The numbers on the scale don’t measure the distance between you and God.  They just tell how much gravity is pulling on you.  Don’t lose sight of that!

But, it is true that food can become an idol and an addiction.  The Apostle Paul spoke of that in his letter to the Philippians.  He  told the Christians to beware of those who were the enemies of the cross of Christ — “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

If your life revolves around your stomach, you may have a spiritual addiction problem.  Lysa TerKeurst talks about that in her book, Made to Crave.  She says we were created with a nature to crave God.   Others have put it that everyone is made with a God-shaped hole in their lives.  Those who refuse the true and living God have to put something else there.  For some it is money, a relationship, or a job.  And for some, it is satisfying the body with food.  Their god is their belly.

None of the God-substitutes will satisfy.  Friends and loved ones will fail you, a job will end eventually, and money has a way of sprouting wings and flying away.  And worshipping food will make you fat and unhealthy and miserable. Only Jesus can truly fill that God-shaped hole.

And here is a two-edged sword.  When people become focused on LOSING weight and sculpting their bodies — weight loss itself can become a god.  They are minding earthly things and their goals become their reason for living. (See the scripture above.)

How can we avoid this trap?  Make sure the true and living God is filling the God-shaped hole in your life.  Focus on Him and live for Him.  He will never fail you and never let you down. Click here to see my message about God.

Ask for his help in getting your physical body under control and do it for HIM. Not for you, not for your spouse, not to gain the upper hand in a society that worships beauty.  He is a good God!  You won’t regret seeking Him.

Eating to live and living for Christ,
Susan Jordan Brown

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