(spiritual) Devotion #8
Hi, Everyone.
Thank you for the feedback yesterday. I do want to say, in advance of today's devotion, that for me overeating is sin. I base that on James 4:17, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (NLT). This is not intended to condemn anyone.
The following is from my personal journal dated April 16, 2007.
This morning the Lord so gently talked to me about overeating, continuing to eat past the point of receiving all I need to sustain my life. I realize that whenever I give in to cravings, I choose to gratify my flesh over enjoying the presence of God.
While I recognize that overeating is a sin, in general, it is much harder to "own" it as MY sin. I took that to God in prayer, and He reminded me of the cross.
God lovingly reminded me that my sin of overeating was nailed to the cross, along with all the other sins of the entire world--past, present, and future. He gently told me that I can "own" my sin then lay it down before the cross, for the price has been paid and reconciliation assured.
My Father led me to Colossians 1:22, "He has now reconciled [me] in His fleshly body through death, in order to present [me] before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."
He also led me to 1st Peter 2:24, "He Himself bore [my] sins in His body on the cross, so that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds [I am] healed."
It is God's work to remove my sin from me and to heal me from going astray (even in overeating), and He has done that work through the sacrifice of my precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Just as there is no other way to solve the sin problem than Jesus, and just as there can be no healing outside of Jesus, He is the answer to my sin problem of overeating and my need for healing from gluttony. The work's been done. All I have to do is choose the answer. I choose Jesus!
God asked me if I could picture myself before Him as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. I have accused myself for SO long, which I now see was the "accuser of the brethren" [Satan] at work. In prayer, I pictured myself at the foot of the cross, with grace flowing down like thick, anointing oil, onto my head, into my mind, onto my body, into my heart. In praise and thanksgiving, I just basked in His Holy Presence, in His Love, and in His Healing Mercy.
I am reminded of the precious promise found in Deuteronomy 4:29, "From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart." I'm in my "from there" place, and I know I have found that which I have sought for so long...my Lord, my God, my Healer, the All-Sufficient One.
Today, when you have a craving, make a conscious choice to either give in to the craving or enjoy God's presence.
Blessings,
Mary
Thank you for the feedback yesterday. I do want to say, in advance of today's devotion, that for me overeating is sin. I base that on James 4:17, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (NLT). This is not intended to condemn anyone.
The following is from my personal journal dated April 16, 2007.
This morning the Lord so gently talked to me about overeating, continuing to eat past the point of receiving all I need to sustain my life. I realize that whenever I give in to cravings, I choose to gratify my flesh over enjoying the presence of God.
While I recognize that overeating is a sin, in general, it is much harder to "own" it as MY sin. I took that to God in prayer, and He reminded me of the cross.
God lovingly reminded me that my sin of overeating was nailed to the cross, along with all the other sins of the entire world--past, present, and future. He gently told me that I can "own" my sin then lay it down before the cross, for the price has been paid and reconciliation assured.
My Father led me to Colossians 1:22, "He has now reconciled [me] in His fleshly body through death, in order to present [me] before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach."
He also led me to 1st Peter 2:24, "He Himself bore [my] sins in His body on the cross, so that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds [I am] healed."
It is God's work to remove my sin from me and to heal me from going astray (even in overeating), and He has done that work through the sacrifice of my precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Just as there is no other way to solve the sin problem than Jesus, and just as there can be no healing outside of Jesus, He is the answer to my sin problem of overeating and my need for healing from gluttony. The work's been done. All I have to do is choose the answer. I choose Jesus!
God asked me if I could picture myself before Him as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. I have accused myself for SO long, which I now see was the "accuser of the brethren" [Satan] at work. In prayer, I pictured myself at the foot of the cross, with grace flowing down like thick, anointing oil, onto my head, into my mind, onto my body, into my heart. In praise and thanksgiving, I just basked in His Holy Presence, in His Love, and in His Healing Mercy.
I am reminded of the precious promise found in Deuteronomy 4:29, "From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart." I'm in my "from there" place, and I know I have found that which I have sought for so long...my Lord, my God, my Healer, the All-Sufficient One.
Today, when you have a craving, make a conscious choice to either give in to the craving or enjoy God's presence.
Blessings,
Mary
"Don't tell God how big your storm is; tell your storm how BIG your God is!"
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
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