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| Emotional Eating: What are you Really Hungry For? Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9 When I first read this passage and wanted to expound upon it, I planned to tell you the tale of three gardens. We conducted a homeschool experiment last year using three different types of soil for three different gardens. One we dug deep, one was shallow, one midway between the two. For two of the gardens we used regular water; one was drenched daily in water saturated with duck manure. I was going to tell you how that all worked out, and the lessons we learned, and how we noticed that our garden didn't grow anything we didn't first plant. Reaping. Sowing. That sort of thing. But I've changed my mind. I'm not going to tell you about the three gardens. I think you have enough sense to figure it out for yourself. And you've no doubt heard hundreds of gardening illustrations. Jesus used gardening illustrations because he lived in an agricultural society. We don't. So let's ditch the gardening talk and chat about something really important: junk food. I'm sitting here in my office, alone on a Saturday night, writing a book filled with profound spiritual insights. Well, at least I hope it's filled with profound spiritual insights. I have gentle praise music playing in the background, an aromatic candle burning brightly on the table beside me, and a cup of hot apple cider on my desk. Talk about your inspirational environments! Ah, writer's heaven. (I decided not to mention that my neighbor's toddler has been screaming at the top of her lungs for two solid hours. I wouldn't want to spoil your sense of the ambiance.) Anyway, can you guess what I'm thinking about in the midst of all this inspiration? Donuts. Chocolate-covered donuts, to be exact. Truth be told, I've been thinking about chocolate-covered donuts since I woke up this morning. That's twelve solid hours of donut fixation. I think I may be suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. They sell them (the donuts, not obsessive-compulsive disorders) at the local grocery store, and it's still open for a few more hours. I'm thinking I could brush my hair, throw on some clothes, and dash on over there real quick, and no one would be the wiser. It would be my little secret. Yes. A donut would be just the thing right now. Yet, I am standing firm. I am not going to buy that donut. And I'll tell you why. It's because I spent an hour and a half working out in the gym this afternoon. Did you know it takes forty-five minutes on the treadmill to burn off two Oreo cookies? A donut probably takes twice the time. Now that I'm making an effort in a positive direction, I can honestly say that junk food is less tempting. There's another factor at play here, too. Not only is my mind working for me, but my body is, too. Something has changed within me. I used to be able to polish off an entire bag of Oreos in one sitting. No kidding. Now, if I eat more than a handful, I feel sick to my stomach. My body doesn't want it, even if my taste buds do. I've noticed that my body literally rejects junk because it has become accustomed to my new, healthier eating patterns. I think this principle holds true in the spiritual realm as well. As we develop our spiritual taste buds by feeding ourselves a healthier diet, we have less desire for junk food. And when those old cravings come calling, we have more power to resist. You'll also notice changes in your appetite. Things you once consumed greedily, like romance novels, will lose their appeal. Your spirit will cry out, "Yuck! Gross me out already! Feed me something real." Just like I'm resisting that donut that's been calling my name all day, you'll find it easier to resist soap operas, stupid jokes, and idle phone conversations. Your spirit just won't tolerate that kind of junk food anymore. But don't start by resisting. That won't work. Start by feeding yourself the right stuff. Read your Bible every day without fail. Then carve out time for other uplifting Christian books. Check out The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith. Next, try Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss and anything you can get your hands on by Andrew Murray. Surround yourself with "the great cloud of witnesses," by reading missionary biographies like Peace Child by Don Richardson or A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot. If you can track down Helen Roseveare's autobiography, Give Me This Mountain (InterVarsity Press), it will change your life forever. It did mine. Feed your other senses, as well. We are such slaves to our taste buds, it's ridiculous. Feast your eyes. Make your home a beautiful place. If you can't make your whole house beautiful, pick a room. My house is a perpetual wreck, but my prayer room is always neat and it's flat-out gorgeous. Brightly painted. Lovely Victorian pictures on the wall. Flowered couch. Pretty pillows. A little table covered in white lace with a flower arrangement and candle on top. Next to my "God chair" is my prayer basket containing my Bible, prayer journal, and all the books I'm currently working on. I spend time in my prayer room because it feeds my spirit. What about your sense of touch? Hug someone! Treat yourself to a massage, rather than a box of Godiva. Take cozy baths and let Calgon take you away while you read your missionary biography! How about your sense of smell? Feast on scented candles. I like Gold Canyon brand the best, because they seem the most aromatic. To please your sense of hearing, play uplifting praise music. Right now, I'm listening to Inspirational Piano Moods (Straightway Music,1999), which was sent to me as a gift from one of my Canadian readers named Margaret. What a blessing it has been! You need to be feeding your spirit good, quality food like this. I guarantee your taste buds will begin to take a back seat as you nourish your spirit through ALL the senses God has granted you. Your spirit will adjust and your cravings for spiritual junk will gradually subside. Not disappear,mind you. Subside. The key is to stick with it. "The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Thousands of women have broken free from emotional eating with Becoming the Woman I Want To Be: A 90-Day Journey to Renewing Spirit, Soul & Body. We even offer a free supplemental on-line support program called The 90-Day Renewal. Learn more. |
