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/

Letting Those Spiteful Feelings Eat at Me...

James 19: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Now that I was thin, I had a right to be angry with those who were rude to me when I was heavy...or did I? I thought that after all the smirks, all the times of being ignored, all the times of standing alone in a crowd of people, I was certainly justified in my anger of those involved.

Maybe it's understandable, but it's definitely not justified. It's sad the way I let that anger build up all those years that I was overweight. In my opinion, anger erodes at the positive nature that God has within us. It eats at us and fills us with negative, spiteful feelings. I was no longer overeating, but I was letting those spiteful feelings eat at me.

I was finally thin. You would think I would be happier, but I wasn't. It seemed that I had a chip on my shoulders and anger was smouldering inside of me. Once I realized the role that anger was playing in my life, I could turn it over to God's capable and healing hands. Of course, that invovled forgiving those who had not been sensitive to me when I was heavy, but God can give us a forgiving nature, when we let Him. James 19: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Talking About My Boss Behind His Back-

Hebrews 10: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Somehow, when having been overweight for so many years, I think I felt better when I could put other people down. It's not that I did this often, but I still was party to talking about others behind their backs, at times.

This one time, it caught up with me! I was talking to a fellow teacher after school about something or other. During the conversation, I made a negative comment about the principal. As I elaborated on this, I looked at the doorway, lo and behold, it was the principal!!! I never did know if he heard the negative things I was saying, but I knew. God let me know that I wasn't being a good example of how He works in my life.

It's sad that we feel compelled to do things to belittle others to bolster our sagging self-esteem. Fortunately for me, God has healed this and He forgives me, although Satan still tries to sneak in and work this subtle wedge in my relationship with God, at times. Hebrews 10: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I Was Saddened to Admit This At My Brother's Funeral

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 5:20

When I was young and was in charge of my siblings while my parents were on an errand, I took advantage of my younger brother. I talked my little brother into getting all the money out of his piggy bank, so we could all go to the movies. Since he was the youngest and the only grandson, he had quite a bit saved in his piggy bank. He would have never thought of this, because he was still too young and innocent and I took advanatage of that, I'm not proud to say.

My generous little brother paid his way into the movies, as well as, my sister's and my way. On top of that, I encourgaged my brother to pay for all our snacks at the movies. The overeater that I am had a wonderful time. I got to try all the candy bars I couldn't usually afford. I ate myself silly.

Of course, there were consequences when we got home, but the most serious consequence is how this situation has impacted my soul. It hurts my soul that I took advantage of my younger brother for worldly things like a movie and candy. It hurts my soul that I would take advantage of him when he was so innocent and trusting. It hurt my soul when I shared this after his funeral, as well. Although I could rationalize that I'm human and it was a childish prank, my actions weren't showing my love for my brother or for God. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1 John 5:20

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.

A Little Difficult Giving My Prayer Structure Over to God...

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalms 5:3

Daily prayer is one of the most important parts of my recovery from overeating, because it was God who has freed me from my excessive overeating. I used to say my prayers in the evening, but fell asleep, at times, before I finished my prayers. Praying in the morning worked best for me.

I was praying for so many people and different issues, I was afraid I might forget to pray for someone or their specific needs. I ended up making a list of people and specific needs to use each morning as I prayed. This felt like it worked for some time as I mindlessly rattled through my prayers. Every time I would remember the Bible verse that says not to pray with vain repetitions, I would struggle with what I was doing. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Matthew 6:7

Finally, after several years, God changed this for me. Always trying to be in control, it was a little difficult for me to give my prayer structure over to God, but it has been the most freeing experience. Now, my prayers are vague, not very specific, but give me a closeness with God that defies explanation.

I start by acknowledging that God knows our each and every need before we even know they exist. I tell Him that He knows all the family, friends, and people I'm praying for and their specific needs and I trust Him to take care of these as is His will. I ask God to have us all come to have a life long positive relationship with him. Additionally, I pray about healing all our vices. (I used to try to list many of these vices in my other prayer, but God knows what they are.) I ask God to help us turn to Him instead of things and to have the prayer life that He wants for us. Finally, I ask God to take care of all these things in whatever way is His will in Jesus name. Amen. (This, too, could become a structure. I wanted you to know that this is just an example, because I vary my prayers each day, now.)

This was very difficult for me, at first. Trying to be in control of things in my life, I wanted to ask for specific things to happen in the exact way I asked for them. Leaving my prayer vague, leaving my prayer not structured, although unnerving, at first, has proven to be something that makes me feel my Lord's healing touch on all aspects of my life even more than before. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalms 5:3

Green Apples, Selfishness and Shame...

John 12: 4 Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

This is one of the more difficult posts for me to write. The thing is, if I'm not honest with you, then I'm not being open to doing what God wants of me. Oh, well...I hate admitting this, but here goes...

