” relationship. I can relate. In fact, years ago, I thought that any time my husband wanted to go on a walk or hike, that it was some conspiracy.
I’ve done a lot of different exercise programs over the years, mostly inside the comfort of my home, including: Denise Austin workouts, Beachbody workouts (Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, P90X, Insanity, Slim in 6), running, walking, hiking, and I even bought one of those jump ropes that counted your jumps. I’ve done all of those and other random exercise programs throughout the years. I’ve enjoyed some and really NOT enjoyed some. I have gone through times of exercising consistently, to not wanting to exercise at all.
Over the years I have learned that I actually DO enjoy exercise, WHEN it’s something I enjoy. For many years, my go-to exercise has been riding my stationary bike. I often will have a good book to read while riding it. In the past year, I bought a treadmill, and it quickly became one of my favorite ways of exercising. I find that I personally don’t do as well following a exercise DVD program that tells me what I have to do each day, 1) because I get bored, and 2) it feels like I’m in captivity after awhile. Everyone has their favorites. And I want to encourage you to find your favorite way to exercise.
I do believe that exercise (movement) is important, but I don’t believe it’s necessary for weight loss. I like to look at exercise as more of a mental boost, but of course our body gets a lot of great benefits from it. One of the reasons I like to exercise is that I love the good-feeling endorphins that accompany it. In fact, when there are times I cannot exercise to my potential, I really miss feeling those endorphins.
Another reason I like to exercise is that it helps my body feel good. Currently, I’m pregnant with my second child, and exercise has helped alleviate some of the lower-back and hip pain I’ve experienced on and off this pregnancy. I’m not out training for a marathon (I can’t even imagine running right now), but I do walk outside or on my treadmill, and I do prenatal toning exercises. Now, my walking is very slow right now due to being pregnant, and sometimes I can’t even walk for 15 minutes without calling it quits, but it’s better than not moving at all. No matter what, I know I just need to do my best. And sometimes my best is just taking a rest day…pregnant or not. It’s important that I listen to my body. But most often, my body says, “I need to move!”
Exercise (movement) can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Maybe it’s just simply wearing a pedometer and challenging yourself to 10,000 steps a day–for fun and to move your body. Or maybe it is training for a half-marathon. Or anything in between. Maybe it’s walking with a friend around your neighborhood or at a track. I’m not here to define what your movement should look like. I’m not even here to say you “have” to exercise at all. There are no requirements or rules about exercise. I do want to share that I no longer look at going on a hike with my husband as a conspiracy, because now I thoroughly enjoy it because I like the way it makes my body feel and it’s a great way to spend time with my family. I have learned to love movement, and my body craves it! I believe God created our bodies to move!
Thin Within doesn’t have an exercise program you have to follow. You are free to make your own choices about exercise. There shouldn’t be any bondage involved. Movement does require some self-discipline at times. There are days that I don’t really “feel” like exercising, but I know that it will help my body and I will feel better by doing so. Yes, there are days I make myself exercise, but I never regret it. And because I’m doing exercises I enjoy, it’s more likely that I’m looking forward to hopping on the stationary bike, treadmill, or following a toning DVD. There are also days I feel like I have to make myself eat 0-5, when really, I just want to eat when I want to. That’s where that self-discipline comes in.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11
I’ve given some thought into what naturally thin/normal eaters are like when it comes to exercise. I would consider my husband a naturally thin/normal eater. He’s also very active. I was asking him some questions about exercise and he said that he never dreads going on a hike (whereas I used to dread it). He really enjoys being active, but he said that if he had to go work out in a gym that he probably wouldn’t enjoy that. I can think of some other naturally thin/normal eaters who will suddenly realize that they haven’t had enough movement, so they will go on a long walk or do some kind of physical activity. They don’t look at exercise as some dreaded activity that they have to cross of their list; they purely look forward to movement and they enjoy it. I know that I cannot say I felt that way about exercise when my only focus and goal was to lose weight. So I’ve definitely learned a lot from the naturally thing/normal eaters around me who truly enjoy movement. I’ve learned to enjoy it too!
