These are the verses to help with weight loss from the "Made to Crave" book. You can photo copy them and cut them and carry them around to look at through the day.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. Genesis 3:6 (God knew that women would struggle with food).
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:27-34(Don’t let yourself get desperate, have an eating plan. Don’t give up the battle for a few moments of physical satisfaction. Desperation breeds degradation… when you become desperate for something, you run the risk of compromising in ways you never thought you would. Don’t sacrifice what is good in the long term for what feels good in the short term.)
“You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north.” Deuteronomy 2:3 Just as the Israelites had to wander in the desert for 40 years because of their cravings, you are wandering in a desert, never attaining abundant life because of yours. You’ve lost the same weight over and over again, now head north and never look back.
In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Exodus 16:2-4
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3 I don’t want this spiritual journey and the physical victories to stop. So, the very next choice I make is a crucial one. It will determine if I am walking the path of victory or compromise. We can see healthy choices as overflowing blessings so pure and rich, we will never trade them. They will lead to the sweet place of utter dependence on God and lasting discipline. The decision to make sacrificial food choices is more than just a physical decision. It’s a spiritual one as well. The challenge is that it’s not a one-time decision; it’s a decision we make again and again. Every choice matters- especially the very next choice we make.
How I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices. And they will know that I am the Lord; I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them. Ezekiel 6:9-10
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. Psalm 25:4-8
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:7-8
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:4-8
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting in my life. Psalm 39:4
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you. O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm 73:26 I’ve made the choice to step into a place of intentional sacrifice. A place where my strength would fail, should fail, but with God’s help, hasn’t failed.
He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. Psalm 78:18 (They forgot all the miracles God had done for them because they were consumed with thoughts of food. Even though God has provided for you in the past, do you sometimes find it difficult to believe He will continue to provide for your needs now and in the future?) “They continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved… when the Lord heard them, he was very angry.” Psalm 78:17-18, 21 God is angry when I demand to indulge in inappropriate cravings. They pull my heart away from God. There is deep satisfaction in God. Momentary pleasures can’t compare.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:11-12 (The whole journey in conquering my cravings is about having an undivided heart. I have to either be loyal to honoring the Lord with my body or loyal to my cravings, desires, and excuses for not exercising. )
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2
I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:2
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.“ Psalm 103:1-5
The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8
But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children. Psalm 103:17
In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. Psalm 106:14
He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9
“Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” Psalm 107:17-19 I became a fool with my habits regarding food. I rebelled against healthy options, realistic portions, and the need to address this issue in my life. I loved food for the instant gratification, but then I loathed it for what it did to me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I drew near to a complete sense of defeat. How did God save them? He sent forth His word and His word healed me. I was made to walk on paths of victory. I will have struggles but God’s word will heal me and help me to victory.
I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalm 143:6
He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Proverbs 28:7
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 Accountability has great power. A friend can help you to recover from failure, give you comfort and companionship in adverse conditions, and help in defending against attacks. Keep in touch daily with your support system.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19
I will go before you and will level the mountains. I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:23
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “ declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. “ Isaiah 55:8-12
“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.“ Isaiah 55:11
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: “Here am I”… The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:8-9, 11
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24
“These people say, ‘the time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.’ (the Lord said:) “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin? Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it. Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” Haggai 1:2-8 We also often say it’s not the season in life for us to take care of our bodies (God’s temple) or exercise. But God says to give careful thought to your ways and to make time to build the house so He may be honored. We make time for what we want to. Bad things happened because they did not build the house of the Lord, the crops suffered. There are natural consequences for not taking care of our bodies… less energy, more weight, disease, etc. The best kind of exercise is the kind you’ll do.
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Matthew 19:21
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. “ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your god, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:1-11
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:9-10 (If even Jesus had to ask God for His daily portion, why wouldn’t we?)
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20-21 Sometimes our journeys in life aren’t so much about witnessing the miracle of the mountain moving as they are about experiencing God taking our hand and walking through the journey with us.
Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24 Becoming a woman of self-discipline honors God and helps me live the godly characteristic of self-control. Pursuing self-control helps my heart feel closer to Jesus and more pure to receive what He wants for me each day. Self-control is hard, but living by the Spirit means to live with the willingness to walk away when the Holy Spirit nudges you and says, "That food choice is permissible but not beneficial- so don't eat it." We grow closer to God by positioning our hearts toward His. By making the choice to deny ourselves something that is permissible but not beneficial, and making this intentional sacrifice for the sole purpose of growing closer to God. Making the intentional choice to deny myself unhealthy food options probably isn't the most popular route to growing closer to God, but it is a route nonetheless. A thrilling, hard, practical, courageous spiritual journey with great physical benefits.)
"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat--I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self." Luke 9:23 from The Message translation. Self-sacrifice is hard, painful, and sometimes costly. The one thing it's not is pointless. Every time you deny yourself something that is permissible but not beneficial, you exchange a momentary pleasure for an eternal gain. Every self-sacrifice in obedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit positions your heart just that much closer to Christ. And that's a whole lot sweeter than a bag full of chocolate chips.
