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 Sugar Snuck Up and Had a Hold of Me By the Throat

1 Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Having Hypoglycemia, I have had many bouts dealing with the effects of sugar on my life, my behavior, and my relationship with others. That's why I go to great lengths to stay away from it, especially things like ice cream which seems to affect me more so than some other things. I don't have a problem from eating fruit, though.

My husband and I went to a cultural presentation at our library on South Korea, since we had visited the country a year and a half ago. They had all types of things to sample. Well, I tried to be wise about it, but I was fooling myself.

I took little bites out of some of the treats, just to see what they were like and gave the rest to my husband to eat. There was this little package of thin South Korean sesame seed crackers. They tasted like Coconut Macaroons, but looked like normal seeded snack crackers. In that they were yummy, I ate about ten of them (the first mistake) and gave the rest to my husband.

The next day, I came home from the grocery store, frantically flitting from one household chore to another. Now, I am apt to normally flit, but there was this level of intensity about it that I don't usually have. Fortunately, my dad noticed and asked me to play a game of dominoes with him. It helped some, but I was up and about doing various things every time we finished a game.

That evening, I frantically got my grandchildren ready to go home and was snippish with their mother over who knows what. She could tell I was acting differently and tried to talk to me about it, but I didn't seem to think anything was the matter. Later, after they went home, I realized my actions were similar to when I used to eat sweets. I tried and tried to think where I had gotten sugar, because I hadn't eaten any obvious sweets, or so I thought. After prayerful soul searching, I remembered those tasty coconut tasting crackers and realized they must have been coated with sugar. I have to watch the little things that can get hold of me by the throat.  1 Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

How Many Times Have I Turned to Food First?

And He [God] humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3

I don't think I could venture to tell you how many million times I have turned to food first to comfort me before turning to Christ. What a waste of time and self-loathing that was. Food can't heal my aching soul, but Jesus can. Food can't let me know that everything is going to be OK if I just kept eating, but Jesus can let me know He will get me through everything good and bad. It can't provide for my needs, take away my fears, but Jesus can! 

I remember reading about a bumper sticker one time that left a big impression on me. It said: Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting a Different Result. Well, that's pretty much what I was doing all those years when I kept turning to food instead of to Christ in times of stress, etc.

Now, that I know the error of my ways, do I turn to Christ first in times of stress, etc? Good question. If I'm being really honest with you, I'd have to tell you no, but more often than I used to. It seems that when I'm starting to down a bag of tortilla chips it will dawn on me that I must have something stressing me and that I need to go someplace quiet to be prayerful about it.  It's two steps forward-one back, but God is holding my hand and leading me through it. And He [God] humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3 

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.

Click on Links to Other Blogs I Felt Led to Create:

Humble Pie

And He [God] humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3

Humble Pie is what comes to mind when I read this passage just now. All those times when finances were tight over the years and I had to use powdered milk for the kids to make it until payday, God was teaching me lessons, but did I listen? Probably not!

I would get frantic trying to figure out the budget, recalculating frequently to make sure there would be enough money to pay our bills and buy food. When I was doing all of this, I wasn't trusting God to provide, even though I thought I was. I was more worried about the food instead of turning my financial concerns over to God's very capable hands.

I lost my true focus and couldn't hear the lessons God was showing me about His providing for our needs. Now, I feel truly humbled and am very thankful that God didn't give up on me for ignoring the lessons He continued to show me. He didn't give up on me even when I gave up on myself.

One of the meanings of Humble Pie is apologizing when in an embarrassing situation. Although God could have embarrassed me, He never did, although society certainly did their share. I'm so sorry that I turned to my calculations instead of turning to my Heavenly Father when I should have turned to Him first and foremost. And He [God] humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Deuteronomy 8:3

God Evened Out the Playing Field

And the children of Israel did so, and gathered [manna-bread from God for the Israelites], some more some less. And when they did mete it with an omer [unit of measure], he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. Exodus 16:17-18 

This passage may not seem significant to most overeaters, but it is to me, since I try to apply the Bible passages to my life whenever possible. The Israelites were supposed to collect an omer of manna for each member in their family. But there were some like me, who are fearful about running out of food, and tried to collect more than the allotted omer of manna.

