​In 2012, I received a phone call that no woman wants to get. My gynecologist's office contacted me to return to the office that day because I had an abnormal pap smear. I'd had abnormal pap smears before that turned out to be nothing, so I argued with the receptionist because I did not think the matter warranted leaving work in the middle of the day until she said in frustration that the test results indicated a large grade carcinoma had been discovered on my cervix.  When I heard those words, fear fell on me like a crumbling thirty story building.  In my mind at the time, only one thought played in a continuous loop: Carcinoma = Cancer = Death!
 
I learned two very important things that day.  #1: Fear is an evil, cowardly spirit (2 Timothy 1:7) that physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually attacks us even when we are at our weakest points. #2: The Secret Place of the Most High God (Psalm 91:1) is also very real. I know firsthand because God hid me under His shadow and gave me refuge under His wings (Psalm 91:1-4) from the enemy's frightening and tormenting thoughts (1 John 4:18-20).
 
According to the spirit of fear, I was already dead. It was just a matter of time before my body would be placed in a decorative box and covered with dirt. Nevertheless, God expelled all of the fear when I called on Him, and He exposed the lies with His truth. By the time I arrived at the doctor's office, the tears and the fear were gone completely. As a result, I waited patiently and peacefully for biopsy results which took about three (3) days to come back. The results revealed that I was far from dead. Although a large area of my cervix was affected, the abnormal cells were precancerous. I had a simple fifteen (15) minute procedure in the doctor's office to remove them. What does all that have to do with health and fitness?
 
People attend the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness class all the time because they are afraid. Some have already been diagnosed with obesity related diseases. Others have been told to lose weight or they will be placed on insulin, hypertension, or cholesterol lowering medications. Some even fear they are slowly slipping backwards into bondage to an eating disorder. Many have seen loved ones lose limbs to diabetes, become paralyzed due to strokes, or die in a matter of minutes due to massive heart attacks.
 
Consequently, EAW Ministries Class participants are very often afraid because they already know how their lives will end unless something changes. One of the best things about EAW Ministries is receiving praise reports from those who have taken the class. God proves again and again that the spirit of fear is a liar. You will not die if you repent and call on God to save you. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)! He resurrects dead arteries, kidneys, livers, and pancreases. He heals and saves to the utmost, and gives eternal life in Heaven and life more abundantly on earth (John 10:10) to those who love Him and keep His commandments. The first step of obedience is knowing those commandments. That’s where Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries can help.
 
If you are ready to enter the Secret Place of the Most High and be free of the evil spirit of free in regard to your health and fitness, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Class. The course begins on August 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm CST via Zoom. Space is limited so go to www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org to register now! Then purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  The classes and books will teach you the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify the Narrative Matters, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

​Selfishness is an irrevocable byproduct of sin. As Christians, we are commanded to deny the desires of our flesh in order to obey the commandments of God and be effective servants in His Kingdom as well as towards our fellow man. In contrast, when we sin, we give in to the desires of our flesh in selfish disobedience. This act of rebellion makes us ineffective, as the world sees its self-centeredness reflected in our behavior.
 
Moreover, repeatedly giving in to the carnal desires of your flesh results in a selfish mentality. Consequently, it becomes increasingly difficult to accept the Lord's call for change in your life when everything is always all about you, meaning what you like, what you want, what you think you need, and what it will cost you personally to forgo your desires in order to benefit the Kingdom of God or someone else.  It is no different with the sins of gluttony and otherwise failing to eat and drink for God’s glory. In fact, in some ways, it is worse.
 
For example, gluttony begins with a simple act of overeating and/or over-indulging in unhealthy foods and beverages. However, over time it becomes a pattern of overeating and overindulgence, which begins to affect your outlook about yourself. In other words, you graduate from simply rebelling against God's commands to being completely self-centered in your thoughts, emotions, and behavior as it relates to food and beverages. For instance, your thoughts are focused more and more on what you are "in the mood" to eat even after consuming large, unhealthy meals.
 
As your waistline expands, your selfishness begins to work against you, making you self-conscious about your appearance, concerned about your health, and afraid that you will not be able to regain control of this area of your life. These negative emotions become evident in your behavior as you ostracize yourself from others to avoid unflattering comments and stares. Furthermore, you stop participating in many activities you enjoy for similar reasons.
 