Exercising with only the goal to lose weight just leaves a bad taste in my mouth now. Maybe it’s because in the past I focused so much on trying to exercise for a certain amount of time instead of it being a more freeing activity, or maybe because I could earn more food points with activity points (Weight Watchers). I would much rather be free to choose whatever kind of movement my body needs, but also to have some sort of self-discipline. I like that I now crave movement, but it took a long time to get to that point. It took appreciating how my body feels with movement, and not looking at it as this dreaded means to weight loss. I also look at it as a way of me taking care of God’s temple:
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19
In fact, honoring God with His temple (our body) is what we are talking about this week in the Thin Within Workbook study. And this reminds me of all the many years ago when I was not satisfied with how my body looked. Oh how I wish I could go back and tell myself the truth: that I looked fine! For so many years I didn’t like certain parts of my body because I had the wrong perception of what I thought my body should look like. That definitely wasn’t how God wanted me to be, but there I was, dishonoring His temple by wishing I had another body. Now, no matter what my body looks like, I can take every moment to honor this temple. And for me, that means eating 0-5 and taking care of how my body feels by exercising. I no longer bash certain body parts, but I’m learning to be thankful that God has wonderfully made me. Praise God!
How about you?
I truly believe that eating 0-5, even without exercise, will help one release weight. With that said, I also believe that exercise has so many awesome benefits, so why wouldn’t I want to? Do you genuinely enjoy exercising? If not, what are some activities that involve movement that you could enjoy? Do you only view exercise as a means of losing weight? What if you were to change your views of exercise as a way to feel good and to help your body? How can you honor God and take care of His temple?
Image courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Sometimes I feel like I’m a broken record when it comes to sharing how important I feel renewing our mind is when it comes to overcoming overeating, the diet mentality, releasing weight, having a “healthy” relationship with food, etc. But honestly, renewing my mind has made a huge difference! I tried to be a normal eater for many years, but it never stuck. I believe it was because I was working on changing the external so much that I was ignoring what was going on internally, mostly in my mind and emotions. When Heidi first introduced Barb Raveling’s Renewing of the Mind Weight Loss study in March of 2013, something finally clicked in me. I knew it would work because I have seen the same concepts applied to other areas of my life with success—all because of God’s Word transforming me from the inside out.
There are several ways I can spend time renewing my mind. I can: journal, read through the ‘I Deserve a Donut’ app (or book), read through my truth cards, or a mixture of those. I know that renewing my mind is a critical part of overcoming.
The other day, I started reading through Barb Raveling’s book Taste for Truth: A 30 day Weight Loss Bible Study. She talks about how back in the Old Testament days that people would run to strongholds to be safe from their enemy. David talks about going to God as his refuge and stronghold. But some turn to things that turn into strongholds in their lives, such as food.
About a week ago the enemy was questioning me about why I take the time to renew my mind (why do I even listen?). And to be honest, he is still assaulting me about it, but I’m seeing the truth in the matter more and more. Today, the Lord has been reminding me about how taking the time to renew my mind has been vital for me as I have walked through different things in my life.
For example, years ago, I struggled a lot with fear. It was the kind of fear that made me afraid to even step outside my door or open my kitchen blinds. We lived next to neighbors that made me uneasy. Nothing ever happened, but the enemy had me convinced that this fear was real in my life.
FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real
One night, I had the opportunity to go to a women’s Bible study, but because of this fear, I could not bring myself to walk the few feet from our door to our car. I was always tense, stressed, and had knots in my stomach. I felt paralyzed by this fear. It was bad! It was so hard for my mind to work through the lies that were holding me captive. This went on for many months.
Finally, the Lord was able to get my attention enough to encourage me to write out scriptures on notecards about His truth about fear and peace. I also printed scriptures in really big font and different colors on 8-1/2×11-inch paper and taped them up in different parts of my house, like on my kitchen cupboards for instance. The kitchen was one of those rooms that I felt afraid to be in because of the location near my neighbor’s house. It was the perfect place for me to stop, read those scriptures, and renew my mind. I read through the scripture cards each morning and whenever I needed them. I also asked for prayer from a group of believers I had grown to trust.
Over time, the Lord began to break down those strongholds of fear. I would wake up in the morning, and without even trying to remember, the scriptures I was reading throughout the day would come to my mind. The Lord spoke His truth to me and after a while I was free from that fear! Praise the Lord! I chose to take my eyes off the fear and see God’s word and promises. He freed me!
