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 Want to Be the One to Comfort Others, but I’m Not…

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: John 15:26

FYI: This verse is really talking about when the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father, He will testify of Jesus.

I don’t know why, but most of my life, I feel like I should be able to say something significant to others in times of hardship that will comfort them. I feel like when there’s been a death in someone’s family, I should know exactly what to say to ease their burden. When someone has separated from their spouse, I should know exactly what to say to ease their burden. When someone has lost their job, I feel I should know exactly what to say to ease their burden, but I don’t!!!

Now, I have tried to say comforting things in times of distress, only to realize that it just made things more awkward or it made their pain seem less significant. That definitely wasn't my goal. I’ve read articles that say that I’m not supposed to tell those who are grieving that I know how they feel, because it minimizes their personal pain. I have read articles that say that I shouldn’t point out the light at the end of the tunnel, because they aren't at a point where they can see it.

There have been many times over the years, when I ate myself silly for not knowing how to deal with my inadequacies. I am at a loss. Why do I put this burden on myself? Why do I expect myself to come up with the perfect thing to say that is going to turn their grief and misery around?  Am I trying to play God? Boy, this post is really hitting close to home. Ouch!

Am I trying to be the comforter, when there’s only one Comforter who can heal their pain or show them the light? I am realizing that I have to let go of this desire. I just need to work harder at listening to their pain, instead of trying to find the answers to cure it. I need to let them know the real Comforter will get them through this if they only let Him. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: John 15:26
Since I am applying these Bible Verses to my life, it may not convey the whole meaning of the verses. Debbie

Forgiving Myself for Mistakes…

Mark 11: 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

I was in church yesterday. I took the communion bread and started to put it in my mouth without first dipping it in the cup. I was so embarrassed. It was awkward for me and I didn’t know what to do. After I kneeled to pray, I was focusing on my mistake. When the minister was saying a prayer, I was focusing on my mistake. When they were singing, I was focusing on my mistake.

I was beating myself up for making this mistake, long after God had forgiven me. Why do I beat myself up so, expecting myself to be perfect? God doesn't do this to me or expect this of me. He only expects me to love Jesus Christ as my Savior with my heart, mind, and soul. God knows I’m human, but do I?

At a point, while I was in the pew oblivious to what was going on around me, I realized that I was missing what God wanted me to hear. I was too busy kicking myself. I realized that whether I’m angry with myself for an error or about eating too much of something that was calling my name, I’m still a child of God and He loves me and forgives me. He gives me a better way than punishing myself. I don’t have to do that, because His Son, Jesus, did that for me on the cross. I don’t have to punish myself any more. I just have to turn my inadequacies over to God’s very capable hands and forgive my own trespasses. Mark 11: 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Letting Relationships Define Me…

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Although I’m married to a wonderful person, there was a time when I dated some who didn’t respect me. I went through times in my life, that I thought I wasn't whole if I wasn't in a relationship. I let having a relationship define me. It said that I was someone worth loving…or did it?

If I’m with someone who treats me in ways that make me feel terrible about myself, does that relationship still define me? Does it say that I am worthy of being blamed for all the person’s mistakes? Does it say that I deserve to be treated rudely? Does it say that I deserved to have my feelings hurt? Does it say that I should be put-down to the point that I don’t know who I am anymore?

There have been so many times through those years, where I felt worthless and consoled myself through food. When I got heavier and heavier, I felt I deserved it for not being able to make the other person happy. Was my having a relationship defining me, saying I was someone worth loving or was it saying that I didn’t love myself enough to be in a healthy relationship or none at all?

I can’t speak for anyone else, but God showed me what was right for me. I found that no relationship was better than one that makes me feel terrible about myself. No relationship was worth enduring constant put-downs and rude remarks. No relationship was worth feeling so worthless that I felt I deserved to be fat, because I felt like such a terrible person who deserved this treatment.

It took some time of turning my insecurities and my food over to God’s very capable hands, before I could heal. I am fortunate that God showed me that I shouldn't just run back into another relationship. I needed to heal and feel deserving of a healthy relationship, before I could have a relationship with someone else. I had to feel deserving of respect, and I needed to learn to love and respect myself, before I could be open to a healthy relationship where my husband respected me. Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. 

