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/

Where Are the Tail Lights Leading?

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27

When I just read this passage, I thought about how I drive behind trucks in the fog when I can't see. I follow their tail lights faithfully in hopes that they know where they are going. Well, I just got to thinking about whether other people follow the path of my feet in the same way that I followed the trucks. Am I sure that I'm not making choices that lead me to the right hand nor to the left, where others might make similar poor choices?

Well, for other Follow the Tail Lights Christians, I don't know if I can totally answer this question, but will prayerfully work through this trying to be open to the message that Christ has for me in this....Hmmmm.... I'm curious to see where this leads.

I hope that when I share with you that God has taken the urge to eat large amounts of food and sweets away from me, that I give God the total credit for it. I have not accomplished this through anything of myself. It didn't happen until one day when I gave up on ever being thin and told God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I couldn't. The amazing thing is, that very same day is when God took those urges away from me.

Do I continue to model this turning my food and stress over into God's very capable hands? Probably not, but hope that when I share the many times I become vulnerable to food again, it's an indicator that I'm usually feeling stressed, overwhelmed, etc. and need to turn these over to God. Once I do, the craving for these foods goes away. In fact, it's kind of like God's given me this warning alarm.  When I start grabbing something crunchy or start to eat a half bag of something like tortilla chips, it's and indicator that I'm turn to food as a false god again instead of turning to my Lord and Savior to save me from myself and the stress that eats at me. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27

Am I Playing the Odds?

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing but righteousness delivereth from death. proverbs 10:12

I think I'm a Playing My Odds Christian I feel there is a better chance in getting the final reward I want if my life is not focused on worldly, wicked, and counterproductive choices.

Does that mean that I lead a perfect life? No, or else I wouldn't struggle with keeping the last few pounds off all these years. Those few pounds are an indication that I make a false god of food thinking it can resolve the stress I feel, instead of immediately turning to the One True Lord and Savior and put all my stress and concerns in Christ's very capable hands.

I know that even though I'm not totally the example I know Christ wants me to be, He is patient and forgiving and continues to lead me in the right direction, as long as I'm willing to listen. Fortunately, He never gives up on me. Treasures of wickedness profit nothing but righteousness delivereth from death. proverbs 10:12

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.

So, When Is the End?

But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Mark 13:


It would be nice if I could answer that question for you, but I can't.  So, let's think about this statement from Jesus. If Jesus says that He doesn't know the exact time of the end, but only His heavenly Father does, should we trust others who profess to know when the end is?

Sure, I could eat myself silly in worry of the end, but that's counterproductive. Christ wants us to spend our lives focused on living as examples of our faith in Him and not be caught sleeping unaware when the end does arise.

Sure there are lots of signs in the Bible and some have come to pass, but will that lead particular people to be able to determine the end of the world? Again, if Christ doesn't know the exact time of the end, do you think our Creator, His Father, is going to let some person or group be privy to the exact end of the world if He didn't share it with Jesus?

I shy away from conversations about the latest predictions about when the end of the world is.  I feel they are counterproductive, as well.  Although each day the end is one day closer, Christ suggests we stay clear of people who predict the date of such things and focus on trying to live as examples of Christ's influence on our lives. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Mark 13:

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.

The Opinions of the Foolish

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

I've seen this to be true on so many levels. I've seen strong students paired with weak students, and after awhile, the strong students started taking on the negative attributes of the weak students. I've seen couples where one is basically sane and has good logic start to be suspicious in keeping with the spouse's paranoid views. I've been among a group of overeaters who rationalized their having calorie laden unhealthy meals followed by frivolous dessert options, because they deserved it!

What I've found that after awhile, the far-fetched opinions of the foolish start sounding logical after awhile. That doesn't mean a person has to eat gruel all the time and always do without, but our bodies thrive on a healthy balance.

I find that it's easier for me to stay on my food program when I am around others who won't be pushing food options on me or make me feel guilty for trying to eat in a healthy manner. I don't want to become a Foolish Christian swayed by the illogical thoughts of others. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

A Sarcastic Reply Isn't What God Wants of Me

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

You wouldn't believe how many times I've been a Sarcastic Christian. Well-meaning people have come up to me over the years, especially when I was grossly overweight and say something they think is helpful like: "Your clothes would fit better if you'd only use a little will power!" Well.... something about their well-meaning comments pulled my strings, because I would find myself responding with some type of sarcastic reply.

I don't that I was trying to be hurtful, but more to draw light to the fact that their well-meaning comment was less than supportive and felt very judgmental. Was I being the Christian example that Christ wants me to be of His positive influence in my life? Hardly not!