All of that changes once you repent from committing the sin of gluttony and begin to reverse the process of selfishness that invaded your life. It is the same when you eat and drink for the glory of God instead of remaining in bondage to your eating disorder. As you deny yourself in obedience to the One True God, you become more and more selfless in terms of this and any other sins you are entangled with. After you discipline your body and bring it under subjection through Christ, then your focus should shift to shining the Light of Christ on others who are suffering under the weight of bondage to gluttony and eating disorders. This usually begins with your own household.
 
The Bible says that he who fails to provide for his own family has denied his faith and is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8)! One of the most important things you can provide for the ones you love is covering them daily with your prayers.  Ask for God's mercy, deliverance, favor, protection, and mind renewal so that they will make a permanent health and fitness change through Christ and then effectively be about the Father's business to lead others to deliverance from gluttony and eating disorders through Him.
 
If you are ready to stop being selfish and obey God’s commands to take care of your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit by eating and drinking for His glory, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

​Have you ever had a problem that seemed like it would never end? For example, did you lose your job and could not get another one for over a year? Have you and your spouse been going through the motions and appear to be heading for divorce? Have you been sick with an illness the doctors cannot even diagnose, let alone treat, and you know without doubt that you are only alive by the grace of God? If so, you are not alone.
 
During the last recession, my husband was laid off for 14 months, but God blessed him with a job right when we used the last of our savings. Likewise, the first few years of our marriage, I wondered if we would make it. We are not only still together twenty-four years later, but our marriage is also much stronger. In fact, we are more deeply in love with one another now than we were back then. Furthermore, in 2009, I became ill and could have died. I learned the scariest thing a doctor can say is not that you have a terminal illness, as I expected to hear at that time. On the contrary, hearing a medical professional acknowledge that I had a condition that she could not diagnose was much worse because I was in a fight with an unidentified enemy for three (3) years.
 
On top of all that, I spent over a decade of my life ensnared by the sin of gluttony and unable to get free from it despite the time, money, and energy I spent on diet pills, gym memberships, diet gimmicks, and weight loss programs. As with me, your circumstances are probably accompanied by feelings of loneliness. You think no one understands or cares, so you suffer through it on your own. However, the Bible makes it clear that what you are experiencing is nothing new.
 
In Luke 13:10-12, there was a woman who had been under attack by an evil spirit for eighteen (18) years. The unclean spirit caused her body to be bent over in a hunched position, preventing her from standing up straight. You may not have the visible, physical manifestation of the demonic attack in the same way that the woman did, but the enemy has been waging a longstanding battle against your finances, your family, your health, and your physical fitness, nevertheless. Moreover, the battle has crippled you, leaving you bent over in shame and defeat, unable to walk upright in victory.
 
The Lord has already promised you an abundant life through Christ (John 10:10), and abundant living includes being healthy and physically fit. However, just as the Israelites had to fight to possess God's gift to them of the Land of Canaan, you, too, must fight for the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life. Do not be like those who fall dead of heart disease, anorexia, diabetes, cancer, bulimia, and strokes in the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders due to their fear, spiritual cowardice, and lack of faith. Put your war clothes on and prepare to fight! I encourage you, "Do not be afraid nor be dismayed! Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 10:25)!
 
All you really have to do is show up on the battlefield. It is the Lord who will actually fight against the enemy and win the battle for you, for the battle is not yours. It was, is, and always will be a spiritual one to be won by the Lord. Regardless of the circumstances or how long you have been engaged in battle, be encouraged today. The Lord Your God, Who is the Alpha and the Omega, has declared an end to the battle and crowned you the victor through Jesus Christ! As Jesus said to the hunched and bowed woman, I also decree over you and your circumstances in the Name of Jesus, "Thou art loosed!" Hallelujah!
 
If you trust God to loose you from your health and fitness struggle so you can stand upright in victory in the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

God called me to be different. Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries exists so I can share my journey into health and fitness with others. ​However, I used to be a people-pleaser.  I wanted everyone to like me and to be my friend. More than anything, I wanted to finally fit in with the crowd, almost any crowd. However, God has always orchestrated events in my life that caused the opposite to take place. People often do not like me. I have few true friends, and I generally do not fit in with "clicks" and "in crowds." It has been that way since pre-school. For much of my life, I struggled to become acceptable in the eyes of others. I tried to fit into their molds. I attempted to be the type of person they would welcome, but it was all in vain. Every time I thought I was finally "at home" in a crowd, God made sure I did not get comfortable. Eventually, I took the hint, recognized the clues, and solved the puzzle He had given me.
 
