Well, that was an unexpected teary end.  I sat watching the darkness recede as golden rays peeked through my living room blinds. Unfortunately, golden light mingled with tears made it hard for me to see the scriptures on my screen.

My sleeve was tear-soaked as I tried to get my emotions under control.

“God, I hate food addiction!”.  I whispered. “It’s a dirty thief, and the world seems to push it in all of its junk food glory.

As a former food addict, I know the pain of feeling trapped in the grip of excess flesh and cravings.

It’s taken me decades to fight my way out of this self-inflicted prison.

Many of us blame God for these bodies we came prepackaged in. What’s harder to grapple with is how we manage these loaner temples.

It makes you wonder,

Does God care if we eat poor diets and rarely exercise?

If you walked into a typical place of worship and looked around at the condition of God’s people, you might believe that it’s no big deal. Unfortunately, even the leaders bear the marks of overindulgence.

The mere mention of proper diet and exercise has become so highly charged; we risk being branded as “Body-Shamers.”

And this keeps us stuck.

We lack the conviction to confront our poor eating habits and gross mismanagement of God’s temples.

We’ve become so culturally anesthetized that we no longer call gluttony a sin, nor do we seek the Lord’s forgiveness.

Here’s the truth:

Your health matters.  It matters to God, and it matters to the body of Christ.

Romans 12: 1-2 says,

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  

God cares what we do in the flesh.  He cares so much that he invites us to present ourselves before him.  His standard for us is holiness ­-his way.  The world will tell us it’s okay to eat this and indulge in that.  But God is Holy.  He will never lessen his standard.  As a matter of fact, the Lord is calling on us to discern his will by renewing our minds with his written word.

As a believer, then you know you have been purchased at the highest price possible.

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  (1 Corinthians 6:20)

I understand the devastation of feeling trapped in your skin. However, I am confident of this; The same God who stepped down from Heaven to die on a cross for our sins, how much more will he roll out a Heavenly plan to deliver you from the snare of gluttony.

Choose to submit your body to God. Then, ask for forgiveness. Finally, begin renewing your mind through his word.

Let God lead you to lasting freedom.  He is able and willing.

My body, my business! Right?

Not in the least.  You see, our individual bodies make up the collective Body of Christ.  That may not sound like a big deal, but it is in Heaven. Every one of us has a divine mission to carry out.  These bodies are the only vehicles we get on Earth to carry out the Father’s will.

God means for your body to feed the hungry, care for orphans, and spread the Gospel.  You have appointed times and places to be.   Someone is waiting for your feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel to show up and share salvation.

So yeah, your health matters!  The next step is yours…

My Journey