Devotion #41

Hi, Everyone.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 19, 2007. I love when you share how God speaks to you.

     II Peter 2:19 says, "By what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved." Food has been my master, for many years. When I experienced freedom in different areas of my life, I began to have a very strong desire to rid myself of anything that has a controlling influence on me. Overeating is, perhaps, the final stronghold.
     I'm in I Corinthians, in my Quiet Time, and the Lord drew me to I Corinthians 6:12-13, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body."
     All food is lawful for me. I am not "under law," so I don't have to obey a certain diet or adhere to a list of permissable and non-permissible foods. However, "not all things are profitable" for me. Not all foods are helpful to me.
     The Lord has given me a great question to ask myself, as part of eating with thanksgiving and with discipline. It is, "Will this food be helpful to me, in glorifying God?"
     I want to be like Paul who says, "I will not be mastered by anything." I am free in Christ to eat whatever I want, as long as the food I choose will be helpful to me and as long as I am not mastered by it. 
     Paul says, "Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them." Both food and the stomach are temporary. I've spent much time and energy in the past, thinking about food, planning what I can eat, and, at times, counting calories, keeping track of portions and food groups, cutting out this, giving up that. It was exhausting, and it didn't work!
     I want to spend my time and energy getting my soul "fat," rather than obsessing about getting my body thin. Don't get me wrong; I want a moderately-thin body, too. I just don't want to have that be my focus. I want to eat in moderation, enjoy what I eat, and then get on with what is truly of value--pursuing intimacy with Jesus Christ. I believe that if I do that, the moderately-thin body will evolve, also.

Today, consider if you are mastered, enslaved by food or a certain type of food. Whatever we focus on becomes larger. May it be Jesus. Listen to Michael W. Smith singing "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" (3 min. 5 sec.). There's a beautiful violin solo for the first 1 min. 30 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR0LiRiz4l4&feature=related

Blessings,
Mary

Hi Mary,
This devotional reminds me of when I made my decision to have the WLS over two years ago.  I wrestled with the type of surgery I was to have because I did not want to give up sugar.  I knew that I would have to give it up, and never be able to consume it safely again, if I had RNY.  I prayed and prayed, because I did not want to be controlled by my deisres, but I also did not want to permanently say goodbye to sugar.  I liked my ice cream and my cookies and cakes, especially butter cream frosting.  Well, the Lord gave me a message which I found to be so helpful in guiding me.  The message was "You have consumed more than your fair share of sugar in your life.  It's time to give it up."  After that, I was able to make my decision, and was able to go for over a year before I even tried sugar post-op.  Praise the Lord, I dumped.  I am so grateful that I cannot consume sugar. 

Did I mention that prior to my surgery, I was pre-diabetic, and now I am not? 

I hope this makes sense.

Hugs,
Trish

Hi, Trish.
I understand the tug of war, trying to decide if one can give up that addictive "whatever." Sugar is so addictive. I'm beginning to think sugar substitutes are, as well. I'm very proud of you, for being brave enough to get WLS, especially the one that places boundaries around you, that you could not place on your own. What a gift! I can tell that the Lord has helped you.
No, I didn't know that you were pre-diabetic, prior to WLS. I'm sure that helped you make the decision to have surgery. It honors the Lord, when we do our part to give Him a healthy temple to inhabit and use.
Blessings,
Mary

Hi Mary,

God is so good!  He used 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 in church on Sunday to remind me that I will only be enslaved by Him.  Now today he is reinforcing this scripture through your devotional.  I praise Him because since having this surgery I no longer have the desire for food I once did.  I am free to worship Him as my one and only master. 

I have struggled since having the surgery with whether or not I tried hard enough to please Him in this area of my life before having the surgery.  Still, even though I could never do or be enough, He allowed me to have it and has won the victory for me.  My promise to Him before the surgery and since the surgery is to use this restored body to glorify Him.  Please pray for me that I will always be faithful in this promise.

Thanks again for these meaningful devotionals.  You are such an inspiration .
Donna

Hi, Donna.
How nice to hear from you. Yes, I love how the Lord orchestrates things, in perfect timing. I want to encourage you to leave the past behind. I know that's easier said than done, but keep in mind that the Enemy is "the accuser of the brethren," so he wants you to feel guilty and tied to the past. Do the opposite, and tick him off! Praise God for restoration, for He will give back to you "the years that the locust have eaten."
You are loved.
Blessings,
Mary