As Christians, we are commanded to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:17; Mark 12:31). However, that does not mean coddling, sheltering, or outright lying when it comes to sharing God's Word. On the contrary, we are instructed to speak the truth in love to foster and promote spiritual maturity through Christ (Ephesians 4:15). In other words, we are not doing the world a favor by watering down, sugar-coating, or withholding the truth of the gospel from this increasingly evil generation. While we should not be judgmental when sharing our faith because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we should actively be about the Father's business of saving souls even though it might make us unpopular, the message may be rejected, and/or the world hates us for it.
That said, I have to tell you something you do not want to hear. You are overweight not because your family members are fat, not because you have a disability, and not because you lack willpower. On the contrary, you have a weight problem because you are actively sinning against God, and you are suffering from the consequences of your sin. It is not God's will for you to habitually commit the sins of gluttony and idolatry by worshipping at the altar of the false gods of your stomach, food, and beverages every time you have a craving. Likewise, if you are suffering from an eating disorder, you are also sinning against the Lord by failing to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is your body, by obeying God’s command to eat and drink for His glory in order to, “Be holy because I am holy” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31; Leviticus 11). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and you can expect an often slow, painful death from an obesity-related disease if you do not repent and begin to eat and drink for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Similarly, those suffering from eating disorders can anticipate a host of mental and emotional illnesses as well as physical ailments which could lead to their early demise. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). Satan uses the ignorance of God's people against them. The Bible confirms this fact in Hosea 4:6 which states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they have rejected knowledge..." The devil's plan is to steal years off your life by keeping you entangled with the sin of gluttony and failing to honor God with your body. If successful, gluttony, making an idol of your stomach and food, and failing to otherwise take care of God’s temple by eating and drinking for His glory will ultimately bring about your untimely death and destroy the abundant life God meant for you to share with your family. Do not let the enemy win. Seek the knowledge of God in regard to your battle to lose weight and overcome eating disorders. Romans 12:1 teaches that we should present our bodies as living sacrifices which are holy and acceptable to God. When you become a living sacrifice, your lifestyle reflects it. Those who knew the past version of you marvel at the change, and those who hear your testimony about who you used to be and the things you used to do have difficulty believing it is true. Not only does your behavior change, but your very character is fundamentally different. The result is the same, as with every other sin, when you turn away from gluttony, idolatry, and failing to eat and drink for the glory God in order to honor Him with your body. Those who knew you as an overweight glutton, an anorexic, or bulimic will marvel at how God has changed your life. Those who meet the healthy you will find it difficult to believe you have ever starved yourself, binged and purged, or known a fat day. The fact that you were able to overcome your sinful nature through Christ will plant seeds of faith in others that they can do the same. In other words, it is not really about you, about simply overcoming your eating dysfunction, or about losing weight. It is actually all about reaching the lost, setting the captives free, and preventing others from becoming ensnared by the sins of gluttony, idolatry, and failing to eat and drink for the glory of God. Just like you, they need to hear the truth of God’s love spoken with the love that only Christ can give. If you accept God’s truth which was revealed to you through His love, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org! If you are unable to take the course, 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, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on 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!
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Proverbs 6:4-5 says, "Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter and like a bird from the hand of the fowler." Why does God use hunter and prey terminology to warn His people? Because you are being hunted every day, all day, by the enemy. The Bible cautions us to, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
This life is like a jungle, and we are similar to the enemy's quarry. The difference is Satan devours his prey from the inside out by getting you to choose one sinful path or another. God tells us to expect to be tempted and to run in the opposite direction for dear life when it occurs just as Joseph did when Potiphar tried to seduce him. If you did not run and you find yourself entangled with the sin of gluttony, making an idol of your stomach and food, or abusing your body with eating disorders by failing to obey the command to eat and drink for the glory of God, it is not too late. The Blood of Jesus Christ will free you from the snare of the fowler and the hunting lion, but you must confess and repent. Then run in liberty for Christ in the opposite direction by taking care of your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, as you eat and drink for His glory! If you fail to do so, you will be consumed as a result of your sin by hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses related to obesity and eating disorders. . I know the enemy works hard to make it seem like freedom from obesity and eating disorders is an impossibility, but Jesus said the devil is a liar, the father of lies, and there is no truth in him. So stop listening to Satan! The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Proverbs 23:7). If you think you will always be fat, you will be. If you doubt you will ever be free from your eating disorder, chances are you will continue to suffer in bondage to it. Conversely, if you think you can change your current circumstances and lose the weight or overcome the eating disorder, you will. The first and most important battle in the health and fitness war takes place in your mind. While there will be other skirmishes during the war, your mind is the equivalent of the front line of the battlefield. Consequently, the fighting will be most intense there, and you will fight repeatedly day after day as you claim more of what used to be the enemy's territory. When you become tomorrow who you think you are today, the enemy will be defeated, and you will emerge victorious. In other words, you must believe that you can do this. Whether it is 50, 150, 500 pounds, or more, you can lose every ounce of weight through Christ! If you have been bingeing and purging for decades or starving yourself in secret for years, God can renew your mind and change you from the inside out today. His power gives you victory over every sin, including those that result in obesity and eating disorders. Remember, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:1-2. If you are truly ready to free yourself from the enemies of obesity and eating disorders, which seek to kill you like prey, run for your life by obeying God’s commands regarding your health and fitness! Register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org! If you are unable to take the course, 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, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on 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! When life is hard, our situation is critical, and we are afraid, God commands us to, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). This applies to weight loss and eating disorders, too!
