By Karen O’Connor:
During my thirties, I had a food addiction. Sometimes I overate. Sometimes I didn’t eat at all. But I thought about food all the time—the warm bagels from the nearby bagelry, the cheese that made my mouth water whenever I walked past the dairy case at the grocery store, the delectable cakes and pies in the neighborhood bakery.
I indulged from time to time, but mostly I obsessed about these delights in my mind. I didn’t want to gain weight so I kept my distance from these trigger foods—at least some of the time––until I came to a point where my mind was more of a culprit than the food.
So one evening while attending a prayer service at church, as I agonized over these obsessive thoughts I asked the Lord in the confines of my heart to remove them and to restore within me a right way of thinking and behaving when it came to food. I told him I wanted to find God in my food addiction. I knew that without his grace I was a goner.
He heard me and answered, and I was delivered. Just days later I realized that I didn’t care any more about bagels or cheese or cakes and pies. That doesn’t mean I never ate those foods again. I did, but in small amounts and without compulsion. I cannot take any credit for this transformation. It is entirely God’s. I did my part after that deliverance by attending support meetings so that if I was tempted again I had friends to turn to. It has been thirty years since that night in church and the obsession has never returned.
Today I’m clear that whatever addiction one has—whether to sugar or carbs or wine or chocolate or soft drinks, God is the answer—and the only answer.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13 the Bible).
There is also help from various twelve-step groups based on the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous is one of them. Check out the official website for more information. http://www.oa.org/ And for practical and informative articles on nutrition, visit the Center for Science in the Public Interest, publishers of Nutrition Action Health Letter http://cspinet.org/
You too, can find God in food addiction.
©Karen O’Connor. Karen is an author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the Finding God Daily blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com
I loved your testimony of God’s healing your food addiction. I have known you for years and didn’t know that since you are so fit and trim. Would love for you to mention First Place 4 Health to your readers since it is a program of balance; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Our website features so many stories of people who have lost weight and kept it off. We also have a free E-Newsletter available. We have groups in over 12,000 churches. Blessings to you, sweet Karen!
Thank you, Carole. I’m sorry I didn’t think of mentioning your program. I will keep that in mind. I’m glad you brought it up in your comment.
I read this hoping to find something different than what I’ve already done. So frustrating when I read testimonies from people struggling with addictions who say, I received Christ as my Savior and Voila! No more addiction, or I just asked and cried and He delivered me. I’ve cried, believed, confessed, fasted, prayed in unknown tongues, fleshly works, not focusing on food and focused on relationship with God, counseling, support groups, accountablity partners, personal training, confessing, everything short of spinning on my head. So disheartening. But I do love knowing that people are being set free! Right now I’m still choosing to stay focused on my relationship with Christ, if nothing else, I’ll grow spiritually and prayerfully not physically. Lol.
Thank you, Brandy. I really do hear what you’re saying and I can imagine your frustration. I had struggles like yours in other areas of life such as co-dependency and unwise use of money for a time. Those did not heal as quickly as my food addiction. I like hearing that you are walking with Christ. He is our only true answer. I depend on Him daily, as well, since I am susceptible to temptation as all human beings are.
Brandy, I have another resource for you that is worth looking at:
http://www.firstplace4health.com/
This Christian ministry has had amazing results over the last several decades.
Thanks Karen for the information!