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/

Do We Convey That We, As Christians, Know More Than We Do?

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Job 38:33-34

God is speaking to Jobs’ friends who seemed to think they knew exactly what God would tell Job and mistakenly attempted to speak on God’s behalf. God wasn’t too keen on these men trying to be know-it-alls, sharing the thoughts of what God would say to Job during his many trials.

Well, some of us, myself included, give the impression that we are “Know-It-All Christians.”  We might convey that we know exactly why God has done or not done something, as if we are privy to God’s plan.  This got me to thinking. I wondered if it sounds to readers that I know exactly why God allowed me to lose the 80+ pounds over thirty years ago and to keep the majority of it off all this time.

First of all, I may make it sound like it happened all of a sudden. Well, it kind of did and it kind of didn’t. How is that for an ambiguous answer? It seems like for six months before God made the miraculous change in my eating, He allowed me to see just how much negative power food had in my life. It controlled how I felt about myself. It affected my relationship with my family, my friends, and with God. When I was turning to food instead of turning to God with all my stress, etc., I was cranky with my family. I shied away friends, and was reluctant to go to church where people could see me in my BIG clothes.

It’s like God had me see these things in slow motion, so that I could note how food, the thought of food, and Satan were controlling my life. I saw my reaction when my daughter wanted green apples to share with her friends and I got upset with her, because those were MY special apples, although I said I needed them for the family. I saw when I ate three egg sandwiches, which I’m not extremely fond of, and the third one fell on the floor, mayo side down and how I put it back together and gobbled it up, amazed that I would do something like that. These are just a few of the examples that I’ve shared in much earlier posts. The thing God was showing me was that Satan had a stronghold on me through my food. I was turning to food when stressed, happy, etc. rather than turning to God, which means that food had become a false god to me.

Then one day, I gave up. I had tried my “good diet” and gained weight on it when I hadn’t varied far from the diet plan. I sat down one day and told God that I give up and that if He ever wanted me to be thin, He’d have to do it, because I couldn’t. The interesting thing to me was that I really wasn’t expecting God to do anything for me. I was just giving up. I think, but don't exactly know, that’s the first time I had ever totally given up the power of my overeating and turned it over into God’s very capable hands. God took the desire to eat large amounts of food away from me that same day. I no longer craved sweets and carbs. It is a miracle and I’m very blessed.

Although I don’t have all the answers, all I can do is to share the insights that God’s shared with me along the way, hoping that they will be helpful for you, as well. I also feel strongly that if God can do this for me, He can do it for you, in His timing. Don’t give up. God may be giving you lessons about the power that food has in your life, like He did me. Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Job 38:33-34

The Caramel Apples Are Calling Me

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9

I told you about the caramel apples that I gave into last week. Ever since then, the caramel apples that are still in my fridge are calling me by name. I almost gave in several times, but said a quick prayer each time and Christ saved me from my compulsions to undermine the gift that God has given me.

I realize that a caramel apple sounds like a silly thing that could work a wedge in my relationship with Christ, but it’s not exactly the item I’m eating as much as how it affects my relationships with my family, my Lord, myself, and others around me.

When I’m eating sweets, it affects my moods and I tend to get irritable when my blood sugar runs low after the sugar I’ve eaten wears off. It hurts my self-esteem, because I know that I've let the sugar cycle get hold of me once again. All of this makes me less apt to have interactions with others. When I’m eating sugar, I’m not the person that Christ wants me to be. Fortunately for me, He hears my quick prayers in desperation as I’m tempted to indulge in foods that can negatively influence me. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9


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.

Just One Bite

James 1: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

My grandson didn’t want to eat one of the caramel apples that my husband had purchased for him. To make it easier for my grandson to eat, my husband cut the apple off the core and had given it to him in a bowl. I saw the core sitting on the cupboard with about a bites worth of caramel apple still intact. I decided that I should try a bit to make sure the apple hadn’t been too old. Yeah, right

That’s all it took. One bite and I was heading to the fridge to get another caramel apple to sample. I didn’t want to give it up, although I knew the sugar isn’t good for me, because I have Hypoglycemia and it affects my blood sugar. I enjoyed every bite of it and felt little remorse, although I knew I should have.