Being overweight or suffering from an eating disorder is a source of frustration, shame, physical discomfort, and mental anguish for many people. It is a method of torment used by the enemy. 1 John 4:18 teaches us, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. Where there is fear, love has not been perfected." Some translations use the term "punishment" instead of torment. Nevertheless, God is love (1 John 4:8), and it is He who casts out fear because it is not His will that you are ever tormented or punished. He does not want to enforce the ultimate punishment of sin upon you, namely, everlasting torment in hell when you leave this life and pass into the next. However, when you sin against Him, He can't protect you from the torment because it is one of the consequences of sin just as disobeying your parents often invoked an element of fear of being punished. God has told us that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Contrary to popular opinion, the root cause of obesity and eating disorders in the vast majority of individuals is rooted in sin. Specifically, when you overeat or have a pattern of overindulgence in unhealthy foods and beverages, you commit the sin of gluttony and fail to honor God with your body by taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit. When you succumb to the temptation of an eating disorder, you also sin by failing to eat and drink for the glory of God in accordance with 1 Corinthians 10:31. Moreover, you are well aware that your unhealthy lifestyle leads directly to obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease and strokes. Those with eating disorders also suffer from a myriad of physical, emotional, and psychological problems, depending on the type and severity of the disorder. Consequently, you are right to be afraid just like a child who is caught blatantly disobeying a parent should be afraid of the consequences. Obedience is the cure for that kind of fear. Obedience to God puts you at peace with Him the same way a child has no need to fear being scolded or spanked when they have done nothing wrong. My prayer for you today is that you allow the love of God to be perfected within you by repenting from committing the sins of gluttony, making an idol of your stomach, and failing to eat and drink for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Then obey the Lord’s command to honor Him with your body by eating and drinking for the glory of God in order to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thereafter, as you embark on your health and fitness journey, hold on to the peace given to you by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, regardless of your circumstances. The world can't take it from you. It is your choice to give it away. If you are ready to magnify the Lord instead of your health and fitness dysfunctions, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org! If you are unable to take the course, 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, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on 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! Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say unto you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink, nor for your body as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing" (Matthew 6:24-25)? According to the Books of Matthew and 1 Corinthians, the answer to both of the Lord's rhetorical questions is yes.
Jesus explained to us that we should not worry about food for sustenance because God knows what we need, so He will provide the food and beverages necessary to sustain us just as He provides for the birds and flowers (Matthew 6:26-34). He further clarified that our spiritual relationship with Him was much more important. Specifically, Jesus said that, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Likewise, the Bible teaches us that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and commands us to honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Nevertheless, our society proves that people in this country are more concerned about food and their bodies than they are about their spiritual relationship with God, but not because they are afraid of starving. Philippians 3:18-19 best illustrates the problem. It says, "Many live as enemies of the Cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things." In other words, we live in a society that is so obsessed with food, over one-third (1/3) of Americans is not only entangled with the sin of gluttony, but many more are also diagnosed with eating disorders and suffering from obesity related illnesses. Moreover, they have also committed the sin of idolatry by giving in to every craving of their stomachs and elevating food from the status of sustenance to their comforter. Neither your body nor food was not meant to be served as a false god. On the contrary, your body was meant to be a spiritual house for the One True Living God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 2:4). Food was meant to keep you alive and healthy. I encourage you today to lay aside every weight and repent of the sins of gluttony and idolatry that have easily beset you (Hebrews 12:1). Renounce the idols you have made of your stomach, food, and beverages, then return wholeheartedly to the One True Living God! But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, choose this day whom you will serve..., but as for me and my house, we willF serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). If you have chosen the Lord as your God, register today for the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Master Class, featuring Dr. Tara Cannon, author of Health and Wellness for the Believer, Elsa Oliver, Christian nutritionist, and First Lady of Fitness, Debra Jones! The classes are free! There are no registration fees or membership fees! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the class materials. Classes begin online only on Monday, August 22, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. CST! Space is limited. Sign up now at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org! If you are unable to take the course, 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, diet, and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on 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! If you’re like I used to be, I always made a New Year’s resolution to finally lose the weight, and if you follow my old pattern, I never succeeded in keeping the resolution until I adopted God’s plan for health and fitness success. It’s been 9 years since I made a resolution because I finally achieved permanent weight loss success through Christ, and you can, too! Are you tired of making the same plan each year only to fail every time you make it? Then perhaps it’s time to adopt a new plan of action.