I was never meant to fit in. I was created to stand apart, to be original, to be unique. If I was like the rest of them, God could not use me for His purpose because, like them, I would limit His power to getting new cars on someone else's credit or getting caught up on bills while still drowning in debt. Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries exists because God made me "peculiar" (1 Peter 2:9). I am peculiar in my belief in Him, in my walk with Him, and in my worship of Him. I am different enough to believe that He is not only real, but He still speaks directly to His children and guides us in all our ways. And I do not believe an ordained minister is the only person or method He uses to get a message to His people. Perhaps the most peculiar thing about me is my belief that every action I take, every word I speak, even everything I eat and drink is a form of worshipping my God!
 
Consequently, in public restaurants, you might see me eat all of the toppings off of a slice of pizza but leave the crust behind because that is the only way to eat for His glory by conforming to my diet plan at the time. At a conference where box lunches are provided, I discard chips, buns, and cookies and make lettuce wraps out of what remains of the sandwich, then grab a bottle of water instead of the plentiful sodas on hand. As you might guess, my eating habits draw not only the attention of others, but it also generates questions, which present opportunities to share my faith with a room full of people who are overweight, diagnosed with obesity related diseases, dealing with eating disorders, and fast-tracking to an early death.
 
Is it hard being stared at, talked about, and ostracized for simply obeying God and being who He called me to be? Yes, but it is also worth it! Being different gives others confidence that it is alright for them to embrace who they were meant to be in Christ, too. Most importantly, as I look around at those who stare at me strangely, I cannot help but notice that many of them are overweight or otherwise living lives of disobedience. Therefore, I choose to always endeavor to please the perfect, righteous, One True Living God instead of fickle, hateful, deceitful, sinful human beings. I encourage you to dare to be different. Get healthy and fit God's way and be one of His chosen people who dwells in the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life!
 
If you are ready to stop pleasing people and serve the One True Living God in regard to your health and fitness, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

Sinful habits are often done away from prying eyes. Whether it’s an extramarital affair or a drug addiction, people usually do not openly display their sin. Unfortunately, it’s the same for those suffering from unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders. Although the outward results of your dysfunctional lifestyle can’t always be hidden, most people either intentionally or unintentionally conceal the depths of their detrimental habits. 

​In other words, they prefer to do their dirt in the dark, as the saying goes.
 
However, lots of people, adults and children alike, are afraid of the dark. Nevertheless, society has imposed a stigma of sorts on those who do not like darkness. Usually, that person is labeled as fearful, and children, especially, find themselves being teased or reprimanded for their disdain of dark places. My perspective is different. I am a firm believer that people do not like the dark for good reason, and the problem actually lies with those who love it. The Bible affirms this viewpoint.  John 4:19-21 says, "And this is the condemnation, Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear his deeds will be exposed, but he who practices the truth comes to the Light so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
 
In other words, some people prefer the dark because it covers their sin. Adulterers, thieves, and murderers are some who often like to sin under cover of darkness. However, Isaiah 29:15-16 warns that, "Those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, 'Who sees us? Who will know?' You turn things upside down as if the potter were thought to be the clay... Can the pot say of the potter, 'He knows nothing?'"
 
Indeed, the darkness referred to in the Scriptures is spiritual darkness, but, "Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, His eternal power, and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). That means darkness exists in the natural world to help you understand its existence as evil in the spiritual realm. Likewise, there is light in the world to help you better understand and believe that God exists and is the Light of righteousness in the world.
 
Gluttony is a sin that people engage in under the cover of darkness, too, just ask the person who is morbidly obese and can no longer leave his home. Indeed, that person is bound in spiritual darkness, chained to a table, and literally eating himself to death. When you go to a buffet alone so no one you know will see you gorge yourself on meat, as Proverbs 23:20 puts it, you are also attempting to sin in the dark even as you enter the restaurant in the light of day. It is the same for the person who visits the restroom to induce vomiting after bingeing or prepares a plate to eat with her family but always finds an excuse to never take a bite of food.
 
