God restores me so I can stay on track – even when I want to quit. I have my normal triggers – fatigue, stress, and available food calling my name. This past week, I enjoyed feasting on foods I normally don’t eat without overeating.  Instead of turning to food, I cried out to God for comfort.

1 Chronicles 16:11-12 is, “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.  Remember His wonderful deeds which he has done (New American Standard Bible, 1995).  During Christmas, I like to prepare my heart by spending additional reading God’s word.   This helps me to not only deepen my walk with Him, but I focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  It is easy to get sidetracked by all the parties and busyness. This year, my focus on Jesus and God’s gift that saves me from sin.

When the Lord first delivered me, I trusted in Him for strength daily. Sometimes I had to ask for strength to avoid temptation minute by minute. I took His life saving strength for granted for too long, where I sometimes forgot to rely on Him.  I gave in to temptation “just the once”.  However, the “one time” led to another, until I could not stop eating. Over time, I stopped depending on God and depended on my own strength. This year, I have a renewed focus on Him and know I must depend on the Lord continually.  I know I can enjoy this Christmas season without overeating

by trusting in Him constantly for strength.