He’s been showing me that He can do the same with how I look at food, eating, my body, etc. He can tear down the stronghold just as he tore down the stronghold of fear in my life. The truth has always been there, but I have to do my part in being in the Word. He does the rest. And if it takes me filling a whole journal of conversations with the Lord about food, then so be it. The Lord knows I have filled other journals with other struggles—which I have overcome, all thanks to Him! Renewing our mind may feel like “work”, but if we don’t take the time to take those thoughts captive, we will continue to be slave to the wrong thoughts.
Earlier this year the enemy wanted me to believe that certain types of food would kill me and that if I ate them that I was tempting God. A scripture He showed me to refute that lie is 1 Timothy 4:4-5, which says, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.”
Another lie was that people would be disappointed in me if I truly ate all foods and wasn’t following some special diet. The Lord gave me 1 Corinthians 10:29: For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
When my mind wasn’t at ease, the Lord gave me peace through 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God did not give me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
Recently, when the enemy has urged me to give up, the Lord gave me Hebrews 10:39: But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Those are just a few examples of how the Lord has exposed the lie and replaced it with His truth. These are scriptures in my truth cards that I read each day. The enemy wants me to be caught up in his lies, but the Lord wants me to be free in His truth. That’s why I take the time to renew my mind.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
How about you?
I know we are about to embark on the Thin Within Workbook study (starting Monday, January 6, 2014), and I believe Heidi is going to incorporate ‘renewing our mind’ into the study. I just want to encourage you to make renewing your mind a part of your journey in overcoming. Surround yourself with whatever tools you deem necessary to help you. It will be different for each person. I look at having these tools as weapons in our arsenal to combat the lies of the enemy and to free us.
These tools can include:
Bible
Truth cards
‘I Deserve a Donut’ app and/or book by Barb Raveling
Taste for Truth by Barb Raveling
Thin Within by Judy Halliday
Thin Within workbooks
Personal journal
Praise music
Scripture cards
God list
List of thanksgiving
There are so many possibilities of what may be in your toolbox to help renew your mind. If you feel overwhelmed by having too many tools, ask the Lord to help you simplify. This shouldn’t feel overwhelming. We aren’t trading bondage for bondage. If you don’t have peace about something, don’t do it. The Lord wants to free you!
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5
Jesus. There is no other name quite like it. He is God with us. He is the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end. He is the Word of God. He came to be with us, to live among us, to save us, to free us, to deliver us. He is Emmanuel.
Emmanuel: God with us.
Think on that. Really think on that. He chose to come to live among us. Did you know that during the 33 years that Christ lived on the earth that there was “peace on earth?” There were no wars. There was peace. I think that is so beautiful. And I relate that to my heart: when I am in Christ and Christ is in me, I have peace. When I am in the Word (Christ is the Word), I have peace. He is with me. He is with us.
Jesus. The Son of God. Our Deliverer. Our Savior. Our peace.
We know that the true meaning of Christmas is Christ. It’s to celebrate His birth, that He was sent to the world as the Father’s greatest gift, so that ‘whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). And we take hold of that gift and unwrap it when we acknowledge and accept Christ as our savior and ask Him to forgive us of our sin.
But there’s more to the gift. There’s healing, freedom, comfort, beauty, deliverance, peace, joy, love, and the list goes on and on. Every single aspect of our life is touched by Christ’s love, by the Father’s love. All we have to do is accept that gift and reach into that wellspring of life of God’s Word.
When I thought of writing this post, I thought about how much the Lord has done in my life this year in regards to eating and how I think about food. I’ve thought about the amazing transformation that has taken place in my heart and mind–which has also become evident in my life and eating. And I know I’ve talked so much about this, but I attribute that to being in His Word and Him being so faithful to watch over His Word to perform it. It was faith in action. I believed what God said (took a little while at first), but after awhile His Words became so real in my heart and then I saw the evidence of that in my life.
It says in John 1 that Christ is the Word, and the Word (Christ) is life. His Word is a wellspring of life. Christ is our life. He is the reason we truly live. I am seeing that I am not truly living unless I have Christ as the Lord of my life. He is the One I fix my eyes upon. He is my strength. I lean upon Him.
