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/

The Effects of Sugar on My Temperament…

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Yesterday, I found myself being impatient with others several times during the afternoon. It seemed like the afternoon was dragging on, as well as my lack of patience. When thinking of it later, I was trying to be prayerful about why I was so edgy. I’m not usually like that.

Then, it dawned on me. We had a big family meal a couple of days earlier and I had made some sweet potatoes with brown sugar, etc., which is the next best thing to eating dessert, although I always rationalize it in my own mind. I did limit myself to one serving of the sweet potatoes each day, but when I’m being honest with myself the way God wants, each of those servings was equal to about three.

Since I’m hypoglycemic, I don’t handle sugar well. It makes me irritable, so it’s no wonder I was impatient that afternoon, although I was finding many other things besides the sweet potatoes to blame it on.

Fortunately for me, God shows me when I’ve let things, like sugary sweet potatoes, etc. to work a wedge in my relationship with God, my family and others. Once I turned these feelings over into God’s capable hands, these impatient feelings left me. Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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

Not Just Christian When the Price is Right

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20

We live in an area that was hit pretty badly by baseball sized hail. We saw two contractors. One was someone local, who said that he would work with us, implying that if we used him that we might not have to pay any deductible that our insurance requires. He said that if we chose to pay the deductible, he would give us other upgrades to compensate for that.

Boy, my husband and I really liked the sound of not having to pay the $1,500 deductible that our insurance requires. To top that off, the guy was local and would be around to resolve any warranty issues with our roof, should it need it. We were almost sold on this contractor.

The other contractor we saw was the preferred provider who was recommended through our insurance company. Their business is within a 100 mile radius. Part of the terns of their being a preferred provider is they have the customer pay the deductible that the insurance company requires.

I was torn between the two companies and decided to take a walk around our neighborhood. As I walked, I looked at the roofs, styles, and colors of the neighborhood homes, while I prayerfully contemplated this moral dilemma. It would have been very easy for me to fudge on this one, just like I sometimes fudge on sweets that I know aren’t good for me. Just one little bite won’t hurt, just like $1,500 in my pocket won’t hurt.

The thought that was in my mind was that I was supposed to be Christian all the time, not just when the price is right. That made my mind up. I can’t say that I didn’t waver any. On the back side of my walking route, I started thinking that I could pay the local guy the deductible and talk him into giving us some upgrades that we had wanted done to our house. Again, the thought was in my mind that I’m not supposed to just be a Christian when the price is right.

I knew what I had to do. When I finished my walk, I talked with my husband about using the preferred contractor that the insurance company recommended. I knew that if I used the other contractor, I would be tempted to try to justify wiggling out of the deductible. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Wanting Immediate Gratification

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

I guess that I’ve always wanted immediate gratification. If I was hungry, I ate. If I was lonely, I ate. If I was worried, I ate. If I was celebrating, I ate. Food gave me some type of immediate gratification.

Now, that Christ has taken away my urges for great amounts of food by turning it and my stress, control, and life over into His very capable hands, my life seems so light. Things that would have seemed overwhelming-seem bearable, because I know Christ is going to get me through them.

This is a “high” that I can’t explain, but this verse explains it well. It’s like I feel the burden I’ve been concerned about lifted from my shoulders. Instead I feel the exhilaration of knowing that Christ has me on His very capable shoulders, lifting me above the worldly stresses in life, to be renewed by Him when the going gets rough. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Worried About Having Enough Food

 He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

When I read this verse, I was reading it with the mind of a person with compulsive overeating tendencies. It reminded me of the days when I was worried that I wouldn’t have enough food to eat or enough money to purchase the food needed for my family. In either case, I was stressed over having enough food.

If I were totally focusing on Christ, my Shepherd, I would have remembered that He would take care of my family and my needs. He would provide enough food for us, although not steak every night.

I’m ashamed to say, I wasn’t being a very good example of my faith when I spent so much time focused on food and having enough. I am very blessed that Jesus forgives my failings and leads me back into His flock. He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

The Advice of a Friend Fades…

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever.Isaiah 40:8
There have been times when I had a dilemma that I’ve turned to God and to my friends for advice. I regret the times that I disregarded the instincts that God gave me and clung to the advice of my friends.

What I forgot to focus on was that God always knows the Big Picture, but my friends have a very limited view of things from a worldly perspective. There was a time I wasn’t clearly aware of this. When God blessed me by allowing me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago, He showed me many lessons, primarily that He would take care of all my stress and concerns if I turned to Him instead of to food.

While I’m writing this, I realize that once that I stopped turning to food for consolation, I turned to my friends for this, instead. God isn’t wanting to fill the big whole in my aching self-esteem with another vice. He wants me to turn to Him in all things to heal me.

Not long ago, I found myself thinking of calling a friend with a concern that I had. Then, God reminded me that I don’t need to talk to a friend whose advice fades, but turn to my Savior who ultimately sees the Big Picture and knows what is best for me and my family. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8

I Tossed the Piece of Pie Away. Yeah!!!