Fortunately, God sees through us Sneaky Christians, and evened out the playing field. In His miraculous way, God made it so that those who tried to sneak more manna, ended up with the exact amount they were really supposed to take. Those who had smaller appetites and gathered less than the required amount ended up with exactly what they needed. No one had over what they should have had and no one had less.

Another thing that amazes me is that God knew what the Sneaky Christians had done. He didn't embarrass them in front of their peers like kids would have done if you took two cookies at school when everyone was only supposed to take one. Fortunately for me, God sees through my weaknesses and moves me to be open to the changes He wants in my life. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered [manna-bread from God for the Israelites], some more some less. And when they did mete it with an omer [unit of measure], he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. Exodus 16:17-18 

Am I Sharing Food the Way That God Would Want?

He [God] doth  execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Deuteronomy 10:18

If God goes to such great lengths to protect the fatherless, widows, and strangers of this world, you would think that I would be a little more willing to part with some of the food I have. But this is food we are talking about. FOOD! Sharing food doesn't always come easy to me.

Sure, I do my token thing with going through the food items I have, seeing which things we aren't using and donate those, but am I really sharing food the way that God would want? I think I've become an Hoarding Christian only sharing with others out of the excesses, not out of my need.

It's like when Jesus drew his disciples attention to the widow who gave two mites which were her whole living. These were much more significant than the rich people who were giving large sums of money out of their excess. I'm trying to be more mindful of this with financial donations, but am I hoarding food and only giving others what I don't want? I need to apply this Bible verse to all aspects of my giving, not just monetarily. He [God] doth  execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Deuteronomy 10:18

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.

These Are Other Blogs I Felt Led to Write:

 Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life

Bible Study: Relating the Bible to YOUR Life!

Types of Christians

A Christian Caregiver


God Used Negative Experiences to Work a Miracle in My Life

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 is really when Joseph's dad, Jacob, died and his  brothers are afraid that he will be vengeful for having sold him as a youth. Joseph tell his brother that even though they meant him evil, God used that situation to His good, because God used Joseph to save the Israelites from famine.

As many of you know, I try to be open to ways to apply what I read in the Bible to my daily life. This verse reminds me of all those years I felt so terrible about my excess weight and it's effects on my sagging-esteem. Little did I know that God would use these negative experiences to work a miracle in my life to share with readers of this blog.

Hopefully, the insights that God has shown me in my life related to my overeating and my faith walk are used for God's purposes to bring about 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

Food Used to Call All the Shots in My Life

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. Deuteronomy 8:10

As a Christian Overeater, I apply this passage to my life in a somewhat different way. In the past, I used to eat and still feel hungry. That is because I turned to food to heal my aching soul in times of stress. Once I started putting those stressful feelings into God's very capable hands, I was able to eat a normal amount and feel satisfied/full.

It might not seem like a significant thing to most, but it was a major miracle in my life. Food used to call all the shots in my life. I spent most of my time figuring out what I was going to eat and when, whether it was splurge food or diet food. I became possessive and cranky over food and it's negative effects on my body and self-esteem.

Since Christ has taken over, and food is not the primary focus in my life any more, it no longer calls all the shots in my life. I pray that God does and that I'm open to His direction. So, for me, it is a real blessing to eat a normal amount and feel full. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. Deuteronomy 8:10

The Well of Water

Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. Genesis 21:18-19

When Sarah had delivered Isaac, she sent her servant, Hagar and her son, Ishmael, away.( It's my opinion that Hagar was a constant reminder of the child that Abraham and she had earlier before Sarah was able to conceive.)

Anyway, this passage tugged on my heart when I recently read it. Hagar was ready to give up and figured they were going to die in the barren desert alone, but she wasn't alone. I was thinking about how the well of water was there all the time, but Hagar couldn't see it until God opened her eyes.

Sometimes, I'm a Stumbling in the Dark Christian. There have been times when I've been overwhelmed by situations and felt so alone, and ate to console myself. Then, God opened my eyes, for me to see that He was right there taking care of me and my loved ones. I just needed to put our lives in God's capable hands instead of turning to food or other vices. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. Genesis 21:18-19

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Links to Other Blogs I Felt Led to Create Below: