My holy grail verse when food temptations attack is Galatians 5:16: 

 ^“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  

This tiny sentence contains all the strategy, wisdom, and practical advice we need to overcome food temptation. Here’s how it can work for you.

The book of Galatians is a powerful message to ordinary; believers like us. The apostle Paul nearly shouts in all six chapters of Galatians that we are saved and made right with God by faith in Jesus and not our puny efforts. 

This message is significant because our salvation is built on Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. We are saved because of HIS finished work on the cross, not our efforts.

I know I’m speaking basic Christianese 101, but unless we fully understand that Jesus made way for us through his body, we won’t find the success we need in our bodies. 

Have you ever asked yourself, “How is it that salvation is all about Jesus and his body and his works, but weight loss is all about my body and my works? The diet industry has been pushing this message forever. Hear me when I say we cannot find lasting success in the flesh without Christ. Jesus is and always will be the only way. Read ALL of Galatians if you need further convincing. 

Now that we’ve laid the foundation, let’s build a plan to defeat food cravings. This plan requires no special equipment or purchases. You will need faith, a firm understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to pray.

Our powerhouse verse begins with the phrase, “But I say, walk….” The first thing Paul encourages us to do is move. Walking implies moving steadily toward a destination. Walking is not a wait-and-see approach. Nor is it without purpose. To walk, we need to put in a steady effort to achieve our intended goal. Walking can also be an aimless activity that leads us away from where or what we truly desire. The real frustration on any weight loss journey is when we’ve put in the effort with nothing to show. This is kind of like wandering aimlessly.   Worse yet, it is when we put in blood, sweat, tears, and miles while white-knuckling our way to weight loss, only to grow weary on the journey and give up or land back where we started.

Most of my dieting life looked like the two models above, and I imagine you’ve also experienced this or know someone who has.  Each example above relies on our good works and willpower.  So, what’s the Bible’s solution for this? I’m so glad you asked.

You already know the next part of the phrase from our key verse, “But I say, walk by the Spirit,” Paul very clearly tells us who we are to walk with. Food cravings, overeating, undereating, pornography; whatever has you trapped, all of it is a part of Jesus’ finished work. These cravings/vices happen in the flesh. The Holy Spirit moved inside you the day you accepted Jesus as your savior for that very reason. The Spirit will give you the strength to resist temptation and keep you from wandering. Would you like to know how he does that? Paul tells us to walk by the Spirit. That means we must be in sync with what the Spirit says. You cannot hear what he is saying if you are not listening. Reading scripture will enable you to recognize the Holy Spirits’ voice. Sitting in silence during prayer time will also help you hear him. When you do begin to listen to his voice, do what he says. Take one step after the other in obedience. That’s how you walk in the Spirit.

 I remember the first time I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence at mealtime. I ate a bowl of cereal, even though I wasn’t hungry. I went to shove a heaping spoonful of soggy cereal in my mouth, but I felt like my mind was saying no. I ignored that feeling because the cereal was good, and I didn’t want it to go to waste. I shook off the feeling and ate it anyway. I went in for another spoonful when something/someone yelled, “NO!” on the inside of me. It rattled me so much that I dropped the bowl on the floor. Milk, mush, and porcelain shards flew everywhere. Before that moment, I had been praying for months to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice. I finally got what I prayed for. I could have done without the mess, however!

Honestly, I had never experienced an audible voice like that before, nor have I since that day. Talk about an introduction!

This next and final step changed everything for me, and I pray it does the same for you. Let’s read our crucial verse one last time but this time, read it aloud if possible. 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  

Do you see it? Did you hear it? This verse is a promise. It’s not a maybe, or hopefully; we can defeat our flesh. It’s a guarantee! When we commit to allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us to step by step, we cannot gratify the desires of the flesh. That means we can overcome food cravings through the HOLY SPIRIT. I used to wonder what I was doing wrong against sinful cravings. I failed so often that it seemed scripture was wrong, and I needed to do more and work harder. 

Here’s what I got wrong for so long. The Bible states in Titus 1:2 that God NEVER lies! Since God can’t lie, the error fell back on me. I was mixing many of the world’s diet solutions with my faith and hoping for victory.  

• I elevated diet products to the place of my savior. 
• I prayed daily but didn’t know how to hear the Holy Spirit leading me in prayer. 
• I spoke positively but not always scriptural truths. 
• I committed to my physical regimen more than my spiritual relationship with Jesus. 
• I used willpower to resist temptation, not warfare.

God’s plan is fail-proof if you walk by the Spirit. We don’t have to give in to our flesh every time temptation pops up. We get to walk hand in hand with the Holy Spirit toward victory. He is the personal trainer you have been searching for. He is your guarantee for success. 

May God direct your every step.

Kim Jagwe, Author of God’s Perfect Size ™