Not for the Attention of Others…

Matthew 6: 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Christ has had this passage come back into my mind so many times. Struggling for so many years with a sagging self-esteem to go along with my overweight body, I did everything I could to please others. I longed for what I call the “Good Debbie’s.”

I would do nice things for people, sometimes above and beyond what would be expected, because I derived some self-worth when people would complement me. (Good Debbie’s)  When Christ showed me how I was turning to food and to others for attention, I struggled with how to meet the needs of my struggling self-esteem.

At first, I started doing the “Good Debbie’s” for God. This post is really beneficial for me, because I just realized that I had been doing that. I tried to draw God’s attention to what I was trying to do for Him, but that’s not what He wants of me. God wants me to humbly pray to Him in private, not expecting anything in return.

The more I genuinely turned to Christ; I was blessed by God’s healing my self-esteem. I didn’t have to do monumental things for Christ to get His attention. He already loved me enough to give His life for me. Matthew 6: 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray unto thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

Does Your Faith in Christ Promise You a Thin Body?

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

At times, I wonder if people think from my blog posts, that they are entitled to a thin body, because they are Christians, too. In my opinion, that’s not what this passage is saying. I think some so-called Christians feel that God is there to give them everything they want: good jobs, big houses, fast cars, perfect bodies and lots of money.

Unfortunately, there really are people who believe this. They mistakenly take passages like this out of context. They feel that if they have faith in God, He will reward them with whatever they ask of Him. They miss the point that THE REWARD for our faith is our SALVATION in heaven with Jesus. They are looking for earthly rewards, not heavenly ones.

I realize that can be confusing, because God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and He has kept the vast majority of the weight off throughout that time. It’s not something I was promised for following Christ. It happened because Christ showed me that when I turned my stress, food, and body over into His very capable hands, I no longer had need to turn to food for comfort. That was an added bonus, because my real reward is SALVATION in heaven with Jesus. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Standing Fast in the Lord Rather Than Fantacizing Over What I’m Going to Eat Next …

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

You would think after having been blessed with an 80+ pound weight loss over 30 years ago, I wouldn't lose my focus on the Lord. Sinful human being that I am, I get caught up in my own world, concerns, etc. and find myself becoming sloppy with my relationship with Christ, which inevitably affects my eating and my body.

When I am turning to Christ in situations of stress, I don’t need great amounts of food to heal my aching heart and self-esteem. He heals and comforts me, despite the trials and tribulations of life. When I find myself starting to fantasize about what I’m going to eat next, I have to re-evaluate my focus. Am I turning to Christ in times of stress or am I starting to focus on food again? Fortunately for me, God brings me to this realization, so that I can stand fast and not drift too far away. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

Striving for That Full Feeling...

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

For so many years I longed to feel full, especially when I was stressed. I would have this gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach, like I hadn’t eaten for weeks. I would eat something, but that gnawing feeling was still there. I would figure that I was so hungry. I just needed to eat something else and that let to something else.

When all was said and done, my stomach was nauseated, but that gnawing feeling was still there. It was years later, I was to learn that the gnawing feeling was how my stomach felt when I was under stress. All those years, I turned to food to deal with my feelings of stress rather than turn to God with it. After I finally listened to what God was showing me, I started finding out that He can take my stress and my gnawing feeling away.

I’ve learned that I need to be filled with the fullness of God rather than food to heal the stress in my life. Do I always do that? I wish I could tell you that I do, but when I find myself reverting back to trying to fill that gnawing feeling with food, God reminds me that it is He who can heal my stress and fill me. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Trying to Wheedle God

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

I was just putting a little one to bed, as he begged if he could have this additional toy in bed, just this once. As I was thinking about how he tried to talk me into bending the bedtime toy rules, it dawned on me that I do something quite similar with God in my prayers.

I will see some food that I want and I find myself praying, “Couldn't I have this, God, just this once?” Well, God has shown me which foods sustain my body and keep it healthy and which ones negatively affect me. I’m hypoglycemic, so anything with sugar isn't good for me, although fruits don’t have that same negative impact on my blood sugar.

I’m glad that God is looking after my welfare. Of course, I have choices in this, but I’ve learned the hard way, I’m better off if I don’t take that first bite. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

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