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15
I will send a messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way- a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him confessing their sins. Mark 1:2-5
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:34-35 When we become self/food focused, we miss the harvest around us- the Father’s work for us to do now. Food can't satisfy the longing of your soul, only Jesus can. Our souls were created to crave Him and love others to Him. Focus your thoughts on God, not food. Open your eyes and look for ways to love others.
The 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
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:9-12
We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5
“I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” Romans 6:19 The very next choice we make isn’t really about food but about positioning ourselves to live the kind of God-honoring lives in which, by God’s strength, sustained discipline is possible.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in the Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8:11 Not only does the Spirit live in us, but He is active and infuses power to our lives that is beyond what we could possibly muster up on our own.
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:1-8
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26
As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. Romans 14:17
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. Romans 14:19-20a
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ- their Lord and ours. 1 Corinthians 1:2
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30
Everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible- but not everything is constructive. I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Corinthians 6:12- Sacrifice + repentance= Victory. Even little compromises with unhealthy cravings can quickly pave the road for an all-out reversal of my progress. Only you can determine which foods need to be banished forever. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food- but God will destroy them both.” Vs. 13 Some actions are not sinful in themselves, but they are not appropriate because they can control our lives and lead us away from God. Food is not the enemy, Satan is. He was to render us ineffective/sluggish for the cause of Christ. We may have to lose foods for good, but we will gain victory for the cause of Christ. No food will ever taste as sweet as victory does. I am not being deprived and I don’t need to feel it isn’t fair. I can make a sacrifice in order to gain something much greater than the food that’s not on my plan. Focusing only on what we are giving up will make us feel constantly deprived. Deprivation leads to desperation, frustration and failure. Instead, we have to focus on everything we’re gaining through this process. See the gains as more valuable than the losses, like my newfound courage to say “I can”. My courage is so much more valuable and beautiful and empowering and lasting. It fills my heart, mind, and soul with everything alive and possible and invigorating. I can identify my shortcomings, and instead of using them against myself, hand them over to Jesus and let Him chisel my rough places. His chiseling is full of truth that sets me free. He says, “Let’s fully turn from those things that are not beneficial for you.”
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16
“Since we have these promises , dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” 2 Corinthians 7:1. The gap between our frail discipline and God’s available strength is bridged with nothing but a simple choice on our part to pursue holiness. Moment by moment we have the choice to live in our own strength and risk failure or to reach across the gap and grab hold of God’s unwavering strength. The more dependent we become on God’s strength, the less we long for other choices. Holiness deals with my spiritual and physical life.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 I have a choice to make: to see a hurtful comment as an identity crusher or as a careless comment. We can say to a comment or thought that presents itself to us,” Are you true? Are you beneficial? Are you necessary?” If not, walk away from it and don’t open your heart to it.
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature" Galatians 5:16
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galations 5:22-23
“But Jesus said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Weakness is hard, but weakness doesn’t have to mean defeat. It is my opportunity to experience God’s power firsthand. If I say “yes” to a compromise, there will be more compromises and together they would bring failure. Resisting temptation allows promise upon promise to be built in my heart, and creates empowerment. This is God’s power working through my weakness. The struggle to say no is painful but it is working out something magnificent within us. Our battle with food can be the very thing, when brought under control, that can lead us to a better understanding of God. We can thank Him for this battle because of the rich treasures we will discover on the battlefield. Life as a Christ follower will always be a learning process of depending less on our own strength and more on God’s power.
Jesus said to me, “My grace (divine love, favor, assistance, mercy, loving-kindness) is sufficient (enough to meet the needs of a situation; adequate; plenty) for you, for my power (great or marked ability to do or act; authority; control; strength; influence; supremacy) is made perfect (being entirely without fault or defect; lacking no essential detail; ideal; complete; just right) in weakness (lacking strength; feebleness’ frailty; failing; limitation; disadvantage).” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses (lacking strength; feebleness’ frailty; failing; limitation; disadvantage), so that Christ’s power (great or marked ability to do or act; authority; control; strength; influence; supremacy) may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" Galatians 5:25. We read the Bible with the intention of putting into practice what we read while asking the Holy Spirit to direct us in knowing how to do this..
He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
I keep asking (Be persistent, ask for God’s wisdom, revelation, and intervening power to be an integral part of your food choices from now on) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father (Embrace a true identity, He is your glorious Father: We were made for more because we are children of God. You are who God says you are: forgiven, set-free, accepted, holy, made-new, loved, confident, and victorious), may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better (Find the deeper reason: So that you may know Him better. The goal of healthy eating is that we may know Him better.). I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened (Discover a hope and power like no other, that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. Paul asks that light be shed upon our hearts so we can more clearly recognize the hope and power available to us) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:17-20
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Eph. 3:17-19
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
“We are taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 The very next eating choice we make is about whether we are going to stay away from those things that are no beneficial for what we are created to be: God’s representatives as we live out loud the message of God in our daily lives. Even when we are at our goal weight, we are always just one choice away from reversing all the progress we’ve made. Victory isn’t a place we arrive at and then relax. Victory is when we pick something healthy over something not beneficial for us and we maintain our victories with each next choice.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:25-33 We are to feed and care for our bodies as Christ feeds and cares for the Church.
