I Believe: Diet culture is powerless without the cross.

After a lifetime of yo-yo diets, numerous false starts, and my diet culture mentality’s sudden death, I am finally free of food addiction. I thought freedom would come wrapped in cabbage leaves with a side of clarified butter. Instead, it showed itself through the ancient text of scripture. Words so unassuming yet powerful enough to sever addiction’s ties and rewire a warped perception of self-control.
Since this is my blog and I am God’s servant, I’m going to speak from a place of rawness and realness. Many can’t fathom ever being free of overeating and carrying around excess weight. We pray and hope that things will change. Each new diet, each new effort failed only solidifies what we already suspect. We will always struggle with food. Besides, God loves us no matter how fat we get.
God does love you. He always will. He also loves you enough to genuinely, absolutely set you free. Your freedom is just NOT going to come in the ways you’ve tried or the ways you hoped it would.

I Believe: God’s freedom from food addiction is wrapped up in your total healing.

The Father operates like a surgeon cutting away lies, healing past hurts, and renewing your mind. Is it possible your food addiction is a coping mechanism? If it is, then your food freedom lies in finding the roots that started your food abuse in the first place.
Diet culture would have you believe that it’s the food’s fault. Scripture says,
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16

We also learn why diets fail us,

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? Colossians 2:20

The world tells us what to eat and how many grams to consume. My question is, how much freedom is there in walking around with a food scale and a wedge of cheese in your pocket? God made good nourishing natural foods for us to consume. I’ve embarked on a gazillion diets that worked in the short term but left me feeling depressed because I knew I could never submit to their rules for a lifetime. I need a strawberry-banana smoothie every now and then, yall!

I Believe: God has a custom plan for your freedom.

Jesus says we died to all of these Earthly rules and false bits of wisdom. Why not drop kick that latest diet trend to the curb and catch our collective breaths. Now that your head is clear let’s tackle your next steps on the road to food freedom if that appeals to you. This time we’re doing it by the Book (Yeah, that’s my attempt at Bible humor. Sorry, not sorry;)

Steps to get you started:

1. Worship God. Sing songs and speak words that honor him and his holiness.
2. Pray and ask God what is causing you to overeat. It’s okay to pray often and leave time for listening as well.   Keep pressing in until you receive revelation.
3. Ask God to heal whatever (whomever) started you on the road to food addiction.
4. Renew your mind. Read scripture and work to commit verses to memory. Pray that the truths you learn will change you inside and out.
5. Give thanks. Be sure to thank God for all that he is doing in your life. Thank him for his perfect love and plans for you. Thank him because he is worthy of your honor.
Galatians 5:1 has been my life verse on this journey. You will see it often because it feeds my soul. Find yours and plaster it on your heart.

It is for freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (ESV)

Lastly, commit to God’s plan for your freedom. Trust his timeline. He is faithful to those who love him.

Blessings in Christ,
©Kim Jagwe ♥