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/

Am I Getting the Cold Shoulder or Is God Just Asking Me to Wait?

Luke 12: 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

There are so many times that I’ve heard people respond that God isn't listening to their prayers, because they didn’t get an immediate response to them. For one thing, as sinful human beings, myself included, we often ask for God to answer our prayers in a specific way. I have often found that the things we ask aren't always the best things for us, so God isn't always going to answer our prayers that way.

I used to ask God to make me friends with the popular kids. If God had answered my prayers in the way that I asked, I might have taken on some of the same lifestyle choices that the popular kids made. It may have had a negative impact on the rest of my life and who I am.

I asked God to make me thin, but He didn’t answer that prayer immediately. If I had become thin then, I might have missed many of the lessons God had for me about how I turned to food instead of turning to Him for comfort when I’m stressed. I wouldn't have found out how I let my food and eating interfere with my relationship with those that I love. I wouldn't have realized that I let my weight dictate my self-perception. All of these are lessons that I was so blessed to have received. I’m so glad that God didn’t answer my initial prayers in the way I had asked, because these lessons have helped me to become a better Christian, a better wife, a better parent, a better friend and a better person.

 I’ve asked God for a specific job, thinking that it was the ultimate job for me. It turned out that I didn’t get that job. I got a different one, at a later point, that was more in keeping with what was best for God’s plan for me. Looking back, God allowed me to inspire and to be inspired in this job which may not have happened in the original job I requested. God isn't giving us the cold shoulder when we don't get what we request immediately. Sometimes, He is asking us to wait, because He has a different plan for us.

I asked God to not let my grandfather die. He had suffered so much, but I didn’t think I could bear losing him. Later, God let me know that I was asking something that wasn't in God’s plan. If He had allowed my grandfather to live longer because I couldn't bear to part with him, it would have caused my grandfather to suffer longer.

Although I don’t understand God’s ultimate plan for me and my family, I want God to answer my prayers in the way that is His will for us, instead of giving me everything I ask for. If God never forgets the sparrows, I know that He knows all my needs and what is infinitely best for me and my family. Luke 12: 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

If It Weren't for My Fat, I Might Have Been Led Astray

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

If it weren't for my fat, I might have been led astray. Oh, really? Before, my focus was on food and the little comfort it gave me. I turned to food when I was sad, angry, happy, distressed, worried, lonely. You got it-I turned to food to comfort me.

I was turning to food, which meant I wasn't turning to God, although I said that I loved Him dearly. My actions didn’t reflect the love that I professed for Him. When I was focused on food instead of on God for my comfort, I was impatient with my family. I wasn't the role model I should have been for them. I complained a lot and blamed everything, for how badly I felt about myself.

Since Christ has shown me that I can turn my food, body, eating, control, and stress over into His very capable hands, I feel so relieved, like a huge boulder has been taken off of my shoulders. I am more patient with my family, and food and eating don’t have control over me anymore.

If I hadn’t been fat, I might have been oblivious to the miracles that God was doing in my life. It was when God took the desire for excess food and sweets away, I was able to see God’s hand in every aspect of my life, far beyond just losing the weight, although He took care of that, too.

I am just so thankful that when I start to slip back into old self-destructive eating patterns, Christ brings me back into the fold. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

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 In a Holding Pattern and Want Those Extra Pounds Off of Me!

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

My thin jeans didn’t fit today when I thought that they might. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a holding pattern, circling around the airport unable to land. I get impatient and want those extra pounds off of me! I don’t want to be reminded that it took time to put all that weight on, so that I shouldn't expect it to come off in short order.

What I find is that when I get impatient with God for not doing things on my time frame, I am slipping right back into control issues again. I’m trying to tell God what I want Him to do and when. That’s not the Christian I want to be. Maybe this is what He wants me to learn from this.

If I lost the last stubborn pounds too easily, I wouldn't realize the importance I am putting on the thin jeans, on my perception of myself in those jeans, or of expecting God to jump through hoops at my command. What am I thinking?

If all of this is true, and it must be if God’s showing me this, I have let the desire for worldly goals like body size, wearing particular jeans, etc. sneak into my thinking. I’m sure that Satan has to be happy with this. The enemy likes to work in very subtle ways to undermine the relationship a Christian has with Christ. How could I be so gullible to fall into those patterns again?

Fortunately for me, Christ draws my attention back to Him when I’m angry about things like being in a holding pattern. When it says to put on the whole armour of God, it doesn't mean a certain size or type of clothes. It means to be focused on Christ and trying to live as examples of His influence in our lives, so that we aren't vulnerable to the subtle wedge that Satan tries to put in our relationship with God. Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Sometimes I Backslide and Think I’ve Lost My Way

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. John 14:6

Many times, I slide back into my old destructive eating patterns, thinking food will calm my aching soul. I find myself slip-sliding in the wrong direction, being impatient with my family and things out of my control.

