Our Only Hope

Enjoying my cup of decaf coffee with one of my best friends ever.  No birthday cake for me!

Wow.  Sorry that I haven't posted here since last Wednesday.  I guess that's just a sign of how busy it has been.  But don't worry.  Everything has been going great.

We were away this weekend visiting some of our best friends, Keith and Kristin.  Keith celebrated his 40th birthday.  (Welcome to the club, Friend!)  It was refreshing and wonderful to be with them.  And I was able to stick to my eating plan, even when we went out with a large group of people to a fabulous restaurant on Saturday night.


Take Shape for Life is allowing me to better understand the triggers for my eating.  For example, when I'm with certain people...I want to eat.  Maybe it's what we always did when we were together.  Maybe those people totally stress me out and I want to eat away my stress.  Maybe I see those people most often when I'm tired and I want to eat to stay awake so I can enjoy their company longer.  It's not really the PEOPLE.  It's the reasons I want to eat.

• It's a Habit to Eat When We're Together
• I Want to Experience Pleasure
• I Want to Have More Fun
• I Need to Deal with Stress
• I Have to Conquer Fatigue

By no means is this list comprehensive, but it's a good start.  Food does not do any of these things, I'll be honest.  Let's look at more proper responses.

• Break the habit by not putting the food out or giving into the desire to munch.
• Enjoy my friends and family without distraction.  Fill up on good, thoughtful conversation.
• Laugh more, play games, be creative and make new memories together. (that don't revolve around food!)
• Pray.  Set better boundaries in unhealthy relationships.  Be more assertive or patient or full of grace...depending on what is needed.
• Change the time I spend with people.  Get more rest.  Go to bed.  The only truly good solution for fatigue is getting the proper rest my body needs.

This looks and sounds so easy.  But it requires a lot of work.

When I met with my counselor this week she asked me about my present relationship with God.  After a brief discussion she gave me sage counsel.  She said (and I paraphrase):

Guard your time with God as if your life depends on it, because it does.  In the same way you have guarded your eating plan and weight loss, now guard your quiet time and your prayer life.  Your only hope for freedom from your addiction to food is to replace it with your love and desire for Jesus.  That's something that can only grow by investing time with Him.  


Yes!  So true.  How many people do I know, myself included, who just exchange one idol or addiction for another?  I can't find freedom from food by drinking more coffee (though I'm not going to argue, it does help!) or by becoming addicted to not eating...which can easily happen to the over-eater who is successful. (Exchanging compulsive overeating for anorexia)

No, the only hope there ever was...and still is...is Jesus! So, I must guard my Bible with my life and I read it and I meditate on it and I memorize it to hide it in my heart.


John Piper posted this week, "If you are having trouble reading your Bible with deep and affecting meaning, imagine that you will die in about eight hours."

Now there's perspective, right?