And so that means I lean upon Him when it comes to my eating habits. And one of the ways I do that is by being in His word. This isn’t a task I cross of my “to-do” list each day. This is an essential part of my daily walk with Him. Somewhere along the way I gave food, weight, and body image a place in my life that God never meant it to be, but through Christ I have overcome and continue on this journey of finding peace and satisfaction in this area.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
So then faithcomesbyhearing, and hearingby the word of God. Romans 10:17
One of the ways He speaks to us is through His Word. And when we read the Word, the Holy Spirit brings that word back to our remembrance. And in a sense, His Word is in us. Emmanuel: God with us. He may not be physically right here with us that we can reach out and physically touch Him, but when we read His Word, He touches our hearts, minds, and souls. He breathes His life into us. This is so beautiful!
I’m so thankful the Father sent His Son. Jesus is the BEST gift of all!
How about you?
How can you embrace that gift (Jesus) this Christmas and every day of your life? Do you look at spending time with God as a “have to” or a “get to”? He wants to be with you: have you invited Him into your life? And if you have invited Him into your life, have you invited Him into the area of eating? He wants to be with you! He is Emmanuel.
Christmas is upon us, followed by New Years, which brings parties, potlucks, family dinners, buffets of sweets, candy, etc. In my Gearing Up for the Holidays post I shared about ways to be proactive before the holiday celebrations begin. This time, I would like to share what took place before Thanksgiving in order for me to prepare for the big feast.
For several months now, since participating in the Renewing of the Mind study, I have been reading through my truth cards each day. I’ve stated before how important it has been to be in the Word and reading those truths each day: it’s literally CHANGED my life! The Lord has done an amazing work. He gets all of the praise, honor, and glory! So knowing how powerful His word is in renewing my mind and transforming my life, I knew how important it was to have those truths before my eyes before Thanksgiving.
This is what I did to plan ahead:
1. I wrote in my journal, which is ultimately a prayer journal. I asked the Lord to help me in the days ahead to stay within my boundaries.
2. I looked at Barb Raveling’s app ‘I Deserve a Donut’ about social eating, which suggested I read the parts about Justification Eating and Entitlement Eating.
3. In my journal, I wrote out the Justification Eating questions and answered them. I mentally saw myself on Thanksgiving day and the days surrounding Thanksgiving, knowing that I may be tempted to be a social eater or to make excuses to eat beyond what my body needs.
4. I wrote down notes from the app that really spoke to me so I could look back at them if needed.
5. I wrote out a plan of what I wanted Thanksgiving day to look like. I knew that we would be eating with dinner-size plates (I usually use a small plate), so I visually planned to load up my plate as if it was a small plate. I decided that I would eat slowly, savoring each bite, leaving one bite of food on my plate. I decided I would not take seconds. And then later I would enjoy a small serving of dessert, even if I wasn’t fully at a “0” (I felt that this was pleasing to the Lord and acceptable in His sight).
6. I wrote out a plan for when we would be going to a restaurant one of the days surrounding Thanksgiving. Since we were out of town, we wanted to visit our favorite restaurant in the area. I knew what I wanted for an appetizer and the entrée, so I planned ahead for what I felt would help me stay within my 0-5 boundary.
7. I wrote the victories I had already experienced that week, praising God for what He has done. I needed to remember those victories and remember that God is my strength!
How did it all turn out? The Lord gets all of the glory! I was amazed at how smooth Thanksgiving went. I ate according to the plan and I felt completely satisfied. While there were others who said they were stuffed and needed to nap, I felt energized. And a few hours after our meal, I was hungry and ate again. I am so thankful for what the Lord did that day and the days surrounding Thanksgiving. I was faithful to keep my eyes on Him and His truth and He was faithful to watch over His word to perform it. Praise God!
And He wants to do the same for you!
How about you?
Do you have a journal you can write out a plan in? How do you want to visualize yourself for the upcoming holiday celebrations? What can you do to prepare?
Last week I posted about the battle I was going through. I wanted to give an update.
As I said in the post, my battle plan was: to be in the Word, to pray, to thank the Lord, to read my truth cards, to renew my mind, to keep pressing on!
And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! And God has been faithful to help me this week! Praise God!
Each morning, before I even get out of bed, I read the Bible, followed by reading my truth cards, my notes on my phone, journaling, and sometimes Thin Within (which I started reading again this past week). This starts my day on the right foot and gets my mind in the right place.