I've had to be prayerful about this one, especially when well-meaning people share little tidbits of wisdom that they feel will enlighten your life. I need to be gracious in my response the way Christ would want me to and not be antagonistic through a sarcastic response. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Embarrassed Because I Don't Know Enough, but Comment Anyway

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Proverbs 15:2

There are times where I let pride get in the way and I enter into conversations about which I know little about. Do I admit this to the people I'm with? No! I embarrassed and just fake my way through it trying to act as though I know exactly what they are talking about and have very pertinent things to add to the conversation, but I really don't.

Well, I think that I do this same thing with my faith. I become a Faking My Way Through It Christian trying to bluff my way through some Christian conversations that are far out of my league of understanding. Now, if we were talking about the negative effects of overeating on a person's self-esteem, it would be right down my alley, because I have first-hand experience with that.

You would think with reading the Bible from cover to cover so many times, I would be able to hold my own on these conversations. Unfortunately, people get into some heated discussions that are far out of the realm of what I've read in the Bible or the interpretations that God's given me on the passages as I've read. I have to be more open to being completely honest and sharing that I don't feel comfortable commenting on those topics until I've done more research on them. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. Proverbs 15:2

Delayed Gratification???

But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. And thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13-14

I never was good at delayed gratification. When I had a dime, I walked to The Creamery and bought two nickel cones. I had to have them now! When I earned some money, I bought candy and flaunted it in front of my siblings. It's interesting that my idea of gratification seems to revolve around food. Hmmmm!

I've had big dinners at my house, but focused on inviting my friends and family to share in the event with me. It makes me sad to think of how shallow I have been over the years.  I have thought more about what gives me pleasure than what gives God pleasure.

It would have been easy enough to invite someone who might not have been included in a holiday meal, someone who feels alone, someone who....  I don't really want to make these changes in my shallow life just so I get a reward in heaven.  I want to do it out of love for my Savior who gave His all for me and for them. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. And thou shalt be blessed for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13-14

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

Who Am I Trying to Please?

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. and Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Luke 5: 10

Believe it or not, I have been trying to please one person or another for most of my life. Now, do these people think I need to please them? Maybe yes and maybe no, but that's not what matters. What matters is that I felt worthless as a person for years unless I was hearing the verbal approval from someone else.

Now, you know how often that happens. Next to never, so that means I didn't feel very good about myself the majority of the time. I think that this coupled with being overweight a large portion of my life led me to feel worse and worse about myself, which isn't what God wants for us.

Jesus calls us all to be fishers of men for Him. If He's doing that, Jesus must feel we are pretty worthwhile people or else He wouldn't have asked us. I have to turn over my instinct to put myself down, my instinct to eat to sooth my aching heart, and my instinct to try to get the approval of others, because the only approval that matters is from my Lord and Savior. And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. and Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. Luke 5: 10

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.

Do You Believe That God Can Rid You of the Desire to Overeat?

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23

Now, I don't think that Jesus is saying that anything we want we can have as long as we believe that He can give it to us. Some of the things we want aren't good for us. Some of the things we want aren't aligned with God's ultimate plan. It's difficult to understand how God can call beloved loved ones to heaven to be with Him, when we so earnestly pray for them to be healed and stay with us. Although it's difficult at times, we have to trust that Christ knows the timing for all of us to come join Him in heaven.

On the other hand, we are to pray believing that all things are possible through God, provided it's His will. God is all capable and all knowing, and although we don't always understand His timing, we need to continue to trust in His benevolent love for us.

I prayed for years and years for Christ to heal me of my overeating, but I didn't see a change at that point. I went on every diet you can imagine and lost and gained weight over the years, but still continued to pray for God to heal me of my overeating.

I had episodes where I was less than sensitive to my family, my Lord and others, because I felt terrible about myself, my weight, and my lack of control.  The thing is, when God did finally take the compulsive overeating away from me, it wasn't because I was more in control. In fact, it was the opposite.  I had given up on all the diets and thought I would always remain heavy.  I was actually telling God that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He'd have to do it, because I gave up!

It wasn't until that very day when I turned the control over into God's hands, although reluctantly, He showed me that He could heal me from my compulsions in ways that defy all my logic. It was just gone! My desire for excessive amounts of food was gone. My need to eat crunchy things was gone, although when I'm starting to get lax with my relationship with Christ and turning my stress and food over into His very capable hands, I have been known to down a half a bag of tortilla chips.  (I feel compelled to be honest with you.)

Christ is there listening to us. I had to learn how food had control over my life and my relationship with others, including Him.  I had to find out that food had become a false god in my life, because I had turned to it in times of stress, etc. rather than turning to my Lord and Savior, but in spite of that, Christ never turned His back on me. Sure, my prayer wasn't answered the first or the hundredth time I prayed for Him to heal me, but it was on God timing. We have to have faith in Him and trust His ultimate will doesn't always go the way we want it to, but know regardless of whether our prayers are answered: "Yes", "No", "Later", "Maybe", "Sorry, I have other plans intended", that God will hold us in the palm of His hand and will get us through the good and the bad and everything else in between if we only believe in Him.  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23

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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