Diet & Wisdom Appetizers

Back in January when I started my weight loss journey I’m convinced I didn’t go into it with my eyes wide open. I thought I’d hop right back on the weight watcher wagon and reach my goal weight by the time spring rolled around.

Spring rolled into summer and now summer is at its pinnacle with fall not too far around the corner and I’m still a long way from being at my goal weight. I may not be where I thought I’d be at this point, but in some ways I’ve far surpassed my expectations.

While I expected I’d lose weight, I never expected to become mentally strong enough to deal with what was at the core of my eating issues. That saying, “it’s not what you’re eating, but what’s eating you” now has a brand new meaning.

After decades of being in denial about my food addictions, I’ve finally uncovered what was eating me. For so long I’d convinced myself that I didn’t have an eating disorder but merely enjoyed eating food – lots of food and a great variety of foods. Everybody likes to eat. What’s wrong with that?

The fact that I was eating in secret, hiding the remains of my binges, spending hours exercising to counteract the foods I ate and then lying about the quantity of foods consumed, never struck me as addictive behavior.

When I joined a food addiction group back in February I continued in my denial that I had a problem, even questioning my need for the group altogether. Now here it is months later and I’m finally on the road to recovery, having dealt with the problems that haunted me since childhood.

I can say with all confidence that surrendering to God and facing my problems with His help has lifted a huge weight from my shoulders and my heart. For the first time since childhood there’s a lightness in my spirit I’ve never experienced before. I’m sad that it took me so long to realize I needed help and then even longer to accept help.

God doesn’t intend for us to live in bondage. He sacrificed His Son on the cross so that we might have and enjoy our life. Living with secrets, covering up our addictions, making excuses for why we are the way we are is anything but enjoying life.

I can’t get back all those years I wasted in denial but I can look forward to the future with a new attitude, freedom from the past and enjoying every day I have left. Surrender does lead to freedom, and being willing to admit we need help is the first step towards healing.

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, I thank you for the freedom I’m currently enjoying. I ask that you would help me to surrender my issues, my worries, my fears and anything else in my past that might be hindering me from living in total and absolute freedom. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to stand beside me and walk this difficult journey I’ve been on and for never leaving me or forsaking me. I ask all these things in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.