All it took was one little bite for me to slip back into that hold that sugar has on me. It just took one bite to block out all reason. It just took one bite to have me slip back into old patterns. Fortunately for me, Christ took pity on me and showed me that I was a Slip Sliding Christian, starting to slide down a slippery slope into patterns that would work a wedge in my relationship with Him. Christ’s welcoming embrace was only a prayer away. He saved me from myself! James 1: 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

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've Nailed That One!

The young man saith unto Him [Jesus], All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Mark 10: 20

I was sitting in church and the minister read this passage. This is when the rich man came to talk to Jesus about what he needed to do yet to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to follow the commandments and the man basically said, “I’ve nailed that one! I’ve done all those from my childhood.”

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Mark 10: 21-22

Have I become a Possessed Christian too attached to possessions and food that work a wedge in my relationship with Christ? Am I willing to give up foods that I crave? Am I willing to give them to the less fortunate? Am I willing to give up things that work a wedge in my relationship with Christ? It seems that I let possessions, including food possess me.

The moment that I'm asked to do something for the Lord that is out of my comfort zone, I head for the hills just like the rich man who left because he had too many possessions and couldn't part with them. I want to be willing to give up unhealthy eating and possessions that control me.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.  Mark 10: 21-22

Jesus Wrote Us a Blank Check

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 21

I was thinking about it the other day, Jesus wrote us a blank check. He didn’t say that only those who are thin go to heaven. He didn’t say that only those who have their overeating and other vices under control go to heaven. He didn’t say that only those who tithe a certain amount go to heaven. He didn’t say that only those who are on every church committee go to heaven. He didn’t say that only those who wear trendy clothes go to heaven. He didn’t say that only those in the popular group go to heaven. The Bible does say, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 21”

Are we fortunate, or what??? Jesus gave His life openly for All who know and love Him, and not just a select few. So, why am I so reluctant to share this wonderful information with others? Am I a “Stand in the Wings Christian”? I am humbled with the generosity of Jesus, but often don’t do anything to reciprocate. It’s very easy for me to Stand in the Wings, waiting until someone specifically calls me by name and asks me to help with something particular.

If I’m really being honest, I am really hiding in the wings hoping that nobody calls me by name and asks me to help with something particular. If Christ could give His life so openly, why am I so reluctant to share this good fortune with others? I wish I had all the answers. I think it’s my sinful, human nature that leads me to be fearful of what others might think of me. Fortunately for me, Jesus didn’t let the opinion of others keep Him from giving His life freely for all of us! And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2: 21

I Want God on My Side

2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

Last weekend, I was saying my prayers and was concerned about someone who goes out of their way to do things against me. I used to eat over things of this nature, but now I try to turn them over into God’s very capable hands. In my prayer, I asked God to be on my side. That got me to thinking. Am I an “I Want Christ on My Side Christian”?

Asking something like this of God is like asking a parent to love you more and give you your way instead of your sibling. Fortunately for me, God sees beyond my selfish ways and shows me what I was asking. Just like the impartial parent who can’t say they love one child more than the other, giving one child everything they want, but neglecting the needs of the other, God is there for all of us, Christian and otherwise.

Christ is there loving us even when we don’t know Him and His abounding love for us, just the way we are. He loves us even when we can’t be there for ourselves. He loves us even when it feels some people are contrary and are spiteful to us. He also loves us enough to want us to be in healthy relationships. He never lets us down, although we don’t always get things the way we prayed for them.

I had to realize that I needed to change my prayer and my focus. Instead of asking God to be on my side, I needed to ask God to allow me to be on His side and for the willingness to let Him do it. Fortunately for me, He always knows the big picture and what is needed. 2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

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

Having Blinders On

And when He [Jesus} rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Luke 22: 45-46

I wrote in the last post that God’s allowed me to lose the last stubborn 20 pounds that I have been struggling with in the last few years. Do I need to have blinders on to withstand the temptations that Satan dangles in front of me?