Our God is a Strategic Planner. Before He laid the foundation of the universe, He knew what would transpire from beginning to end. He made us in His image and gave those who believe in Jesus the mind of Christ. Jesus has and continues to faithfully and methodically fulfill God's plan. The Bible commands us to, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). God's plan for you is to bless you to live long, healthy, abundant lives as you faithfully obey Him by reflecting His holiness in every area of your life, including how you eat and drink. Adopting and maintaining healthy eating habits may seem impossible, improbable, or simply unappealing to you, but God's commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). On the contrary, God promises, "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). The KJV translates it this way, "to bring you to an expected end." This is important to note because like Christ, you should endeavor to do your part to fulfill God's plan for your life by humbly obeying the Father's commands. That means your plans for each day should line up with the Father's ultimate plan. You should plan your meals in advance, take an emergency pack of food that's on your health and fitness plan for unforeseen circumstances, and do prep work ahead of time, such as weekends, to prevent the temptation not to cook your own meals due to time constraints and/or fatigue. God has given you the ability to think strategically in every aspect of your life, including your personal health and fitness. Use this gift from God to finally succeed! Yes, it's true that only God is in complete control, so you may have to make allowances for interruptions, detours, and even rethinking your plans. However, reworking a plan is better than not having a plan at all because either you will control the day, or it will control you. If you submit to God’s Will, His Direction, His Strategic Plan for your life even in regard to eating and drinking, God promises to deliver you to the expected end of being healthy and fit for life! If you’re ready to adopt God’s plan of action for your health and fitness, REGISTER TODAY for the EAW Health and Fitness Master Class at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org! Our classes are FREE! There are NO REGISTRATION FEES OR MEMBERSHIP FEES! Participants are only responsible for the cost of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook, which can be PURCHASED ONLINE at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Classes will be held ONLINE on Zoom, so register TODAY because space is limited. If you’re unable to take the course, 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 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! Fall is the season when the weather changes in ways many of us don’t like. It gets colder. The leaves fall off the trees, and the barren landscape they leave behind has been shown to make some people enter a mental state called seasonal depression. I used to be one of those people who disliked the fall, but now I accept it as a necessary part of life. I’ve also come to see the good side of it and embrace the good in order to keep my spirit uplifted until the spring comes. For example, I have discovered and come to enjoy the wonderful fall produce that I didn’t eat or even know existed. Case in point, once my oldest son was sick during the fall, but he wouldn’t eat the soup my husband prepared while at home with our son. The Lord directed me to make a different type of soup out of fall veggies that have a sweet taste. My youngest son, who is a very picky eater, ate all of his soup before his brother finished. That is rare!