Another thing I have been making more of an effort in doing is journaling. When I have overeaten, I will write about it in my journal afterwards. Usually, the overeating takes place at night, so I will write about it in the morning. There have also been times when the enemy has attacked my mind with thoughts about going back to dieting, so I have been truth journaling about why that’s not something I or God wants me to do. I will write every truth I can think of to dissolve the lie the enemy is throwing at me. It’s been SO good to journal more!
I’ve also been setting a timer on my phone which prompts me to open my notes on my phone displaying three scriptures (which I share a screen shot of above). It’s amazing how having those reminders during the day really makes a difference.
Can I encourage you to start your truth cards if you haven’t already? There is power in the Word of God! It becomes clear to me more and more about how important it is for me to read those cards each day. I have literally watched the Lord transform my life in the area of eating and all it’s taken is me taking the time to read those truth-packed cards. Renewing our mind is so important: change begins WITHIN!
The evening has been the hardest for me lately. Because of where I am at in my pregnancy (baby is bulking up), I’m starting to get a little hungrier. For awhile there I wasn’t hungry enough to eat in the evening, but now I am finding that I am hungry and need to eat. The interesting thing is that even if I’m at a “0” and I eat, the enemy tries to condemn me for eating. It’s probably because I was making such an effort to not eat if I wasn’t at a “0” before. The condemnation was the driving force behind me thinking that I can’t trust myself, that I need to go on a diet after pregnancy, and blah, blah, blah. That’s where the battle would begin in my mind. So I continue to press on with the Lord by doing my part in renewing my mind and He does the rest. Praise God!
Friends, let’s continue to press on with the Lord in this journey toward becoming thin within. It starts with our mind. As God continues to do His mighty work within us, it will become evident outside of us!
How about you?
Do you feel like you are still in the heavy part of the battle? Are you putting on the full armor of God each day? Will you join me in spending time in the Word and renewing your mind with your truth cards? The enemy is the Father of lies, but God will dissolve every lie the enemy throws at us. God is so good–all the time!
In the last couple of days I’ve been struggling. I know part of it has been that I haven’t been renewing my mind as often as I need to be. Thoughts like this keep coming to my mind:
“Why does this have to be so spiritual?”
“Why do I have to think about this so much some times?”
“Why does this have to be so hard at times?”
“It was easier when _____, so maybe I should just go back to dieting.”
These are LIES! I’ve noticed that as I delve deeper into the Word and closer to the Lord in this journey, and the more I’m open and share the positive, godly message of Thin Within (with friends and on this blog), the more I am attacked. Friends, this is spiritual warfare!
The enemy wants me to quit. He wants me to feel like a failure. He wants me to feel scared of being vulnerable. And that just shows me that the message Thin Within has to share is a POWERFUL one because it is backed up by the Word of God. The enemy wants to put those shackles back on my feet, but I refuse!
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
I REFUSE to go back to slavery! I refuse to go back to focusing on food, to obsessing over food! Are you in this with me? Are you tired of the lies of the enemy like I am?
The Word of God is our weapon! Let’s raise up our banner. Let’s put on the full armor of God so we can withstand the attacks of the enemy! We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18
I will not give up!
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:39
Fight the good fight of faith!
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
I realize that if I’m not spending time reading through my truth cards and renewing my mind, that I become vulnerable to the enemy’s attack. It’s becoming so ever clear to me how important it is to fight this battle with the Word of God. I am defenseless without it!
My battle plan: to be in the Word, to pray, to thank the Lord, to read my truth cards, to renew my mind, to keep pressing on!
I believe we can learn a lot from observing children and their eating patterns. It’s really quite fascinating when they are purely eating intuitively. I wanted to share a bit of what I have observed and learned over the years.
Years before I had my daughter, I was aware of how children are born normal, intuitive eaters. I had spent some time with a mother who was overly concerned about what her children were eating. I believe the concern stemmed from a fear that her children would be sickly or unhealthy if they ate certain foods. One day, these children were in my care. Her son often asked for food, almost like he was fixated on it. There was a fresh batch of peanut butter cookies in the cookie jar and he knew it. After our lunch, he was alluding to the fact that there were cookies in the jar. I smiled down to him and asked, “Would you like a cookie?” His face lit up and he said, “Yes!” I brought the jar down to his level and let him pick a cookie. I encouraged him to pick the biggest cookie he could find. And then I asked him to pick out a cookie for me, too. He was beaming. We ate that cookies together at the table and savored every delectable bite. And for the first time, I observed him not fixated on food for the remainder of the time I was with him. That scene has played back in my mind so many times over the years. It proved to me that if we are more relaxed about food, that they are more relaxed about food as well.