The only thing that dispels darkness, especially the darkness of sin that we internalize, is light. That is true in the spiritual realm as well as the natural world. Consequently, you must meet Jesus at the Cross in order to achieve permanent weight loss or be set free from any eating disorder. In Jesus Christ, there is life, and that life is the light of all men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it (John 1:4-5). That means that through Jesus Christ you can and will overcome the darkness of the sin of gluttony and dysfunctional eating habits that are robbing you of the abundant life you were always meant to have through Christ!
 
If you are ready to be free of the spiritual darkness of unhealthy eating and drinking habits and bask in the Light of an abundantly new healthy and fit life through Christ, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

For years, public service announcements, the medical profession, and even the fitness industry have advocated for people to make better choices regarding their health and fitness. Although many intend to heed the sage advice, most people maintain their unhealthy lifestyles.  ​Like them, you have probably heard the old saying, "Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today." I know I have heard it a million times before, but unfortunately, I have still been guilty of procrastinating, especially when it comes to something I do not really want to do. I am not the only one who does this. People often drag their heels for various reasons. Most of the time, it is probably due to laziness. However, there are many other reasons why people procrastinate.
 
For instance, we tend to delay action when we feel overwhelmed. Indeed, a complicated task can result in mental paralysis because you do not want to figure out where to start, how to start, or what to do next. Inaction is much easier.  Likewise, just considering the task before you can be enough to invoke the fear of failure. Once fear takes hold, it is difficult for many people to move past it in order to accomplish what they have set out to do. This occurs quite frequently when it comes to health and fitness.
 
Procrastination is the coffin that the best laid diet and exercise plans are put to rest, if not, buried alive in. Too often, you set a certain date to start your new, healthier lifestyle, then come up with the perfect excuse to delay implementing your new plan. More than likely, you abandon it altogether, telling yourself you will start at a more convenient time. Usually, that time becomes January of the following year, and you promise yourself you will keep the New Year's Resolution this time. If you think about it, you will remember you have made that promise to yourself several times and broken it every year.
 
Furthermore, you have no idea what is going on inside your body in the interim.  Are your arteries clogging with plaque? Are you two months away from having a stroke? Will your doctor diagnose you with hypertension when you go for your annual physical examination? Obesity related illnesses do not take a vacation while you hide from the problem before you, and neither do complications stemming from eating disorders. On the contrary, procrastination gives birth to them. It is much easier to do the work of weakening, and ultimately, destroying your body from the inside out when you do not fight against the process.
 
Consequently, the cold truth of the matter is your inaction is, in and of itself, an action. Your indecision is actually a decision. By doing nothing, you actually are doing something. You have chosen a course of action that leads to your early, painful, and completely unnecessary demise. It does not have to be that way. I encourage you today to make the better choice. Do not let the enemy convince you not to try for fear that you will not succeed. It is a lie told by the father of lies (John 8:44). Instead, put off the ways of the sluggard and adopt the work ethic of the ant (Proverbs 6:6). Do not wait! Start right now because tomorrow is not promised.
 
If you are ready to make better health and fitness choices through Christ, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, the Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

Are you one of those people who likes to weight train and hates cardio workouts, or do you prefer a good run and eschew weights? Then there are those who believe they can eat anything so long as they work out hard. In other words, we all have health and fitness beliefs that we adhere to which often prevent us from reaching our diet and exercise goals.  

​I do not know about you, but very often, the first thing I do when I get home from work is change out of my work clothes into something more comfortable. I kick off my heels and put on warm cozy socks, then exchange my professional-looking slacks and blouse for leisure wear unless I have somewhere to go, I am expecting company, I have something important to do around the house, or I am so tired that I know I will not be able to make myself be productive anymore that day if I get comfortable.
 
Have you ever had days like that? All you want to do is rest, but the circumstances in your life will not allow it. Consequently, you must find a way to press on, but it is hard because you seem to sabotage yourself as you try to push through. For example, you were already tired to begin with, but your body suddenly began to feel as though it weighed a ton when you recalled you still had to cook dinner when you get home. Likewise, your mind starts to spit out a thousand reasons why you should have a seat on the sofa and watch the news for a few minutes in order to relax, but you know you fall asleep every time that happens.
 
It is even worse, it seems, when the things we have to do are exercise and prepare healthy meals. As if it is not bad enough that you have to contend with outside temptations attempting to convince you to give up, your own flesh is also an enemy that must be conquered. It is easy to return to your old habits, grab a bag of chips to eat as you watch television, then try to coax yourself into going to work out to minimize the damage you have done. However, you have been there and done that. You know you will never make it to the treadmill in the other room, let alone to the gym for weight training and cardio.
 
