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I consider myself to be a “pull myself up and keep going” person when faced with difficulty. I trudge through misfortune instead of turning to God. Dealing with problems would be easier if I allowed the King of Kings to help me. Isaiah 43:2 is “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) God carries me when I lack the strength to go on. ThereRead More →

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I had dental work last week to repair an old filling. When I left the dentist, I was hungry, but could not feel part of my mouth. Before, I would power through this numbness to eat. This time, I did not feel like eating until it wore off. I also was not thinking of all the food I would eat once I could. Ephesians 4:22-23 tells us to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015. I no longerRead More →

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Sometimes, I forget I need God’s power to stay away from food. The world tells me I need willpower and determination to eat healthy. I know my food slips are attempts to fix emptiness only God can fill. I need to turn to God for comfort instead of food. Psalm 121:1-2 is “I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) God is my source of strength. I have unsuccessfully tried to eat healthy on my own and failed. When I turn to Him,Read More →

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Like everyone else, I start the New Year by thinking of ways to improve myself. Some of my past resolutions have been unrealistic and failed to bring permanent change. I need to find why I fall short of my goals. Most (if not all) of my food slips are from eating to fill my spiritual needs. I will never be done growing spiritually. In Matthew 5:48, we are commanded to, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ( Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). Even though I will never be perfect, God desires I keep striving towards perfection. I fall flat on myRead More →

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Lights are hung outside my house. The tree is trimmed and decorations cover my fireplace. My house is ready for Christmas, but I am not. There are no presents under our tree. My schedule is packed with parties and fun holiday activities. Fun turns to frantic when I forget why I celebrate. I need to prepare my heart and mind to celebrate the coming of Christ. Matthew 1:21 is, “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Holy Bible, New International Version, 2011). I lose the trueRead More →

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In: Emotional eating, Encouragement

The closer I get to God, the harder it is for me to drift away. My heart feels “not right” after I barely glance at my devotions for a few days. I get a sour feeling in my stomach when I eat too much and realize I have slipped. God uses these empty feelings to draw me back to Him. Psalm 27:8 is, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). God calls me to draw close to Him even when I go through the motions. I amRead More →

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On my own, I am weak and powerless. I forget my limitations and try to make things happen. My efforts waste both time and energy. I keep forcing things to work and worry when it falls apart. I end up tired and stressed. Isaiah 40:29 is, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015) God gives me strength to do what He wants me to do. Without Him, my efforts are useless and accomplish little. God also gives me wisdom so I don’t waste time on things he doesn’t have for me. He gives me allRead More →

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In the past, seeking God was not the my first choice when I was stressed. I ran to food, complained to friends, or avoided situations. Complaining and avoiding solved none of my problems. I got temporary pleasure from stuffing my face because food helped me forget about my problems. My troubles still annoyed me and I had guilt from overeating again. Matthew 11:28 is, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). Jesus wants us to bring our troubles to Him. Only God can helpRead More →

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I am struggling to get over an upper respiratory virus. In the past, being sick was my excuse to overeat. When I don’t feel good, I want food. I used to stuff food down my upset or queasy stomach for comfort. Since I never remember if “Feed a fever, starve a cold,” is correct, I eat whenever I feel ill. Excess food has never cured my sicknesses. I think some of my minor illnesses are from eating too much unhealthy food. This time, I did not want to overeat. I slept and binge watched old shows for comfort instead. Psalm 147:3 is, “He heals theRead More →

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This school year, I agreed to co-direct one act play. So far, I am having fun being creative. But, these added responsibilities increase my stress. During my morning quiet time, my mind reminds me of things I need to do. I have to work harder to connect with God. Psalm 37:5 is, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015). I have to trust God and leave everything in His hands. When I commit my plans to Him, He guides and calms me. In the past, I stuffed my face with excess foodRead More →