How does that relate to your health and fitness journey? Right now some of you may feel like its fall in regard to your journey. I know it's difficult to go to another therapy session regarding anorexia or bulimia, and it’s hard to remain on the health and fitness battlefield when your flesh urges you to give up and stop believing you can be victorious through Christ. You feel the pull of fatigue because of your busy schedule. Sore muscles tell you to rest. Personal issues distract you and demand to be given priority over your health and fitness routine. However, you should be able to see behind the veil of these lies by now and embrace the positive side of what you have been and will experience in the future. The Bible says, “I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed within us” (Romans 8:23). The gains you have made, even if you’ve only just begun, far outweigh the struggle because you’re worth the fight for deliverance! No, it’s not easy to break free of the cycle of obesity and eating disorders, but the Bible says, "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). God says your season of entanglement with the sin of gluttony has ended! Your sin of failing to take care of your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, by eating and drinking for the glory of God has passed (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31)! It's time to renounce the false gods you have made of your stomach, food, beverages, and even your ideal body shape or weight, and return to the One True Living God! Then sow the seeds of change in your life by eating for God's glory and repairing the damage you've done to the temple of the Holy Spirit. God promises that in due season you will reap the harvest of health and fitness for life if you don't quit (Galatians 6:9). Instead of listening to the whining voice of fatigue, declare that the joy of the Lord is your strength as you continue to eat, drink, and exercise for His glory (Nehemiah 8:10). When pride tells you that you've earned a day of rest, remember that you must work while it is day, for the night of obesity, anorexia, bulimia, and orthorexia related sickness, disease, and premature death is coming when no man can work (John 9:4). When negative circumstances arise to deflect your attention from the task at hand, like Nehemiah you must defiantly declare that I am doing a great work for the Lord (Nehemiah 6:3), and I will not come down and cause the work of rebuilding the temple of the Holy Spirit and the protective walls of my mind through Christ to cease! I encourage you, my brothers and sisters, to stay the course. Put one foot in front of the other and press on. You are not on the battlefield alone. If you're ready to embrace your season of health, fitness, and weight loss success, 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. 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 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! Have you been lazy about working out? Did you give in to your cravings again? Did you succumb to bingeing and purging after weeks of therapy and healthy eating? Were you struggling with a trigger that leads back to anorexia this week? Have you regained most or all of the weight you lost? If so, I have something to tell you that you probably do not want to hear, "Get up and try again!"
I know your flesh does not want to, but it is time to get back in the health and fitness fight. Remember! The Bible says, "A just man falls seven (7) times and rises up again" (Proverbs 24:16). You are old enough to know the difference between stumbling and scraping your knee as opposed to actually falling down and breaking your leg. Recognize that a setback does not mean you have been defeated. Understand that the victor is the one who wins the war even though he may have lost a few battles. God has ordained victory over the mountain of obesity and eating disorders staring back at you in the mirror if you do not quit! Be strong! "Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap the harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Losing weight and overcoming eating disorders is very difficult, especially when you are trying to do it with only your own feeble strength and willpower. Furthermore, the more weight you have to lose or the longer you have struggled with the disorder, the more impossible it seems to be free of it. This is particularly frustrating if you suffer from a disease such as hypothyroidism which causes you to gain weight through no fault of your own. The worst part is that you feel like you are in it alone, particularly when you are ready to lose weight or stop bingeing and purging, but those around you who are complicit in your dysfunctional relationship with food are content to continue living an unhealthy lifestyle. However, when you change your focus to eating for the glory of God, a wonderful thing happens! You are no longer alone. With God what seemed impossible is now attainable because He enables you to succeed where you once failed. His strength never fails, and His will is not weak. But there will still be days when your flesh craves fried chicken instead of grilled chicken, French fries instead of baked sweet potatoes, starvation instead of eating, purging instead of letting your food digest and be absorbed to nourish your body. At those times, the enemy will try to make you believe that God has left you in the battle alone. Remember that Satan is a liar and God has promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). All you have to do is trust Him, stand up, and get back in the fight. Then watch God fight for you and give you the laurels of victory! If you are ready to get up and get back in the health and fitness fight, 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 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! The Bible says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him" (Proverbs 22:15). Children behave foolishly because they are immature physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Consequently, they must be disciplined or taught to act, think, feel, and live in a way that pleases God, keeps them at peace with others, and conforms to the laws of society in order for them to live abundant lives through Christ.
