The first step to recovery … blah blah blah. OK, I’m going to be real with you. I have a tendency to take the denial or excuse route when failing to resist my temptation – food.

It’s become a way to relax, a friend when I’m alone, something to do when I’m bored, even my idol. It’s gotten to the point where I turn to food instead of my Lord. No, I don’t worship it like I do God, but I tend to allow it to control me more than I should.

Sometimes my slip ups are conscious decisions to grab the Cheez-It box and enjoy the cheesy cracker goodness within. But, my downfalls are also times when I tasted without even realizing I was eating and eating and eating. I would completely lose track of time until I reached the bottom of the bag of trail mix.

I am in danger of harming my body, but even more than that I am slowly killing my relationship with God. The only way to kick the habit is to treat it like an addiction, which it has become for many of us.

Detox Yourself

Hello, my name is Hannah and I’m a foodaholic. That’s the first step really. Admit that you run to food to ease pain or fill a void.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a “Skinny Minnie” or 150 pounds overweight, you shouldn’t worship food. It really isn’t about weight anyway.

There’s no sin in enjoying your favorite dishes – even if they are a little fattening. The trap clamps down when you lose your self-control. Overindulgence is a sin. Gluttony, simply meaning excessive eating, is clearly admonished in God’s Word. It is common sense really – people with no self-control can get themselves in trouble.

“When you're given a box of candy, don't gulp it all down;
eat too much chocolate and you'll make yourself sick.” Proverbs 25:16 (The Message)

The only thing we can handle too much of is God. Excessive eating only wears our bodies down and slowly eats away at our satisfaction with the Lord. When your dependence turns from Him to food, that’s when you know you’ve got a serious problem.

Here’s a scenario: A co-worker brings in brownies for everyone to enjoy. You smell the chocolately aroma and instantly crave one. You eat it with pleasure. But, it doesn’t stop there. You have another here and another there. Towards the end of the day, you get a little stressed with work and think to yourself – I deserve another. Subconsciously, you really do think that by eating another brownie everything will be OK. It’ll calm you and satisfy your need for something good.

That’s excessive. I’m not saying it’s wrong to treat yourself. But, I don’t think food, food, and more food will please you. It’s a momentary pleasure that will go straight to your hips, but more importantly, it takes the place of God – our comforter and friend.

Simply Say “No”!

Have a little self-control. This is a hard one for me. Discipline, in the area of eating at least, is not one of my strengths.

Next time, you have the urge to exceed your limitations and go for your favorite comfort food – say “No!” It doesn’t even really matter what that food is. Even if it is healthy food, like apples or salads, if you gorge on them to satisfy anything but a true hunger pang, then you’re overindulging.

Allow the Holy Spirit to produce good things through your life. Like it says in Galatians 5:22-23, bear good fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL.

The following verse lays it on the table.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.” Galatians 5:24 (New Living Translation)

Stand up to temptation and win. Be quick to repent of times when you’ve preferred other things, feelings, or even people above our Father. Leave your burden for earthly desires before Him – each time they arise. We’ll never be free of temptation, but with the Lord’s help we can be set free from the compelling desire to give in to it.

Remain Sober

Don’t just struggle to recover or stay in victim mode with the excuse, “I’ll always be this way; there’s really nothing wrong with it.” Resolve to change. Make today a turning point in your life. When you begin to understand that food won’t satisfy your inner cravings – and shouldn’t – that’s when you can walk with God without continuous distractions. He shouldn’t have to compete with food – or anything else – for your attention or admiration.

Share your story with others. By being accountable, through your testimony, you can reassert this change in your life. And even if you stumble back into a brownie binge, push the temptation away the next time around.

Keep God as your focus and rely on Him to satisfy your every need and desire.

Hannah Goodwyn currently serves as a producer for LivingTheLife.com and CBN.com. For more articles and info about Hannah, visit her bio page.

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