When is a Fault Not So Bad?

But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Psalm 19 :12 NIV Bible

First of all, it's when you learn from your faults, so you don't continue to make the same mistake. But I hate to say, I tend to keep making many of the same poor choices over and over again, even though I know better! That's why this blogsite is titled Christian Overeaters Past and Present Blog.  The Lord God has shown me so many lessons about my eating and how food had become a false god in my life, turning to it in times of stress for comfort, instead of putting it into Jesus Christ's very capable hands. 

You wouldn't think that I would continue to make these same mistakes time and again, but it happens, when I least expect it. I carry the lessons within me that the Lord has shown me, but there are times when I get complacent with my relationship with God, and I find that it's easy for me to slip back into those old eating patterns without even realizing it.

Also, it seems to happen when things seem to be going pretty smoothly, when I take this blessing from the Lord for granted. I find it easier during those periods that I let myself become self-absorbed in one thing or another. Satan sees this as a vulnerability, and knows my weaknesses, and takes advantage of his opportunity to trip me up. When I'm focused on the Lord's will in my life, it's much easier to spot Satan's temptations in my life. But if I've put the Lord on a shelf until I need Him, which I hate to admit, I've done at times, and I've given in to these temptations. Fortunately for me, usually in the midst of giving into these, the Lord God brings me back into focus, and welcomes me with welcome arms!

Take This to Heart

 "Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart you rebels." Isaiah 46:8 NIV Bible

Although, this isn't really related to the passage in Isaiah, I do identify with rebelling against what the Lord God wants for me. Sometimes, it's the things that the Lord wants me to do. I know you might not ne able to tell this, since I've written so many Christian Blogs, and I'm somewhat ashamed  to share this, but almost every time that the Lord had it on my heart to write a new blog, I was resistant and sometimes argued with Him about it. How could I do this when the Lord has blessed me so very much! Yes, the Lord has blessed me by the weight loss, but in so many other ways. He's improved my sagging self-esteem. He has given my life, true meaning! Why would I even think of arguing with the Lord God? How can  do something like that to God whose been so wonderful to me?

I wish I knew the answer, but all I can do is guess. Maybe it's that I don't like to take new risks. Fortunately for me, Jesus Christ didn't say, "I don't like taking risks, so why should I put Myself out there for Debbie and others who won't appreciate all I'm doing for them?" I'm so very blessed  that the Lord was willing to give His life for me and for everyone, despite how self-absorbed I can be.

This passage demonstrates one of the many reasons I love reading the cover to cover so many times. In fact, it's how I like to start out each day. Even if I read something that doesn't remotely seem to relate to me, because of the time difference of when it was written, there are aspects of many of the passages that carry lessons for me to apply to my own life. I have found so many times, that these lessons let me to want to be the Christian that the Lord God wants me to be, and to be more willing to take the risks necessary to do so!

I Don't Want to Stoop to the Same Level

 Too long I have lived among those who hate peace. Psalm 120:6

When I was overweight in elementary school, I felt the reason I wasn't chosen for the teams was because of my weight and it felt like those people hated me! It was a terrible gut-wrenching feeling, and I was crushed! I think this experience possibly makes me more sensitive to others who are discriminated against!

That's why it bothers me so much when I hear how others hate so many people who are different from themselves, whether for racial, cultural, economic status, homelessness, political, gender, faith, or pandemic masking issues. It also bothers me that some of these haters of others, show hate to people who show empathy to these others. 

I find myself at the point of hating the the haters of others, but that would make me stooping to the same level. Fortunately, God has it on my heart that I am to turn this situation and how I feel about the haters of others into His very capable hands, because we are told by the Lord not to judge others. 

I Traded the Sword for Food

 Jeremiah 39:18 I will save you: you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me, declares the Lord. NIV Bible

So, maybe I'm not going to fall by the sword, but unfortunately, I traded the sword for food. It was my downfall for so many, many years! And if you really think of it, food can be just as deadly as a sword, as well. I turned to food when I was worried. I turned to food when I was happy. I turned to food when I was bored. I turned to food when I was afraid. Actually, I didn't need much of a reason to turn to food!

Well, the thing is, after all these years of turning to food, the Lord had it on my heart that all that time, I had been turning to food like a false god. At first, I was in denial. I loved the Lord, how could I be turning to food like a false god? Well, plain and simple, I turned to food to comfort me in all these situations, instead of turning to Christ in times of stress, etc. to comfort me.

I was overwhelmed with the thought that I had been turning my back on the Lord all these years, and turning to food instead! Once He showed me this, when I'd get the "eat the door knobs off" hunger, I would find a quiet place and pray, turning that feeling over into Christ's very capable hands. Many of the times, I didn't know why I had that gnawing, starving feeling. But during the time I had with the Lord, asking Him why I felt that way, He would have on my heart what was really going on. Sometimes, I was worried about a particular situation, that I pretended didn't bother me. Other times, it was other stressors that I needed to learn to trust God with. It turns out, He was right, I did escape with my life, but a much better life than I had before I started turning these things into His hands!