My thoughts control what I eat. I love to search the internet and social media sites for entertainment. Everywhere I surf has pictures and recipes of delicious looking food. My bored mind can look at food and believe I am starving. I love searching Pinterest instead of digging through cookbooks. I have learned if I look at Pinterest food boards for fun, I will think about food later. When I think about food, I end up overeating. I can stop this cycle by focusing on God since he helps my wandering mind stay away from sin.
James 1:14-15 is, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004, 2007) When I sit and think about food, I am feeding temptation. My mind starts to daydream about how good food tastes. Before long, I am convinced I need to eat. After I have overeaten, I look back and wonder why I slipped again.
To keep my mind focused on God, I have to start my day with Him. On days I sleep late, or don’t have time to do a devotion, I have to spend a few minutes focusing on a verse. Days that I fail to start with God, are days that I eat too much. It takes effort to begin my day with God since my early morning mind gets distracted. I would rather focus on the tasks of the day, of try to get a few minutes of sleep.  I think quiet time with God is similar to spending time with my spouse. I love him, the time is enjoyable, and I do it. I have to push through distractions and spend time with God every morning. No matter how long I spend with God in the morning, I do need to re-focus my mind on Him during the day.  This makes it easier for me to focus on God instead of the food. I avoid temptation by starting my day with God.  I fight temptation throughout the day by focusing on God.