However, there is a major problem in the life of an adult who continues to behave like a foolish child. It's sad and very difficult to watch adults who lack self-control, who are easily angered, who overindulge in harmful substances or activities, or who never deny themselves pleasurable activities or material things in order to pay their bills, provide for their families, or even take care of themselves. They make the same mistake over and over again but never seem to learn from it. Unfortunately, that's what's happening to you in regard to food, beverages, and eating disorders. The hard truth is you're being a hard-headed, selfish, disobedient child who is determined to have it your way regardless of the consequences even though you know you're on the path that leads to destruction! You've not only been told repeatedly by loved ones, physicians, and public service announcements that your unhealthy lifestyle will lead to cancer, heart attacks, strokes or diabetes, but you have also seen the truth of this repeatedly with your own eyes as your family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even church members succumb to the various obesity-related diseases and complications resulting from eating disorders. Nevertheless, like a child, you continue to play with fire and throw a violent, internal temper tantrum at the mere mention of starting a health and fitness plan. Notwithstanding, God the Father loves you and, like the good parent He is, He is patiently correcting you today by saying, "That's enough!" You must obey the voice of the Lord and accept His positive discipline, or you will reap the harvest of His negative discipline. On the positive side, obedience results in the healthy and fit version of you and a longer lifespan. Conversely, disobedience results in the negative consequences that lead to death which you may already be experiencing, namely, hypertension, high cholesterol, insulin shots, acid reflux, sleep apnea to name a few, or complications resulting from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or orthorexia. Either way, God is faithful to perform His Word, for "the Lord disciplines those He loves as a Father the son he delights in" (Proverbs 3:12). I encourage you today to GROW UP! Be an adult who realizes and accepts that you just have to pull up your big girl underwear and get it done! If you're ready to obey the Voice of the Lord in develop mature eating and drinking habits, 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 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! I don't know what you're going through in your life. Maybe you've been out of work for six months, your home is in foreclosure, a loved one died, or your business is failing. I do know that those types of issues often result in "stress eating" which results in people seeking comfort from food instead of from God the Comforter! It can also be a trigger for those who suffer from anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
I speak from experience. When I was a child, I was sexually abused by two different people and severely bullied. As a result, I suffered from clinical depression by fifth grade. As I matured, I developed an unhealthy relationship with food. When things bothered me, I ate. For example, I ate when I was angry as well as when I was sad. I also ate whenever the thoughts of childhood trauma tried to overwhelm me. This started a cycle which led me to eat even more and resulted in significant weight gain. As I discovered, when the enemy has you add the problems you face to the amount of weight you must lose or the eating disorder you must overcome, his evil calculations equate to failure. Therefore, you figure there's no need to try. Jesus said the devil is a liar, the father of lies, and a murderer (John 8:44). Satan's lies are calculated to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). He steals your peace by orchestrating circumstances which will cause you stress, hoping to tempt you to return to your old, dysfunctional eating habits. If he successfully destroys your resolve to continue to eat healthy and exercise, then he's put you back on the path that will ultimately lead to your death. You've allowed Satan to defeat you in this same way countless times before. It's time to break the cycle! I encourage you to trust in the Lord and the power of His might and believe that He has equipped you to stand strong on His promises in the midst of the storms you face. Don't be discouraged! The problems will still be there regardless of whether or not you give up, so you may as well press forward and remember, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)! If you’re finally ready to break the cycle of circling the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders, 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. 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 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! In the Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries Health and Fitness Course, we spend three (3) weeks discussing the opposition you must face from the enemy when you start to rebuild the temple of the Holy Spirit and fortify the walls of your mind with God's Word. Although the Bible clearly identifies Satan's tricks, it never fails that an EAW Ministries class participant is spiritually attacked in one of the ways mentioned in the Word. For example, the enemy often attacks a class participant’s family. Sometimes it is sickness. Other times, class participants experience marital problems or family strife. Satan also attacks finances and sends fatigue, to name a few other weapons in his arsenal.
Nevertheless, you must remember God promised in His Word that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Life's journey is filled with distractions even when you are not trying to lose weight, get help for anorexia or bulimia, or otherwise live a healthy lifestyle. Your past should be a good indicator that you cannot eat or starve your way out of the stress of life. The food does not change anything except you. In the case of the glutton, it makes you fatter, sicker, and closer to death's door with each unhealthy meal you eat. In the case of the anorexic, it makes you skinnier, sicker, and closer to death’s door with each meal you forgo. Consequently, you must learn to recognize that stressful situations are the enemy's strategy to get you to take your eyes off Jesus and sink in the sea of debt, marital problems, sickness, relational strife, and health and fitness struggles you are experiencing. But if you stay focused on the Lord, you will rise above the turbulent waters to take your place at the Master's side. He will command the storms in your life to cease and give you peace within as you continue to trust Him and eat and drink for His glory. Therefore, I encourage you to ignore the howling winds and the torrential rain of problems the enemy hurls at you and stay focused on the spiritual task at hand! You have quit under pressure too many times before, and it has never solved anything. It only added to the mountain of guilt and shame for giving in to the temptation to give up. Again, you felt the sting of another defeat on top of your list of other sorrows. Instead, let's pray to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14) and trust God’s promise that you will finally attain it! If you’re finally ready to leave the Wilderness of Obesity and Eating Disorders and truly focus on claiming the Promised Land of Healthy and Fit for Life, 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. 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 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! |
Ann Wooten Taylor
Ann is an attorney who has been licensed to practice law in the State of Arkansas since 2004, practicing in the areas of child abuse and neglect, special education, and unemployment insurance law. Mrs. Taylor is also the C.E.O. of Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries and a Christian author. Her first non-fiction, Christian book entitled, "Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook" was published and released by Life to Legacy Publishing in 2015. Her second book, the "Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher's Edition" was published and released in December 2016. Archives
January 2019
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