Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook (49 page)

“The man who fears God will avoid all extremes”

(E
CCLESIASTES
7:18).

In reality, no snack food can create an obsession. The causes of compulsive overeating are much more complex and deep-rooted. For many people, compulsive eating is based not on physical hunger, but emotional hunger—a craving for the love and gratification they missed when they were growing up. As you search for the truth about your past, honest answers can be the first step toward healing.

“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place”

(P
SALM
51:6).

Here are some situational setups for overeating:

— Overweight parents who establish poor eating patterns in childhood

— Overcoming other habits by self-will, substituting one bad habit for another, compensating for a loss by replacing smoking with eating

— Childbirth—gaining weight during pregnancy

— Mild depression—eating for emotional comfort

— Change to a less physically active lifestyle, change jobs, retire

— Specific drugs—antidepressants, steroids, hormones

— Underactive thyroid gland, which decreases production of fat-burning hormones

— Hormonal—changing metabolism affects the rate the body burns fat

— High-caloric eating patterns—preferring fried foods, sweets, starches

— Protection from sexual attraction, fearing attention, fearing being attractive

The root cause of overeating is attempting to meet one or more inner needs through food.

—
Unconditional love
—eating to feel
nurtured

—
Significance
—eating to feel a sense of
control

—
Security
—eating and hoarding food in fear of
deprivation

The problem with using food to meet any of these inner needs is simple—it can’t be done! Only God can meet your needs and satisfy the longings of your heart. When you allow Him to fill you and submit your life to Him, He gives you His power for victory out of the ditch of overindulgence. Getting habits under control may take time, but you can take the first step by embracing the hope, the joy, and the freedom God offers.

“I can’t sustain enough willpower to resist the foods that give me pleasure.”

“The issue is not the power of your
will
, but the power of your
God
. Christ’s Spirit within you is able to change your focus from food to a faith that He will fulfill your deepest needs.”

The moment you choose to believe in Him—entrusting your life to Christ—He gives you His Spirit to live inside you. The Spirit of Christ gives you His power to live the fulfilled life God has planned for you. God will work in your life!

“Those who live according to the sinful nature [flesh] have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires”

(R
OMANS
8:5).

— Daniel made a commitment to obey God (Daniel 1:8).

— God backed up Daniel’s resolve with supernatural support (verse 9).

— Daniel requested only vegetables and water for his meals (verse 12).

— Daniel became noticeably healthier and better nourished (verse 15).

— God blessed Daniel with great knowledge and understanding (verse 17).

Among the methods to be wary of are acupuncture, hypnotism, diet pills, fad diets, fasting, laxatives, reducing machines, special clothing to melt fat calories, shots, surgery, starvation, and vomiting.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”

(R
OMANS
12:2).

On the path to recovery, follow the “do” signs and avoid the “don’ts.” Soon you will find yourself on the Road to Transformation, where lasting sustenance is found in Christ Himself.

—
Don’t
say you are dieting.
Do
say you are learning to eat healthy foods.

—
Don’t
keep unhealthy food around you.
Do
keep healthy food prepared for snacks.

—
Don’t
weigh yourself every day.
Do
record your weight once a week.

—
Don’t
eat fast.
Do
chew slowly!

—
Don’t
reward yourself with food.
Do
enjoy the rewards and blessings of the Lord.

—
Don’t
eat at restaurants without planning.
Do
predetermine which foods to order.

—
Don’t
keep your new plan a secret.
Do
share with a friend or support group.

—
Don’t
shop for groceries on impulse or when you are hungry.
Do
shop with a prepared list.

—
Don’t
get caught off guard by temptation.
Do
have an alternate plan—for example, read Scripture and take God at His Word, call a friend, read a book.

—
Don’t
fail to set goals.
Do
set a target weight and realistic short-term goals.

—
Don’t
start a new eating plan during a crisis, illness, holiday, or high stress situations.
Do
consult a doctor before beginning any new eating plan.

—
Don’t
adopt a plan just because it worked for someone else.
Do
adopt a personalized plan that will work for your individual lifestyle.

“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it”

(P
ROVERBS
22:3).

— God has given you a new nature in Jesus Christ.

— God has given you all you need to live a self-controlled life.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires”

(2 P
ETER
1:3-4).

— Taking good care of your physical body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.

— Wanting to be free from the bondage of self-indulgence.

— Being healthy and living the life God planned for you.

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it”

(2 C
ORINTHIANS
5:9).

— responding to a lack of
love?

— responding to feelings of
insignificance?

— fearful and
insecure?

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts”

(P
SALM
139:23).

— your need for change.

— you are powerless to change.

— God’s power in you to change.

— His constant presence within you.

“Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us”

(1 J
OHN
3:24).

— Listen to God through His written Word.

— Listen for His leading through the Holy Spirit.

— Listen and recognize Satan’s lies so you can replace them with God’s truths.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you”

(P
SALM
32:8).

— Develop a knowledge of good nutrition.

— Choose to eat healthy foods.

— Don’t give up if you blow it.

“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble”

(R
OMANS
14:20).

— Walk or ride a bicycle 30 minutes a day four or five times weekly.

— Do aerobics for 30 minutes three days a week. Start using the stairs!

— Make a commitment to join athletic activities with friends.

“He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding”

(P
ROVERBS
15:32).

— Choose a scripture to memorize daily or weekly.

— Write down when and what you eat, recording caloric or fat value.

— Record your thoughts and feelings.

“A wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his ways”

(P
ROVERBS
21:29).

— Pray throughout the day meditating on Scripture, reflecting the self-control of Christ.

— Ask God to remind you of His protection and power over temptation, thanking Him for His faithfulness.

— Know that God will never give up on you. If you blow it, start again—God is faithful!

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”