If you truly want to lose weight and become free of an eating disorder, you must accept the fact that you will have to endure a season of discomfort. Eating healthy foods and beverages and exercising is obviously not your comfort zone, or you would not be overweight or entangled with an eating disorder. To have the healthy and fit body you long for in addition to the longer lifespan, which is a byproduct of it, you must obey God's commands to honor Him with your body by eating and drinking for His glory (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31).  
 
I am a witness that as you adopt a healthy lifestyle for God's glory, a wonderful thing happens. He not only gives you the desires of your heart as a result of seeking His kingdom and righteousness first (Matthew 6:33), but He also makes what used to be uncomfortable your new comfort zone. Therefore, I encourage you to keep your work clothes on, ignore the fatigue, and use your spiritual earbuds to drown out the lies of pride and so-called logical reasoning telling you to take a break. This is the season of the ant not of the sloth (Proverbs 6:6). God will give you rest at His appointed time. Until then, work while it is day, for the night comes when no man can work (John 9:4).
 
If you are ready to make the journey to your new health and fitness comfort zone, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!

Fad diets and gimmicks are not new, but the latest craze, surprisingly, has people consuming a drug meant to treat those suffering from Type II diabetes. Consumer demand for the drug is so high, it is negatively impacting those who need the medicine. Never mind the fact that this is a brand new drug whose long-term effects are unknown. The current trend is proof positive that people want to take the easy way out to losing weight and becoming free of eating disorders.  Unfortunately, this is not anything new.

People have a lot of unorthodox views when it comes health and fitness. I have met people who believe they will permanently lose weight if they could only convince themselves to eat one meal per day. I also know people who bought into the lie that a person can eat whatever he wants as long as he works out. You can imagine the surprise, disappointment, and feelings of failure that occur when an individual starts to gain weight instead after spending hours at the gym. Perhaps the strangest ideas come from those who fall for every new diet gimmick even though the last twelve (12) they tried did not work. It is almost comical. No matter how obvious it is that the diet will not work, they pay for it anyway and swear they are getting results that no one can see but them.
 
Conventional, practical, albeit worldly wisdom, says that a real diet plan will require you to eat real, healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and moderately exercise several times per week in order to lose weight. Nevertheless, people have been rejecting this very simple, straightforward notion for years. Consequently, instead of becoming healthier, over a third of Americans are overweight, and many of the affluent nations of the world are also dealing with an obesity epidemic. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that those who are overweight, diagnosed with obesity related diseases, or eating disorders do not want to listen when they are told Jesus Christ is the solution to their health and fitness problem.
 
People search for shortcuts and easy ways out of the messes they make of their lives. That is true in weight loss, eating disorders, and every other aspect of life. Anything that requires individuals to take responsibility for their actions and to put forth a modicum of effort to change their lives is summarily dismissed, but that does not mean you stop telling people the truth in favor of what they want to hear.
 
The truth is, repenting from the sin of gluttony and otherwise failing to take care of your body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, is itself an unorthodox method of weight loss, but it is the only way for a glutton to permanently and successfully lose weight. Likewise, helping a person suffering from an eating disorder learn to eat and drink for the glory of God instead of abusing his or her body by starving or bingeing and purging is just as unpopular. However, as people do not accept the worldly, conventional wisdom, they often reject the truth of God's Word, too. In fact, the Bible teaches us that only a remnant whose hearts God moved returned from captivity to repair the damaged temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5). Your body was designed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, but He will not take up residence where He is not wanted.  
 
Although you invite Him in when you accept Christ as your Savior, even believers who have spent years in the family of faith refuse to yield parts of their sinful lives to the Holy Spirit. While it is His right to possess His entire temple, the Holy Spirit will only occupy the space you willingly provide. Like the Israelites, the hearts of modern-day Christians are hardened against repairing the damage they have done to the temple of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they too, choose to remain in bondage and die captive to a sin God would gladly set them free of. Will you choose the diet gimmicks or the conventional wisdom of the world, or will you allow the Lord to change your heart so that you will not only accept His unconventional approach to health and fitness, but also act upon it in faith in order to finally lose the weight and be free of the eating disorder that is a stronghold in your life?
 
If your heart is moved to repair and rebuild the temple of the Holy Spirit, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com.  In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God.  Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ.  Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips.  Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends.  Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!