Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. Romans 14:20
Food makes me happy. Yes, I have a food obsession.
I eat when hungry. I eat when stressed. I eat when lonely. I eat when bored. I eat when emotionally tanked. I eat when having a bad day. I eat to reward myself. I eat when the goal is accomplished. I eat when I fail to hit the target. When I eat, I am comforting myself for the short term. Yes, I am a food addict.
Been one most of my entire life.
Because of my addiction, I battle to maintain a working weight. The multitude of diets under my belt resemble a train chugging up and down hills. The sweat and energy left behind at the gym is always rewarded with an apple fritter or pound of chocolate. If it wasn’t for the focus and energy expended at work to solve problems and achieve goals, I would weigh three times more. Now retired from the corporate world, the battle continues. Yes, I am a food addict.
Of course, I understand the importance of nutrition. My body type requires a good balance of protein, fiber, and fat. But satisfaction only comes from refined carbs, sugar, and starches. Yes, I’ve tried everything under the sun not to surrender my desire for these. Why can’t I have my cake and ice cream? Why do potato chips and cupcakes taste so good? Why must I deny myself?
Why must I choose?
Yes, I know food is the nutritious fuel the body needs to properly operate. But what is wrong with having an occasional treat?
Nothing unless one is an addict.
God created food for our good. Food is needed to sustain the human body. The problem is not food, but me. There are deep, emotional strongholds buried in the darkish parts of my human psyche which need addressing. Been there most of my life. God knows. The question is do I now confront them or continue to ignore them?
This is not a salvation issue. But a quality of life issue. This is a personal issue between our Lord and myself. His grace is sufficient to carry me through until this race is over. But do I risk the cost of being overweight? The cost of excess fat around my bones? The hardening of the arteries? The numbing of the nervous system? Why bother? Are we not all going to die once?
But we all know the value of a healthy life until then. To be full of energy. To have a fully functioning mind. To cherish each day without battling the pain and limitations caused by neglect. Why is it so hard to do what you know is best? Why must we battle between short-term pleasure versus long-term gain. Why sacrifice now for a better future that is not even guaranteed?
Yes, I am a food addict. I finally admitted today. They say admitting to the problem is the first step toward healing. We shall see.
For now the journey continues. Let’s see how the Holy Spirit restores these holes within my soul that need healing with His presence. I’ve tried everything else known by mankind. But now I’m serious. I’m calling on my Creator and Lord to direct my steps, channel my focus, and cleanup my soul. I want to experience life the way HE designed the human body to fully function. Food addiction and all, the battle continues.
I share this with you because we all have deep seated strongholds. Whether its food, relationship, or something else. Now is the time to deal with it. Don’t wait until you are old and regret the price you didn’t pay earlier. I know many people who are retired and paying a deep price for the poor decisions they made earlier in life. Nip your problems when young. Better to sacrifice in your youth. Lay the good foundation. Your future will be much brighter. Your life more enriched. Ask God to direct your steps. He longs to join you on your adventurous quest to the promise land. Just always remember, HIS Grace is always available and enough.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)
Books By Dr. Mike:
- The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ (Now Available)
- Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ v1 & v2
- Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
- Great Business Emulates a Good God
- Stay Free…Avoid Worldly Traps
- Simply The Messenger
- Unequally Married
Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!
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