BEYOND EMOTIONAL EATING - Spiritual Steps to Gain Victory Over FoodSample

DAY 3: RENEW

If changing our emotional eating habits and experiencing lasting weight loss were easy, there wouldn’t be so many people struggling. We’ve no shortage of good information. There’s a diet and health plan to meet almost every unique need. However, knowing what to do is not as big of an issue as knowing how to get yourself to do it!

In my journey and then decades of coaching women, I’ve determined that one of the biggest roadblocks to permanent transformation is our thoughts. We’re waging a battle of opinions that don’t agree with God’s truth. And that battle is happening in our minds!

Pay close attention to how you talk to yourself because you may just learn something very important. In the human brain, our most dominant thoughts win. Hopefully, you have many healthy and biblically sound thoughts that influence you.

But if you are continually struggling with habits and behaviors that you’ve failed to change, you are being driven by thoughts that are contrary to God’s word. I call these thoughts lies. In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives us a biblical prescription for what to think about:

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.

All day long, remind yourself to tune in to the negative thoughts and words you say to yourself. Also, pay attention to your persistent negative emotions. These will often shed light on the lies you believe. The moment you become aware of that negativity, take that thought captive by calling it out and saying with strength and conviction, “That’s a lie!”

For example, in the past, I would often think or say things like, “I can’t control my cravings, I’ll never lose weight. I’ll never have a healthy relationship with food.” My new response to that negative thought became: “No! That’s a total lie! When I walk in the Spirit, I have self-control. I have the mind of Christ and he is empowering me to change day by day.”

Don’t underestimate what God’s doing in your struggle to draw you closer to him and transform you into the person he wants you to become. He wants you to believe the truth about yourself and Him.

Watch your thoughts, they become your words.

Watch your words, they become your actions.

Watch your actions, they become your habits.

Watch your habits, they become—your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

~ Frank Outlaw

Becoming transformed by the renewing of your mind is life-changing. It’s something I’ve learned to pursue in all the dimensions of my life. And when I do, God tenderly reveals the lies I believe and where I’m living outside his will. It has not only changed my lifestyle habits, but saved my marriage, influenced how I run my business, changed my attitude about money, and so much more.