Years later, this mother realized that she was being controlling about food and asked for my help. At that time I was battling diet thoughts and overeating, but I knew enough about normal eating to give her some wisdom on the subject. I encouraged her to allow her children to guide their eating more. She was so afraid they would only eat candy and sweets at first. I shared with her that it might be that way for a short season as they learn to navigate their food choices, but that after awhile their palate would balance out. I encouraged her to offer a wide variety of choices over time, including the “play food”. I was so proud of her that she took me up on this challenge. And now, to this day, her children have well-rounded appetites and enjoy a variety of foods. They are free to enjoy all foods. And their mother no longer tries to dictate what they can and cannot eat. They are healthy, active, and vibrant children and young adults.
Recently, a mother shared with me that her 10 year old daughter had been watching an episode of The Biggest Loser. Her daughter came to her and with concern, told her mother that she wanted to go on a diet. The mother’s heart felt broken for her daughter. When she told me about this, I encouraged her that we have to be so careful what we allow our children to see and hear when it comes to dieting, eating, and how we talk about and view our body. Children are sponges, and they are soaking up these things. Even as adults, we can be influenced by such things. My heart is saddened to know that we, as a society, have come to the point that young children are concerned about their weight in an unhealthy way. There is so much emphasis put on our outward image, from small children to adults.
As adults, parents, and guardians, I believe we have some responsibility in how we influence children when it comes to eating and body image. I believe children are born knowing when they are hungry and when they have had enough food. It’s simple, biological knowledge that they don’t even really focus on. It’s innate. Intuitive. Natural. But somewhere along the line, children are told to eat more, that they ate too much, that they are too thin, or that they are too big for their age.
I have to admit it’s been fun to watch my daughter as an intuitive eater. I have learned so much from her about what it means to be a normal eater. I’m thankful for the wisdom God has given me about being a normal, Thin Within eater. I’ve read enough books and observed about this subject to see what discourages a child or adult from being a normal eater, and I take that knowledge and do my best to apply it to my daughter.
I do my best to offer my daughter a variety of food. I try my best not to pressure her to eat more than she needs. If she says she’s “all done”, I trust her judgment. I never say, “Eat more peas and then you can have a cookie.” I don’t encourage her to try everything on her plate. I offer her a plate with 3-4 food items, and I let her pick and choose what she wants to eat. Sometimes she eats all the food, sometimes she eats only a few bites. Sometimes she out eats me! She loves fruit, but sometimes she will eat other foods before eating the fruit. Sometimes she eats all of the fruit before eating other things on her plate. I just observe and I don’t make any critical comments about what or how she’s eating. Often, she will ask for more fruit even before eating other foods on her plate. I will put a little bit more fruit on her plate and say, “All done after this, then you can eat what’s on your plate.” She understands that I will not be giving her more fruit and that if she’s still hungry, she can eat the remaining food on her plate. Sometimes I will plan ahead with giving her only half of the fruit I planned to give her, and then when she asks for more, I give her the other half.
I also know that over a week’s time that she will eat a wide variety of foods. I don’t have to concentrate on if she’s getting enough fruits or vegetables verse starches. This isn’t a science experiment–this is her being a natural-born eater. I want to be as hands-off as I can be. I’ve watched her try certain foods and then try to wash that distastefulness down with milk if she doesn’t like a particular food. And then I will watch her eat that same food again a few weeks later and eat it all up. I’ve heard it can take up to 12 times before a child will actually like a certain food. Of course, there are foods I knew she doesn’t care for, but I still offer a little bit of them when we have them for a meal. I don’t encourage her to eat them. I offer and let her decide.
Allowing your children to do what I’ve mentioned above may sound scary and out-of-control. It may make you feel uncomfortable allowing your children to be in charge of their palate. I truly believe the more hands-off you can be, the better.