Ephesians 4: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

It may not seem like any big deal to you, but it is to me. I had a small slice of pie sitting on the cupboard for two days, but nobody ate it. I don’t mind if everyone eats all the treats and I get none. What I do mind is throwing away treats that no one has chosen to eat. It’s times like those, I’ve fallen prey to the compulsive overeating urges that used to control my life over 30 years ago, before God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds.

That small piece of pie was calling my name. I tried to talk someone into eating it to no avail. After the pie was made, they enjoyed several pieces of the pie, but didn’t desire any more pieces. There are a few times I started to weaken. I felt that I should take a little nibble of the pie, before I tossed it. Fortunately for me, God reminded me of how one nibble would lead to another until there would be nothing left to toss. He knows about my very human nature.

I turned the pie and my urges to nibble over to God’s very capable hands and tossed the piece of pie away. Yeah!!! This victory didn’t come from my willpower, it came from God’s taking that urge away from me and He can do it for you, too, if you ask Him.  Ephesians 4: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, but the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Do I Ask God to Heal My Heart?

1 Peter 2: 24 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Something I’ve been doing over the past couple of years is praying for God to heal the hearts of those who are frustrated, hurt, or angry over something. Every time I see these people at a later date, they seem to be much calmer and less frustrated, hurt, or angry.

Do I ask God to do the same for me? I’m not sure that I always do. I think it’s those times when food is calling my name when it usually wouldn’t have, I must have missed an opportunity to turn some frustration, hurt, or anger over to God’s very capable hands.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to turn things over to God. After I started nibbling on some remaining pie that stuck to the pie plate, I asked God to heal me and He did. 1 Peter 2: 24 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

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

Walking the Higher Road…

2 Corinthians 4: 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as e have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

I was recently in a public place where I crossed the path of someone who had previously been unkind to me, years ago. I could remember exactly what this person had done and how it caused me lots of stress. Did it cause me to want to eat over it? Not this time. Fortunately for me, God took care of my feelings and led me to walk the higher road.

It crossed my mind ever so briefly, to ignore that person for the rest of the time I was there, but God was there leading me on the better path. I noticed that she was going to be sitting all by herself, when God had the idea in my mind that I should ask her if she would like to come join us and she did.

Thinking of this episode later in amazement, I realized that God leads me in directions that I might not have gone, had He not intervened against my very human nature. Additionally, God gave me the thought that I need to focus on forgiving her for what she had done years ago. He doesn’t want me harboring negative feelings against anyone. It only eats at me and leads me to want to eat. 2 Corinthians 4: 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as e have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

When I Look in the Mirror, I See a Gimme Gimme Christian

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9

Christ has given His life for me, but what do I do in return? Upon contemplation when I try to look at my actions clearly, as if looking in a mirror, I find that I am a Gimme Gimme Christian, more than I’d like to admit

I start my prayers asking God to take care of my food, body, eating and stress. Next I ask Him to take care of this and to take care of that. I ask Him to do this and to do that. I want His guidance with this and with that. I want Him to heal this and to heal that. I ask Him to heal this person and to heal that person. Finally, I ask God to take care of my prayer and my relationship with Him.

When being realistic about what I’ve been doing, I am saddened to think that I am putting all my worldly desires first, before I even address what is most important, my relationship with Christ. I can't describe how that makes me feel. He who gave of so much to free me of my sins, is the last on my prayer list.

This just won’t do. I wish I could tell you that I am consistently putting Christ first in my life. Unfortunately, it still is an afterthought more often than not, but there is some improvement. Fortunately for me, Christ is patient and helps move me to be the Christian He wants me to be. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9


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.

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Sticking Your Head in the Sand Syndrome

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3: 26

Recently, someone I know had a problem that seemed unsurmountable, at the time. Since I’m a solution oriented person, I brainstormed about 4 or 5 different possibilities to solve this problem for them. The person didn’t want me fretting about the problem and wanted to watch TV instead.

I felt frustrated that this person watched TV rather than take an active stand in solving the problem. I figured this person was sticking their head in the sand to avoid dealing with the problem. Several days later, some events happened out of the blue, that solved their problem. It happened so perfectly, I knew that God had taken care of everything!

This was an eye-opener for me. I thought the person was avoiding the problem, but since God intervened so perfectly, I realized that what I was seeing was someone who was showing faith that God would take care of the problem instead of fretting over it like I was.

You would think this would have dawned on me a lot earlier than it did. It was God who took care of one of my biggest problems over 30 years ago when He allowed me to lose 80+ pounds. I trust Him to continue to take care of my food, body, stress, and eating each and every day, but did I apply this to someone else’s problems? No, I’m sad to say. Instead of being a good example, encouraging this person to turn to God in prayer, trusting Him to take care of the problem, I was brainstorming ways to rectify the problem. I am so thankful that God reminds me of how He works in our lives when I start to stray. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3: 26

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