Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how the Lord God has positively influenced my overeating, this doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse. Debbie

COE Support Note:

If you REALLY want to read how Christ helped me throughout this weight loss and even when I was tempted, you should read some of the 100's of previous posts on https://christianovereaterssupport.blogspot.com/

I Didn't Do Anything to Deserve These Blessings

1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

 I have been very blessed. God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and to keep the vast majority of it off during that time and I didn't do a thing. Actually, I basically gave up, because I had tried diet after diet most of my life to no avail.

I was just tired of trying these diets only to find myself gaining back the few pounds I had lost and then some. My sagging self-esteem just couldn't stand any more failures. I kind of decided that if I gave up on dieting, I couldn't be a failure anymore. It's interesting, because this is the first time I actually realized that's what I was doing.

Anyway, I told God that I give up and that if He wants me to be thin, then He'd have to take care of it, because I couldn't do it anymore. I actually, didn't expect this major blessing from God. I was just giving up and that's when He did it. I've pondered over the years and wondered why God has blessed me so. It's certainly not because of my piety. You can tell as you read of my very sinful nature in these blog posts. This blessing was from God alone, not by anything I did to deserve it.

If God can take away my compulsive overeating, sagging self-esteem, and focus on food, He can do it for you, as well. It doesn't matter if you ate more than you wanted for Christmas or plan to splurge tonight. In all honesty, I think the reason that God took away my compulsive overeating after I prayed that time, was that it was the first time I had ever totally given up my control and turned it totally over to God. When I gained the 27+ pounds back was when I started becoming sloppy with my relationship with God. I think these things are very significant. 1 Peter 1: 3 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 4 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

Statements That Bring Out the Little Child in Me

1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.

I was going to a park for kids and had thrown on my windbreaker when it really wasn't that cold. As I framed this blog post in my mind, I was going to explain that I threw the windbreaker around me, because I was uncomfortable with people seeing my thinner body, which has been the case many times. As I thought this through, I realized that really wasn't the truth. I actually put the windbreaker on, because I'm bloated right now and my stomach is sticking out more than I like. I feel compelled to be totally honest with you and with myself on this blog.

Anyway, this man walked by me and said, "Fatty." That's all he had to say to bring out the little child in me. At first, I was stunned as I continued to walk through the park following my grandchild as if nothing had just happened. I went through various phases after his remark, including coming up with some good comebacks, should he say anything else to me.

I tried to decide how reasonable his remark was. As I thought about it, I considered taking off my windbreaker, since I was only ten pounds from my goal weight. I'd show him that I wasn't fat. Then, I realized that I don't have to prove anything to anyone. My weight up or down is between God and me.

It's noteworthy that I bought into all those insecurities I used to have, because someone made a rude comment to me. I don't have to own rude comments by others, nor do you. We don't have to allow other people the ability to tell us who we are. We are the precious children of God, regardless of our weight.

I passed this man several times through the afternoon, but never said anything to him. Was I being a chicken or a Christian? The thing that seemed ironic was that this man was no less than fifty pounds overweight. You would think he would be more sensitive to what it feels like to be called rude names.

The point of this blog post is two-fold. The first is that we don't have to let other people further hurt our self-esteem by their insensitive comments.  The second is that I am supposed to be able to forgive this person, regardless of how he made me feel, because that's what Jesus does for me each day and that's what He would want. I have to turn my willingness to forgive this person into God's very capable hands. 1 John 4: 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.

Is It Really Worth Anything to Be Thin???

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Luke 9:23-25.

Is it really worth anything to be thin??? As you've already read the Bible passage, you know the answer. You would think with having been a Christian for so many years, I wouldn't have to ever deal with issues of this nature. But there are times when I come close.

First of all, there are times when I get down on myself, because I'm not exactly at my ideal weight. (Actually, I weigh ten pounds more than my goal weight.) At times, I fall into old patterns and beat myself up for things like not being perfect, not being able to wear skinny clothes, having a saggy, droopy body, etc.

Well, even though I'm not talking about worldly things like wealth, fancy cars, prestige, etc., I'm still talking about worldly things. Do you think that God judges us with the same eyes that we judge others? Do you think it matters to God whether we are exactly the ideal weight, are perfect, can wear skinny clothes, or have a sagging, droopy body? Those are all things of the world. Reading this Bible passage reminds me where my focus needs to lie. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Luke 9:23-25.

I Don't Have to Find Fault With Others in Order to Feel Better About Myself

 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

I went to a function with my husband. There was a woman of similar age at the function, who was very popular with the other guests, attractive, and very content with herself. When I got home, I found myself finding fault with her. I thought she was very taken with herself, etc.

Fortunately, God, who looks after me even when I don't want it, had the thought in my mind that I don't have to find fault with others in order to feel better about myself. What an eye opener! Having been overweight for so many years, I think I minimized the attributes of those who got much more positive attention, so that I didn't feel so badly about myself. With God at my side, regardless of my weight loss or not, I no longer have to do that to feel good about myself.

God frees me from the control food, money, the need for status, etc. used to have on me. Instead, He fills me with a peace that defies all description. So, here I am confessing my faults, because I don't want you to fall prey to the same insecurities as I have. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

Since I am applying these Bible Verses to my life, it may not convey the whole meaning of the verses. Debbie

Mindless Munching...

Ephesians 6: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

It’s time for honesty. I was sitting watching TV and wanted to munch on something, even though I had already had a filling dinner.  At first, I got some frozen pecans, because I love the crunch and it’s protein…right??? Then, I remembered that I had gained ten pounds of weight back when I went on a frozen pecans binge a few months ago. So, after eating over half a cup of pecans, I put them back in the freezer.

