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/

God Turned It Around for Good...

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20

This passage is when Joseph was talking to his brothers after his father, Jacob/Israel, had died. They had been jealous of the coat of many colors his father made for Joseph and had sold him as a slave into Egypt. In addition to being taken away from his father and family, Joseph was wrongly accused of a crime and spent years in a prison.  Later, when his brothers are asking his forgiveness, he tells them that God turned all these terrible things around for good-to save the 12 tribes of Israel from famine.

There are things that have happened in my past that I have fretted over, shed tears over, and eaten over, but no more. God has shown me that He can take these negative things that happen to us to turn it around for His good. Maybe it's being there at the perfect time to lend support for someone else who has gone through something similar. Maybe it's to be an example to others of your faith and turning these issues over to God. Maybe it's to start a charity, to make a difference, to do whatever is God's will in your life!

I have found that if a certain negative event hadn't happened in my life, this totally other positive event wouldn't have ever been possible. The negative events, especially those we wished we had never had to experience, don't have to continue to cause us pain. We can turn that pain over to God rather than continuing to fret, cry, or eat over them. God can heal us and make us the person He wants us to be, doing His will in spite of the negative things that have happened to us.

Now, when I have negative things happen, it helps me remember that God can turn things around and bring good out of what has happened. This comforts me and heals my aching heart in the midst of despair. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20

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.

I Want Jesus at My Side Not Food...

Luke 17: 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

I recently got some lab tests back where something was elevated. After doing enough research on the Internet to make my head spin, I was beside myself. I tried to adopt the healthy changes suggested on the Internet, while I await my next doctor’s visit. Every day, I kept finding myself wanting to nibble. I kept feeling like I needed something crunchy, especially nuts, which is the last thing I needed at the time.

Realizing some old patterns were sneaking back in, I tried to be prayerful about what was happening. Why was I craving foods? Why was I being hungry each day during times it normally wouldn't be an issue? Well, God, who is good about showing me my weaknesses when I let Him, is letting me know that I’m worried about the lab tests.

If I’m worried about this, that means that I’m not trusting God to take care of me, my health, and my needs. I’m reverting back to old patterns of turning to food in times of stress rather than praying for God to take care of me and my health regardless of the outcome.

Knowing that Christ can heal us and eating snack foods can’t, my turning to food isn’t very logical. Isn’t it funny the way that Satan can sneak in with something that can throw our faith for a loop without even realizing it? I have another doctor’s appointment and regardless of the outcome, although probably minor, I want Jesus at my side, not food. Luke 17: 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

Applying What God is Teaching Me…

Unto thee it was shown that thou mightest know that the LORD He is God, there is none else beside Him. Deuteronomy 4:35

After the recent post, Don’t Follow Me, Follow Jesus, God has been tugging on my heart in several different ways. I hate to say this, but the first thing that crossed my mind is: if I post this, people might stop following my blog. If I share that, how am I supposed to share the things that God’s led me to post? What is in my mind is to encourage people to sign in to get the posts through their email, CSS, etc.

Next, after I wasn’t as focused on the effects on the four blogs, I started realizing that this message wasn’t just for others; it was for me, as well. As I prayerfully contemplated what God was trying to teach me, I realized that I follow lots of blog, too. Am I being a follower of bloggers or a follower of Jesus?

I have to be prayerful about this one. I am going to need to go through the different blogs I follow and change it, so that I am signing up to get the posts through my email. Then, I need to figure out who exactly I’m following and unfollow them. I truly hope that no one is offended, but I figure that if God has this on my heart, then it’s significant. I also have to pay attention to whether the blogs I was following are really ones that lead me into deeper relationship with Christ or they were just done as a courtesy to other bloggers who followed my posts.

This feels like a big endeavor, that might have negative ramifications on my blogs, but Jesus didn’t say that giving His life for our salvation was too big an endeavor and it might have negative ramifications on His followers. He gave His life freely, so I need to be willing to do what He wants of me. Unto thee it was shown that thou mightest know that the LORD He is God, there is none else beside Him. Deuteronomy 4:35

Don’t Follow Me, Follow Jesus…

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. John 1:43

I’ve been thinking of Followers of blogs and related things lately. When I read this today, it seemed especially timely. It made me do a lot of soul searching, since I post on four different blogs I felt led to create.

I could see that it would be easy for people to be Followers of those that are famous, like movie stars, but Jesus saith unto us, Follow Me. It could be easy for people to be Followers of those that are rich, but Jesus saith unto us, Follow Me. It could be easy for people to be Followers of those who have status and have climbed up the corporate ladder, but Jesus saith unto us, Follow Me. It  could be easy for people to follow those who have overcome vices like overeating, drinking, drugs, etc., but Jesus saith unto us, Follow Me.

So, where do I fit in all of this? That’s a really good question that I’ve been prayerfully asking God, since my blogs say that there are a certain number of Followers on it. I feel the answer I’ve gotten relates to whether I’m leading others to Christ, so they can Follow Him, not me.  I think it depends whether I am showing how God in His infinite mercy has healed and continues to heal my vices, so that others Follow Jesus, and not me. Be prayerful about this and make sure that your focus is not on the rich, famous, successful, and those who have overcome their vices, but is on the Lord who will heal you from your vices and will provide for your needs, if you turn to Him. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me. John 1:43

Stuck in the Middle Again…

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 find myself torn again, but this time it’s different. I used to eat over things out of my control and I’ve started to realize that I probably ate over other people’s issues that were out of my control, as well. God is showing me that I don’t have to continue to be stuck in the middle again.