What if your child is already feeling restricted in their eating? I believe you can help turn it around and guide them back to being a normal eater. You can use the same Thin Within principles for children as you can for adults. It may be harder for you, as the parent or guardian to let this go. Maybe you have fears that they will be overweight or eat in an out-of-control manner if you allow them to eat the foods they enjoy. I want to encourage you to prayerfully consider what’s at stake and ask the Lord for wisdom. He will help you! Also, if you are being an example to them of what it means to be a normal eater, that will help SO much! I believe it starts with the parent.
I read a story once about a mother who was controlling her child’s food consumption. The mother took her child to a nutritional counselor. The counselor asked the mother what her child’s favorite food was. It was M&M’s. The counselor encouraged the mother to buy bags of M&M’s and to fill a pillowcase with the M&M’s. Her child was to have complete control over these M&M’s. The mother was hesitant, but she did as the counselor suggested. At first, the child slept, bathed, and did everything with this pillowcase of M&M’s by it’s side. The mother was not allowed to say anything about when the child ate the candies. After a few days the child was no longer carrying around the pillowcase. The child realized that it could have those M&M’s whenever there was a desire. The novelty wore off. This same sort of thing happens to me when I have a certain kind of food around for a long time: I get tired of it being around, but I know I can have it at any time. It no longer has a hold on me because I know it’s always going to be there and if I run out, I can buy or make more. The conclusion to the M&M story: as the mother relaxed about food and allowed her child to actually eat what he/she enjoyed without criticism or control, the child also relaxed and over time, lost the extra weight and was no longer fixated on food.
Your child, just like an adult, may choose more play food at first when you surrender controlling their food intake. I know I did this. After awhile my body craved other foods and not so many play foods. I don’t even focus on what kind of foods I eat. When I’m hungry, I ask myself what I want to eat. You can do the same with children without emphasizing about a particular food being “good”, “bad”, “healthy” or “junk”. I personally don’t believe in in ‘junk’ food now that I’m more of a normal eater and following the principles of Thin Within. I believe we should treat all foods as the same, especially when starting out on this journey of becoming a Thin Within eater. The true emphasis should be on legalizing ALL foods and acknowledging those signs of hunger and fullness.
A child who hasn’t had much of a say in what they eat, will need to build up the trust that no one will dictate or criticize what they eat. This may take some time, but I truly believe that over time they will be in tune with their hunger levels once again and food won’t be such a fixation. And again, having an adult being an example of a normal eater makes a huge impact.
Pray about what you are allowing your child to see and hear. Is it “healthy” for you to watch shows like The Biggest Loser together with your family? How about those magazines or books? How do you talk about your body? How do you talk about your child’s body?
What can you do to encourage your child to be a normal eater? Do you desire to be that example in their life? Are you willing to let go of that control and let God guide? What can you learn from your little ‘Thin Within’ eater?
Is overeating really sin? Is that one extra bite rebellion against the Lord?
I really struggled with those questions. It was one of the things in the Thin Within material that I had a hard time grasping. To be honest, over the years, when I would get to about Day 7 in the Thin Within book, I wouldn’t be able to push through any further. I really didn’t think I needed God’s forgiveness or grace when I took that one extra bite or overate. I would think, “Come on! It’s just food! It’s just one extra bite! What’s the big deal? Doesn’t God have other things to be concerned about? Why does this have to be so spiritual?”
And then my eyes were opened.
I had been praying about this and asking the Lord what His truth was about it in my life. Then one evening, I really wanted to make popcorn to eat during a movie my husband and I were going to watch. I knew I wasn’t hungry for the popcorn, but I just kept on thinking about it. Finally, I decided I was going to make popcorn. As I poured the freshly popped popcorn into a big wooden bowl, I heard the Holy Spirit gently ask me if I would not eat the popcorn since I wasn’t hungry. And like an annoying fly buzzing around, I flicked that request off. How could I resist now? Oh, the delicious scent of hot-buttered popcorn! And then, as I scooped some popcorn into my smaller bowl, the Holy Spirit asked me again if I would refrain from eating the popcorn. Flick! No thank you, I’m going to EAT this popcorn, thank you very much! So I sat down, began the movie, and about 2/3 of the way through my bowl of popcorn the Holy Spirit asked again, gently, if I would stop eating since I wasn’t hungry. Obediently, I put the bowl down and didn’t take one more bite.