I saw my young daughter leave the kitchen laden with something green in her arms and dash out the front door. I ran after her as fast as my heavy legs would allow. I abruptly opened the door and demanded that my daughter tell what she was doing. She innocently told me that she had gotten some apples for her friends to snack on. I told her that she needed to bring them back, because those apples were for the family.

The thing is, they weren't. Those apples were my favorites and they were really for me. I had deprived my daughter of the gift of sharing with her friends. I had taken that away from her, because I was hoarding the green apples for myself! I feel so ashamed over this and wish there were some way I could rewind things and do them differently, but this is Real Life and you can't do that.

This was one of the lowest points of my overeating. There was a period prior to God allowing me to lose the 80+ pounds that He had me see my life, almost as if it were in slow motion. During that time, God showed me the control that food had on my life. He showed me how I let the food and being overweight affect the relationships with my family, my friends, and with God. I was turning to food when I was stressed instead of turning to God.

Once I finally turned the food, body, eating, and control over to God, He took all of that away from me and allowed the weight loss over 30 years ago. He has blessed my life in ways that go far beyond the actual weight loss. I don't want to ever go back to that selfish person that I was. John 12: 4 Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

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 verses.

I Used to be Taken Advantage of, Somewhat Frequently

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:28

There was a time when I was at my heaviest, where I used to be taken advantage of, somewhat frequently. People asked me to watch their kids, do favors for them, cover for them when they had a duty they couldn't perform, etc.

Now, there's nothing really wrong with doing any of these things. It just depends on the intent of the people making the request. When people are asking you to do these favors, but would never consider offering to do them for you, it's a red light. Did they think that because I was heavy, they could take advantage of me? Did I think that if I did these things for people, they would ignore that I was heavy and would like me despite my weight? I'm not truly sure.

When I started realizing that this had become a somewhat regular pattern in my life, I was angry and resentful at all who had taken advantage of me. Then, someone shared, "In order for someone to walk all over you, you have to lay down first." It took me lots of time to ponder this prayerfully. Did I lay down like a mat and let people walk all over me? Did I encourage that type of behavior from other people in order to have a semblance of friends?

When God had me realize that it was my behavior that allowed and sometimes even encouraged this to happen, I had to turn my poor self-esteem over to God for an overhaul. After seeing my part in all of this, I was more apt to be able to forgive others, and to let God heal my struggling self-esteem. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:28

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.

I'm Going to Make a Plan B...

 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:9

There have been times when I'm worried about something totally out of my control. I eat myself silly as I try to figure out all the possible scenarios. If I do this, then that will happen. If I do that, then this will happen.

I'm not really sure why I go through all of this, because no matter what I do, there really isn't much I can do about it to start with. If I were truly turning to God like I should, He would show me that, or maybe He does, but I'm not listening. Maybe, I'm still trying to control the situation.

It isn't worth the extra weight and sleepless nights I spend worrying about things. Many years ago, the thought was in my mind that any time that I'm worrying, I'm not trusting God to take care of me. It's like I'm saying to God, "Sure, God, I want you to resolve these issues, but just in case You don't pull through for me, I'm going to make a Plan B."

When I truly turn these issues over to God, I don't feel compelled to eat huge portions of food that don't cure the anxiety in my stomach. Additionally, I have peaceful nights where I sleep unburdened by my concerns, because I'm trusting God to take care of things, so I no longer need to come up with a Plan B.   I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:9


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.

Not Focused on Belongings...

And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12: 15

I have heard so much lately about Zen strategies for simplifying your life. I don't think Christians realize that Zen is really a part of Zen Buddhism. They might not also realize that God says to us through the Bible: And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.  Exodus, Chapter 23:13. This does not lead me to believe that God would appreciate us using Zen strategies to simply our lives rather than turning to Him.

Well, keeping our lives simple, stress free, not focused on belongings, doesn't only have to do with Zen, although there are many who would try to convince you otherwise. It says in the Bible that we aren't supposed to focus on the abundance of things we own, thus simplifying our lives. Additionally, there are many Christian authors and bloggers who talk about a Christian approach to simplifying our lives.

What does that mean? We no longer have to keep up with the Joneses. We no longer have to have name brand clothing. We no longer have to have the show-off car. We no longer have to have the most trendy technology, especially when we have perfectly good computers, telephones, etc. at home. We no longer have to go to the trendy exercise gyms to show others that we are really trying to lose our weight. We no longer have to have our hair styled by the best stylists, because everyone else does.

So, what do we do with this extra time that we have now that we aren't focused around wanting and getting things? We have time to be thankful to a very generous and forgiving Heavenly Father, who loves us in spite of all our things, but knows our lives would be more stress free without them. And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12: 15.

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