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." Philippians 3: 13-16, 18-19 Food can become so consuming that people find themselves ruled by it. This diminishes our commitment to Him and will make us feel increasingly distant from Him. Keep your mind set on the spiritual commitment rather than the diet. Don’t live as an enemy of the cross.
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3: 20-21 I want His power to help me bring everything under His control.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
…encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:12-13
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:3
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil… Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14, 18
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance which must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. 1 John 2:5
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father but from the world.1 John 2:15-16
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:12-25
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.1 John 3:1
“Dear friends, I urge you…to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 The unrestrained pleasure in food is sin. It wages war against my soul. Jesus asks us to give up being controlled by anything in life that we crave more than we crave Him.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
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. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:7-8
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature (Our actions need to reflect the self-control the Holy Spirit affords us and our sense of identity needs to reflect His presence in our lives as well~ participating in His divine nature. God’s divine power has given us everything we need to experience victory in our struggles. We are to reflect a divine nature—a secure identity in Christ—which helps us escape the corruption of the world and avoid evil desires) and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (It is through biblical promises that we find the courage to deny unhealthy desires). For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love (Getting healthy is not just about having faith, goodness, and knowledge. We have to add to the foundation by choosing to be self-controlled and choosing to persevere even when the journey gets really hard.). For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ(These qualities keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our pursuit of healthy eating and, even more importantly, in our pursuit of growing closer to God.) But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these Savior Jesus Christ. “ 2 Peter 1:3-11 (If we make the choice to be Jesus girls who offer our willingness to exercise self-control and perseverance to the glory of God, we can lose weight, get healthy, and walk in confidence that it is possible to escape the cycle of losing and gaining back again. We can be victorious. We can step on the scale and accept the numbers for what they are—an indication of how much our body weighs—and not an indication of our worth.)
God’s divine power has given us everything we need to experience victory in our struggles
We are to reflect a divine nature—a secure identity in Christ—which helps us escape the corruption of the world and avoid evil desires.
It is through biblical promises that we find the courage to deny unhealthy desires.
Getting healthy is not just about having faith, goodness, and knowledge. We have to add to the foundation by choosing to be self-controlled and choosing to persevere even when the journey gets really hard.
These qualities keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our pursuit of healthy eating and, even more importantly, in our pursuit of growing closer to God.
If we make the choice to be Jesus girls who offer our willingness to exercise self-control and perseverance to the glory of God, we can lose weight, get healthy, and walk in confidence that it is possible to escape the cycle of losing and gaining back again. We can be victorious. We can step on the scale and accept the numbers for what they are—an indication of how much our body weighs—and not an indication of our worth.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelation 2:4
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Revelation 2:5
“To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7 Overcoming is possible. We can have absolute victory in an area where we once knew nothing but defeat. There is a reward for pressing through our struggles all the way to absolute victory: the right to eat from the tree of life in heaven.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, know only to him who receives it. Revelation 2:17 (When God’s people were complaining in the desert, they forgot daily dependence on God. Manna was to teach them this. I want to overcome and be given hidden spiritual manna and a new name…)
See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. Revelation 3:8
“If it’s not part of my plan, I don’t put it in my mouth.” LysaTerkheurst
“If you follow the healthy eating plan you’ve chosen, it will work and it most certainly will be worth it.” LysaTerkheurst
“You are capable of feeling the sting of sacrifice.” LysaTerkheurst
“You were made for more than this. You were made for victory.” (When you are tempted away from your healthy eating plan, remember, “You were made for more than this.” For more than this failure, more than this cycle, more than being ruled by taste buds. You were made for victory. Say this to yourself often. Lysa Terkheurst
“Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Nothing tastes as good as peace feels.” Lysa Terkeurst
Expect to find difficulties when trying to obey God. It is a sign that we are at war in a spiritual battle.
When I crave for food off my plan, I must use it as a prompt to pray.
Food can fill our stomachs but never our souls. Possessions can fill our houses but never our hearts. Sex can fill our nights but never our hunger for love. Children can fill our days but never our identities. Only Jesus can truly satisfy us.
Define your week by obedience, not by a number on the scale. Ask yourself:
Did I overeat this week on any day?
Did I move more and exercise regularly?
Do I feel lighter than I did at this time last week?
Did I eat in secret or out of anger or frustration?
Did I feel that, at any time, I ran to food instead of to God?
Before I hopped on the scale, did I think I’d had a successful, God-pleasing week?
The only true satisfaction we can seek is the satisfaction of being obedient to the Lord.
We need food to consume, but food is never supposed to consume us.
We live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.