He was so gentle. I was so rebellious. I lusted after that popcorn. I hardened my heart against the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I was like that Israelite demanding my way as I puttered around in the wilderness; just give me the leeks and onions! I didn’t want God’s manna or His provision. I wanted MY way in MY time! In essence, I wanted to go back to that slavery. Instead of deliverance and freedom, I wanted the easy way out.
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. Hebrews 4:7b
I don’t want to harden my heart. I want to love the Lord with all of my heart, mind and soul. I don’t want to hold anything back. I have to die to myself, to my fleshly, selfish desires in order to live for Him.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:14
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
And it was at that moment I realized that I am not honoring the Lord when I take that extra bite knowing I don’t need it or when I overeat. I was placing food over Him.
This has been a hard truth to swallow. I would rather not digest it. I want to be in denial, but I clearly saw my rebellion that day when I hardened my heart. I chose to fall into temptation—to sin. Temptations will come, but I had a choice to make. I chose to follow my flesh instead of following after the Spirit. God provided a way out of the temptation, but I chose to take the other path.
When we are hungry, we eat. Food is fuel for our body. So what happens when we consistently go outside of God’s bounds of eating outside of hunger? We gain weight, we feel stuffed, we don’t like the way we look or feel, etc.
Why would we need food outside of hunger? What are we truly “hungry” for when we want to eat when we aren’t physically hungry?
I could replace that “hunger” with food, alcohol, sex, drugs, or any other substance or addiction, but it will never fulfill what I’m truly hungry for. As Heidi says, only God can fill that God-size hole that needs Him in our heart.
Maybe you are reading this and you might think that this doesn’t make sense for you. Maybe you feel that it’s legalistic to say one extra bite is sin. I would encourage you to ask the Lord about this in your own life. Ask Him to show you the truth about this for you. Maybe you aren’t at that place in your journey where it’s clear. Maybe the Lord is working on other areas right now.
Another thing I do is I check the motivation of my heart. Something I think about often is something that is asked in the book Intuitive Eating: would I deny a bride and groom their bites of wedding cake after the cake cutting if they weren’t truly hungry? It’s not their motive to indulge. There have been times after a meal at a friend’s house where I’m not really hungry anymore, but I will eat a little serving of dessert. I will check in with the Lord and there are times where He says that it’s ok, that my heart is in the right place. But I really think this is something personal between you and the Lord. This isn’t an excuse to eat whenever you feel like it. It’s not to justify eating another bite when you know God is saying it’s time to stop. You will know because the Holy Spirit will show you.
God is bringing me to a place of wanting to honor Him more and more with eating. I want to glorify Him in all that I do. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to follow after the flesh. I don’t want to lust after food. I don’t want to harden my heart. I want to follow the Spirit and grow closer to Him.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12
If we do choose to purposely overeat, we can ask the Lord to forgive us.
“The surest way to return to the path of God’s provision is by repentance. As we observe, we identify the truth about our behavior and agree with God that a correction is in order. We then confess the truth we observe, and identify the faulty thinking and fleshly behaviors. He further places with us a desire to make the godly correction. This is repentance, and it results in returning to the path of God’s provision where we are filled with peace, joy, and rest” (Thin Within page 248-249).
And knowing that God has forgiven us as we repent, we can continue on our journey of honoring Him. There’s no need to beat ourselves up with the club of condemnation. You don’t have to eat with the attitude of, “Well, I messed up, I guess I will just eat whatever I want, whenever I want the rest of the day.” This isn’t a diet we’ve gotten off track with or have eaten up all of our daily calories, points, fat grams, carbohydrates, etc. This is observing that we’ve overeaten, repenting, and then continuing on the path of God’s provision. And then you just wait until you are hungry again to eat. I find this so refreshing!
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
There are times I find myself being tempted to eat when I’m not hungry. I’m learning to ask God for help during those times. And He is always willing. We can call upon Him!
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-2
How about you?
Where do you find your thoughts when you think about overeating or one extra bite as sin? I want to encourage you to ask the Lord what this looks like for you. Are you eating because you are trying to fulfill a hunger only God can fill? Do you find yourself lusting after food and eating with a rebellious attitude? Ask the Lord to show you: He will! And He won’t just stop there, He will show you how you can turn your eyes from lust to fixing your eyes upon Jesus!