I still had the munchies, so I grabbed a bag of tortilla chips. Before I knew it, over half of the bag had been demolished. What was wrong? Hadn't God taken my urge for large quantities of food away from me? What was I doing?

God quenches my fiery darts, when I let Him. Was I letting God heal me of my temptations? I almost had blinders on, focused on wanting something to munch, just for the sake of munching. It amazes me that I could still sit down and eat over a half a bag of chips, but obviously, when I’m not listening to God’s direction, I’m very capable of still doing that. I think it’s times like this that God shows me that I can slip back into old patterns of eating if I don’t focus on turning my life, my eating, and my stress over to Him.

During times like this, it is important for me to have some quiet time with God in my bedroom or read my Bible when I felt like mindless munching. I can’t forget where my strength lies and it’s not of me, it’s from God. Ephesians 6: 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Their Opinions of Me Had Been Important to Me for So Long...

O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalm 7:1

I had known persecution most of my life for being overweight. People used to ignore me, laugh at me, and leave me out of things. I pretended that this didn't hurt, but it really did. You could see that by my size. I used to eat to console myself, because I could pretend I wasn't in pain, but God knew I was. Fortunately, when I started turning the issues I used to eat over, into God's very capable hands, people's opinions of me didn't seem to matter to so much anymore. I was amazed, because their opinions of me had been important to me for so long!

When I was divorced from my first husband, I found that people treated me differently. I wasn't used to that, because God had allowed me to loose the extra weight some time earlier. I had gotten used to people treating me with more respect and was taken aback when this happened, and started falling back into old patterns of insecurity.

At first, I wasn't quite sure why I was getting this response from some. Then, I realized that there are those who are uncomfortable around those who are divorced-like it's contagious. I was the same person they knew before they learned of my divorce. Why would they treat me differently than they previously did? God calmed my insecurities and left a feeling in my heart that I don't have to totally understand why people do things. I just have to try to be the person God wants and not respond hatefully in return.

Fortunately for me, it's not their opinion of me that matters. It's God's opinion that I care about. He knows that despite my divorce, I'm the same Christian woman who loves Him and needs His gentle care to heal the wounds of persecution when it exists. O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalm 7:1

Since this is an example of the positive influence God has made on my overeating, this may not reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse.

Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life

Bible Study: Relating the Bible to YOUR Life!

Types of Christians

A Christian Caregiver


Making Sure My Head Is Screwed on Straight...

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Colossians, Chapter 2, verses 6-8.

As a Christian, it’s very important for me to make sure my head is screwed on straight. There are times, when some will ask me about my weight loss. I have a difficult time trying to get people to realize that the 80+ pound weight loss only happened, because I started turning my life, my food, and my stress over to God’s very capable hands.

Instead, they minimize what I have said about the miracle God has done in my life. They try to give all the credit to me for the weight loss. I know they may be well intentioned, but they are wrong! It  wasn’t until the day that I prayed, telling God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He’d have to take care of it, because I couldn’t.  It was that very same day that the compulsion for excess amounts of food left me. Foods that I used to love didn’t appeal to me anymore. It wasn’t until I turned my food, my eating, and my stress over to God’s very capable hands that He took over my weight problem.

 I can’t take credit for it, so it’s very important to have my head screwed on straight, so that I don’t let people’s compliments go to my head. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have  taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  Colossians, Chapter 2: 6-8.

Is My Focus on Christ or on Food?

How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Hebrews, Chapter 9, verse 14.

What exactly are dead works anyway? It’s probably different things to different people. This is what comes to mind. Is my focus on my food, my weight, and what I will look like and feel like when I’m at the size I’d like to be?

Is my focus on my clothes, my hair, and those of my children, so that we fit in with the Joneses? Am I more worried about what the Joneses think about me than what God thinks of me?

Am I constantly apologizing to others for falling short of their opinion of me rather than focusing on whether I am living the life that Christ would want of me?

I could write this to make myself sound self-righteous, but in all honesty, I really have fallen prey to each and every one of the things that I’ve mentioned here. In my opinion, God doesn’t care a hill of beans about worldly things of this nature other than they have the potential for Satan to work a subtle wedge in our relationship with Christ.


 My thoughts, attitude, and focus need to be more attuned to the life God wants for me. Being human, I can’t do this alone, but God in His infinite mercy can if I ask Him.  How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?  Hebrews, Chapter 9, verse 14.

What Does God’s Grace Have to Do with Buffets?

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves unto God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace?  God forbid!  Romans, Chapter 6, verses 13-15.

Since God’s blessed me by taking away my excess weight several times when I’ve turned my life, my eating, and my stress over to His very capable hands, maybe I can enjoy buffets more. Well, I don’t think God wants me to take advantage of His good nature.

Through God’s grace alone, He had me loose over 80 pounds 30+ years ago, but that was for His glory, not for me to push my boundaries to see just how much food I can cram into my body before I lose this special blessing. I’ve come close a couple of times when I became sloppy with my eating program and my relationship with God.

Although I don’t want to gain all the weight back, it isn’t what I am primarily concerned with. When I started turning my life, my eating, and stress over to God, He gave me this sense of peace that defies all description. I know that whatever happens in my life, God is right there and will get me through those difficult situations. He has provided a calm in my life that never existed before and it’s something I don’t want to ever lose.

Although I enjoy the selection at buffets,  my going hog-wild is not worth what’s at risk…my personal relationship with Christ. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves unto God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the Law, but under grace?  God forbid!  Romans, Chapter 6, verses 13-15.

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