I don’t think it’s that God wants me to have blinders on, so that I don’t even look at formerly desired or problematic foods. I think the key lies in the last verse about praying, so that we don’t enter into temptation.

Over the years, that’s what kept the vast majority of the weight off as I struggled with the stubborn 20 pounds I had regained. It was God who took care of me and my struggles with turning to food, which has been a false god to me in the past. God’s shown me the importance of turning to Him in all things, good, bad, and indifferent. When I do that, the rest falls into place…but I’m weak.

That’s why it’s so vitally important for me to continue to pray daily to ask God to take care of my food, body, eating, and stress and the willingness to put them into His very capable hands. Sometimes, I wasn’t as willing to turn over the control to God. Sometimes, I wasn’t willing to realize that it was something stressful that was causing the ache in my stomach rather than fall prey to the lure of the food calling my name.

Fortunately for me, God has been there to pick me up time and time again and has shown me the way I should be focused through prayer. And when He [Jesus} rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Luke 22: 45-46

My Skinny Pants Fit, Now What?

And He [Jesus] said unto them in His doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Mark 12:38-39

Now, this passage doesn’t exactly speak to this, but this is how I applied it to my life. And He [Jesus] said unto them in His doctrine, Beware of people, who love to go out in skinny pants and get a big head, showing off in front of others!

I feel God’s trying to help me come to terms with my body being thinner, but to be balanced about it. First, I was hiding behind my baggy clothes, so others couldn’t see my body was thinner. (I say thinner, because even though I’m thinner, I still have the left over bumps and bulges from having been heavy all those years. I used to be upset by them, but have come to realize that I am very blessed to have them, because they are a part of the miracle that Christ has worked in my body!)

It might seem funny that I’m discussing all of this when God allowed me to lose 80+ pounds over 30 years ago. Well, I obviously didn’t come to terms with all these issues then, because they have been reoccurring themes in the last years as I struggled with the last 20 pounds I had regained. I feel God’s been showing me that although I put many things into His very capable hands, there are still some things that I still continue to stress over.

Lately, since God’s been showing me this, I’ve been trying to put undue hunger pangs in His hands rather than nibbling over whatever was stressing me. Last night, it was time for bed and I really wanted to get a bag of tortilla chips. I prayerfully contemplated it. I had eaten enough for each meal, so I really shouldn’t be hungry. That let me know that it was stress that was gnawing at my stomach-not hunger! Once God showed me this, I was able to turn those issues over to God’s capable hands.

In the meantime, God’s allowed me to lose those pounds I’ve been struggling with, although I hadn’t really thought much about it. I need to continue to put issues of stress into God’s hands so that I don’t go slip-sliding back into unproductive patterns. And He [Jesus] said unto them in His doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Mark 12:38-39

My Compromise with Nuts

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

As some of you may know, when I am stressed, I seem to crave pecans. I even gained ten pounds back once, because I ate most of a large bag of pecans and began eating them daily. That showed me that there was something stressing me that led me to turn back to food instead of turning to God, I’m sorry to say.

Once God showed me the pattern that was developing, when my clothes weren’t fitting right, I turned all of this over to God’s very capable hands. I had to admit that the things that stressed me were out of my hands and that I had to trust God to resolve things in His timing, which is impeccable.

I wish I could tell you that I didn’t have any more problems with pecans after that revelation, but I want to be honest with you. Periodically, when I got worried again about that situation which is out of my control, I turned to pecans, but stopped a lot sooner…two steps forward, one back.

I realized that I crave nuts when I’m under stress. Something that God’s shown me recently is that I don’t have to let nuts, or any food for that matter, have control of me. For when I’m doing that, I’m really turning to the food as a false god instead of turning to the one true God to deal with my stress.

Anyway, God showed me that periodically, I can put a heaping tablespoon of chopped pecans in something I’m eating. That way, I can have a reasonable amount when I’m not stressed, so that I don’t turn to them when I am under stress. I should only be turning to God and not to food to deal with these or any issues that arise.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 
  Since I am applying these Bible Verses to my life, it may not convey the whole meaning of the verses. Debbie

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