In one day, I was faced with other people’s rental issues, work issues, health issues, in-law/out-law issues, child issues, none of which were my own. In the past, I emotionally took on each of these issues. I stressed over them, prayed over them, and probably ate over them, as well.

God’s showing me that doesn’t have to be the case. I’m finding out that when I personally took on other people’s issues, I was, in fact, playing god. I thought that by brainstorming, stressing, and praying, it would make a change for the person I was concerned about. But I’m not God, and I was missing the boat all these years thinking I was a good friend, family member, and person for caring so much, but it added to my stress-load in the process.

The only thing that makes a difference is my prayers, because it’s not me who can make a change in their lives, ease the load, give them peace. It’s God and God alone who can do this. Fortunately, God has put me in my place and shown me I can be much more effective for those I care about if I pray more and stress less over their concerns. 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

Should I Pray to God Asking Him to Help Me?

Ephesians 2: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

I have been very blessed that Christ has allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and to keep the majority of it off. For years, I had been praying to God to help me lose the excess weight. At times I wonder why Christ had me lose the weight then.

At a point, Christ answered this question I kept pondering. All those years I was asking God to help me. It wasn't until I prayed, telling God that I gave up on trying to lose weight, and if He ever wanted me to be thin, He’d have to take care of it, because I couldn't!

Well, that was the key to the whole dilemma. At that point, when I gave up, I totally asked God to take care of my weight. I had never realized how significant this was. I can do nothing in and of myself. I used to get a big head thinking that if I only tried hard enough, I would lose the weight. I would lose a little and gain a lot back, but it never stayed off for any time.

It is my faith in Christ, not my faith in my ability to accomplish things that makes a difference. It isn't always easy remembering to ask for God to take care of things in whatever way is His will. I often revert back to asking God to help me with things. Fortunately, God brings this back to mind, so that I refocus on who I want to be in charge in my life. Ephesians 2: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

Do I Show Charity to Others?

1 Peter 4: 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

This has a whole different meaning for those of us who are compulsive about are eating, our weight, or our bodies. When we are or have been immersed in a vice that has consumed us, it should make us more sensitive to those in the world who suffer with other vices.

There was a time that I felt justified thinking, “At least I don’t _____ like they do. My eating doesn’t hurt anyone beside me.” Actually, that wasn't true. The person I became when I was compulsively eating affected my children, so it did hurt others. They saw me when my self-esteem sagged and had to put up with me when I was cranky because I wasn't happy with myself or anything else.

Fortunately for me, Christ took away my compulsive overeating. He bolstered my self-esteem, and reminds me that He is there for me when I get cranky. I’ve been truly blessed, but do I show charity to others? Am I patient and supportive of those who have vices whether they are similar or different from mine? Am I being the example of Christ’s unconditional love and acceptance to others?

Christ loved me even when I couldn't love myself. Am I doing the same for others? 1 Peter 4: 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

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.



Could a Bag of Chips Really be a False god?

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

There was a time when I didn’t know how food undermined my relationship with my family, my self-esteem, and my relationship with Christ. Now that I know, there are still times where I am tempted and find myself backsliding into the pits of food obsessions.

God went to great lengths to take my compulsive overeating away, allowing me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago and to keep the majority. During that time, Christ showed me many times that I had let food become too important in my life. When food was that important, it meant that Christ wasn’t, because at that point, it had become a false god to me.

Could a bag of chips really be a false god? It does when I let the desire for eating something crunchy consume me. I have this play on words in my head-my kind of humor. Was it that the desire for the chips was consuming me or that I was consuming the bag of chips?

Regardless, anytime anything has that control on our lives, pushing a wedge in our relationship with Christ, it becomes a sin, especially when you know it in advance. As I said earlier, there was a time I didn’t know that food had this effect on me, but then there was a time that I was aware of it. It’s when I know this and still choose to do it despite this knowledge, it’s a problem.

I don’t want to revert back to letting food be a false god in my life. I want to have my focus on Christ to heal me from my destructive tendencies, which He can if I let Him. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

Having Obsessed Over Food, This Passage Puts Me In My Place…

And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much [manna] had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. Exodus 16:18

You should really read the rest of this passage. It puts me in my place when I get worried that I’m going to run out of whatever food I think is important, at the time. When the Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land, God provided them with manna. He told them how much to collect each day, no more no less.

God always provided what was needed. The person, like me who was obsessed that they wouldn't have enough, and gathered too much, had exactly what was needed, no more. God showed them that they had no need to obsess over food and hoard it, in case of a shortage. He took care of their every need.

I need to apply this passage in my own life. Even though God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago, I still find myself getting caught up on obsessing over food. If there is a go-to food like: low fat cottage cheese and crushed pineapple in its own juice, I have to have plenty of it on hand, in case I should run out. I’m not sure I know why I do this, since I’ve been so blessed by God’s taking my compulsive overeating away.

I guess Satan is still trying to work with my weaknesses. I guess my having two or three containers of low fat cottage cheese and four or five cans of crushed pineapple in its own juice is really giving God a messages I am ashamed of. I’m afraid my actions are saying, “I don’t really trust You to continue to keep my weight off, although You've done it for over 30 years. Just in case You let me down, I’m going to have food stashed in my fridge to protect me should I be overwhelmed by an uncontrollable urge.” I would never, ever what to give God this impression. Oh, I have so much that I need to turn over to God’s very capable hands. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much [manna] had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. Exodus 16:18

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