In a recent poll I sent out to my email list on weight loss challenges, I was startled to see that emotional eating got twice as many votes as the second highest vote getter.
I knew it was an issue, but not to that degree.
When I was obese, my main issue was emotional eating so I understand this issue from the inside out.
I believe that freedom from the issue comes down to three things: 1.
Courage to feel 2.
Willingness to trust 3.
Willingness to claim your power Let me explain.
Courage to feel In a movie I saw years ago, a wise old man said that women are "Creatures of the heart.
" God designed us as emotional beings.
Our emotions give us valuable feedback.
The issue comes when we allow our emotions to guide us into destructive behavior, like consistent overeating or a regular diet of foods that rob us of health and energy.
Many of us eat to "hide out" from negative emotions we are afraid to feel.
So, healing starts with taking an honest look at your eating behavior.
Keep a journal and pay attention to those times when you are eating when you aren't hungry.
What is the emotion you are feeling...
is it anger, depression, boredom, unworthiness? Whatever the emotions are, you must have the courage to stop burying them under food and face them honestly.
It is true what author Paula White says: "You cannot conquer what you will not confront.
" Willingness to Trust Once you have identified the negative emotions driving your behavior, you have to take a step of faith and believe that you will be able to handle these emotions with God's help.
In Psalm 46:1, we are assured of this: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
" When you are overwhelmed with emotions, do you turn to God first or to food first? When I dealt with emotional eating, I was using food as a substitute for God.
So one of my first steps was to be willing to let go of my dependence on food and grab hold of God.
It was the best decision I ever made, not only in my health but in my peace of mind.
Willingness to Claim Your Power Ephesians 3: 20 says: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
" You have power inside of you to change! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, then you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, which is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
That is an awesome thought, but it is also a disconcerting one.
It means acknowledging that power and being willing to use it.
The enemy would like nothing better than to convince you that you are a helpless victim who has no power.
He wants you to believe that you will never change.
He doesn't want you praying.
He doesn't want you praising God for what you have.
He doesn't want you meditating on the excellencies of God.
He doesn't want you studying God's word.
Because he knows that once you start doing those things, the power working within you will grow and you will no longer be open to the suggestions he gives you that lead to your destructive behavior.
The enemy wants you to live in fear, depression, anxiety, worry, anger, envy, jealousy, contention, and all the other emotions that are the fruits of a destroying spirit.
But God wants you to feast on the fruits of His spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
When you open yourself up to allow God to heal this area in your life, you can start to put food in its proper place and dine on spiritual food that satisfies you mind, body and soul.