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Eat Like Someone Else is Paying

by Robin Jones  
2/26/2010 / Devotionals

Let's start with the big problem the Lord has me working on right now...Food.

A seminal moment in this struggle happened a few weeks back. I was at a fast food chain. I saw signs posted throughout the establishment that read, "eat like someone else is paying". I stopped. What do they mean? They want us to eat more of this unhealthy food and not worry about it? At some point, I will pay for eating this stuff, not someone else. I will be the one with diabetes or heart disease, not someone else. I wanted to run away as fast as possible.

God has provided food since the beginning. Remember the creation story?

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." Genesis 2: 15 - 17 (NIV)

He created it for us to use. Our bodies are hard-wired to require it. Food is not evil. How and what I use it for can be. Confession time: I use food to give me comfort. Yep, you just read it--when I am anxious, when I am depressed, when I am bored, when I'm lonely. Whatever the uncomfortable emotion that comes up, I literally swallow it down. I would like to say that this is a lesson that is in the past tense, but I cannot. I struggle with this every day. Can you relate?

The answer and what to do would seem quite obvious to me whenever I look into the mirror, buy clothes, or step on a scale. However, I seem to be immobilized to do anything about it. There is something deep down inside of me that keeps yelling, "Nooooo, not yet. It's too hard. This has nothing to do with your spiritual walk. Are you nuts? Cheeseburgers are yummy."

Right now, the pressure for me is to change my way of thinking, my heart, and my actions about it. Gently, slowly, God has whispered into my heart that if I take these uncomfortable feelings to him he can deal with them better than I can. David sung it....Jesus said it....and Peter repeated it.

"In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!" Psalm 94:19 (AMP)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Luke 11:28 - 30 (NIV)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5: 6 - 7 (NIV)

Scripture repeats it multiple times. God wants us to come to him when we are anxious. Do I need it in smoke signals or in a neon sign? I am such a stubborn girl. The real issue is continuing to try to do it my way. I believe rebellion is the root cause of a lot of my biggest problems. God wants me to trust him, to look to him, to love him, to let him help me, but instead I clasp it to my little chest and say like a two year old, "It's mine!"

There's a little more to the verse in 1 Peter that I would like to share.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

I have this issue with letting go and letting God do it, which results in me devouring everything in site. However, on the flip side, the devil is looking around to catch someone off guard to devour. Maybe she's in the buffet line. Things that make you go hmmm....

Pondering out loud:

What things are you trying to handle yourself?
What is making you anxious?
Can you ask God to help you?

Prayer Point:

Father God, I confess that I am trying to handle my emotions, my situation, and my stress myself. Forgive me for not believing your beautiful promise to take my burdens. Please help me with my struggle. I'm giving my fork to you because I know you care. You care about the sparrows; so I know you care about me. Please, Jehovah Rapha, heal the body you have given me. Help me reverse the damage that I have done to your creation.

Sites to help with the weight struggle:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/

http://www.weightwatchers.com/

Robin Jones--Freelance Writer and Blogger
http://www.therealrobinjones.blogspot.com

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