In the midst of my despair, I panic and feel like I’ve lost my way. Will Christ let me back into the fold? He had blessed me with the loss of 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and has kept the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. Will Christ forgive me yet another time when I’ve turned to comfort from food rather than turning to Him in my distress?

Then, fortunately Christ reminds me Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. John 14:6… and He takes me back one more time and He will you, too, if you just ask Him.

How to Beat the Addiction to Sugar and Unhealthy Foods

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15: 11

Do I really know how to beat the addiction to sugar and unhealthy foods? Do I have some great little gimmick to sell? Do I have a special eating plan that will solve everything? Do you need special pills or special shots for this?

The answer to this is a lot simpler than you might think. Over 30 years ago I told God that I gave up, after having spent the majority of my life on diets. I told Him that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He’d have to take care of it, because I couldn’t. You know what? Christ took care of that and so much more.

Christ took away my urge for sweets and unhealthy foods.  I didn’t do anything special. I just prayed to Him to heal my food, body, eating, control issues, and stress each day and continue to pray this before I attempt to eat anything.

Christ has taken the cravings for sweets and unhealthy foods away. He has taken my urge to eat mounds of food to heal my aching soul. God has shown me that no amount of food can do that. Only He can! He has shown me that when I’m turning to food when I’m stressed, excited, or worried instead of turning to Him, I’m making food a false god. That’s not what I want.

There are no gimmicks. All I had to do was to turn my life over into God’s very capable hands. Christ saved me from my self-destructive patterns and can do the same for you. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Acts 15: 11

Do I Let Worry Get the Best of Me?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6.

When God blessed me with the loss of 80+ pounds over 30 years ago, He showed me how important it was for me to turn my food, body, eating, control, and stress over to His very capable hands. Do I still put my stress in His hands now that He’s done all this for me? I hate to say that I still let worry get the best of me more often than not.

There are situations that are beyond my control. There are people I cannot help. So, what do I do? Do I turn them over to God’s very capable hands? More often than not, I do so on a minimal level, but allow myself to worry the rest of the time.

Does my letting worry get the best of me make me a very good role model for God? If they see me get stressed, allowing worry to make me tense, inpatient, and letting it affect my health, I’m not leading them in the path that Christ wants. I am not being the example of praying in faith, nothing wavering, because if I continue to worry about these things, it shows I am not truly trusting Christ to take care of these things in His timing, which is impeccable! If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6.

What Would I Get if I Won a Shopping Spree?

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew, Chapter 6:19-21.

This passage made me think of what I would select if I won a shopping spree in a super store. Would I fill my cart with all my favorite foods, since eating has been a major vice of mine over the years? Fortunately for me, God has taken the urge to eat unhealthy foods and large quantities of food from me. I’ve been very blessed.

Would I stop by and fill my cart with cosmetics to hide my wrinkles from the eyes of others? Fortunately for me, God loves me just the way I am, wrinkles and all. I have been very blessed!

Would I go fill my cart with trendy clothes, so others would be impressed by what I wear? Fortunately for me, God doesn’t care what I wear, as long as I am focused on Him as my Savior. I have been very blessed!

Would I run my cart up to the technology section and fill my cart with all the newest technology gadgets that everyone has been talking about? I would be the envy of many. Fortunately for me, I don’t need an iPhone, iPad, tablet, etc. to get in contact with Christ. I just have to pray and He hears me and provides for my family and my needs. I have been very blessed!

Although it isn’t trendy, would I consider going to the book section and filling my cart with Bibles for family members who might not have one? I have been truly blessed and I want them to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, as well. Sure they would rather have toys, technology gadgets, or clothes, but will those things lead them to salvation with Christ? I want them to be truly blessed with a close relationship with God, as well.  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew, Chapter 6:19-21.

Is My Stubbornness with My Husband Indicative of My Relationship with Christ?

Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

We had an ice storm last night and I didn’t want to go out, but my husband wanted to go out. I tried to let him know exactly how much I didn’t want to go out, but that I would only if he really wanted me to. Is that the same thing I’m doing with God?

I like to think my life is focused on my relationship with Christ, but I, all too often, tell Christ the same things I told my husband. God, I really don’t want to share my faith with this person. S/he probably won’t be open to hearing what I have to say anyway, but I will only if You really want me to.

Fortunately for me, Christ didn’t say, “Debbie wants me to take care of her food, body, eating, control issues, and stress. I don’t really want to do this, but only will if she really wants me to.” Christ didn’t put Himself and His needs first before everyone else. He willingly gave His life for us, but it doesn't look like I willingly do what He asks of me. I need to be more focused on the needs of Christ, my husband, and others in my family instead of being so self-focused and stubborn. Philippians 2: 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

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