Problems and issues from everyday living wear me down.  Minor concerns add up and drag me down.  As I have got older and aware of danger, I worry more than I did when I was younger.  I want to be prepared if the worst possible thing happens.  However, I get stressed over something that may never come to pass.  I want to have future plans mapped out so I know what to expect.  Anytime I focus on negatives, I create emotional distress.  I need to lean on God and let Him carry me. Isaiah 46:4 is, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until yourRead More →

Every time I mess up, I tell myself I am a failure.  I get tired of continuing to fail, so I resolve to do better next time.   As I have grown closer to God, I understand I am imperfect and will mess up. It feels good to let go of shame and to stop worrying about being perfect.  My beliefs about food have greatly changed.  Food is to  nourish my body and not to soothe  stress.  My stomach has shrunk so I no longer can eat as much food as I once ate.  Last week, I put the box of candy down as soon asRead More →

God’s strength leads me through my life.  Without Him, I am unable to accomplish ordinary tasks.  God helps me let go of negative emotions like anger, greed, and jealousy.  I am a mess without His guidance. Negative thoughts pop into my mind.  My gut instinct is to nurture anger and fear.  I fight the urge to focus on the negative in my life and dwell on “what if” it gets worse.  As I have become older and more spiritually mature, I hate the way negative thoughts feel.  Not only do I feel the anger and anxiety, I know I am out of step with God’sRead More →

My selfish wants stand in the way of my devotion to God.  These self-seeking wishes divide my heart and make my spiritual walk wishy-washy.  I fear never getting my desires fulfilled.  My unwillingness to surrender these wants keeps me from growing closer to God. James 1:8 is, “Their loyalty is divided. between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”  (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  Divided hearts are detestable to God.  He commands us to completely surrender to Him.   When I have one foot chasing my wants and the other trying to follow God, I can’t doRead More →

Stress is my constant companion.  I wish for of peaceful days, but end up surrounded by trials and troubles. Sometimes I turn a minor inconvenience into a larger complication by my reaction to stress.   My mind replays a unfavorable scene over.  I rehearse possible endings for situations, creating the worst possible scenario.  My reactions to stress create a larger problem that what I started with. Isaiah 43:1 is, “But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you… he who formed you …;  I have summoned you by name, you are mine. (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011).  God has namedRead More →

Sometimes I chase my wants, forgetting other tasks I should do.   Most of the time my selfish wish is not fulfilled.  I focus on this desire, unable to stop thinking about how much I “need” it.  I start believing that nothing goes my way and I am unlucky.  Feeling defeated, my emotions drive me to food. Philippians 2:3 is, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  When I take the time to pray forRead More →

I trust in God in all situations and problems.  He never fails and guides me through my darkest trial.  Food can never help me find answers or guidance; it temporarily helps me feel better.  Recently, I gave in to stress and turned to food.  After all this time, I should know better.  I felt bloated and emotionally spent for slipping again. I realized my misplaced trust needed to be shifted back to God. Proverbs 3:5 is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”  (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011).  When I trust my own strength,   I becomeRead More →

I believe wholeheartedly that God created me with faults for a higher purpose.  He intended me to use my experiences to help others struggling with the same imperfections.  I still think about food and occasionally slip.  Sometimes, I get stuck in a rut of overeating and feel tempted to give up.  Deep down, I know God lifts me out of my pit and can still use me. Psalm 139:16 is, “You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004,Read More →

No matter what happens to me, I can lean on God’s marvelous, wonderful love. When negatives outweigh positives, I get dragged down. Negative thinking traps me into believing the world is out to get me, I have no friends, and I deserve bad things to happen.  But God’s love tells me different. Psalm 42:8 is, “But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to the God who gives me life.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  God’s love will never fail me.  No matter what I face, I can lean onRead More →

Anger is a natural human emotion.  I can have little annoyances build up until I explode with rage.  Other times, an unfair situation enrages me.  In this life, stuff is going to annoy me.  I have a choice in dealing with my angry feelings. Ephesians 4:26 is, “And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’  Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.”  (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007).  I can allow anger to control me.  It consumes my entire being, drowning out reason.  My anger controls me when I choose to dwellRead More →