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The truth about comfort foods
Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in [the] Holy Spirit.
Food is an important part of life. We all eat to live but some instead even live to eat, which is a wrong way of life. You know that excess eating is related to heart disease and high blood pressure. It can put strain when you walk. Besides over eating can make you look fat. That’s the physical part.
Wrong eating affects emotionally too. Eating certain types of food can be addictive and when such stuff is not there it can make one restless. You peace when dependant on comfort food can become quite shaky.
Wrong eating has had bad ramifications in the Bible too. Esau was a glutton who lost his inheritance to Jacob due trading it for food. The beginning stage of the Israelites complaining against God started when they lusted for Egyptian food instead of trusting God to nourish them. And the biggest one; Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and by that, death entered the human race.
There’s a trend in people eating a lot of stuff comfort food. Here a person doesn’t eat to meet the needs of body ie for the physical but rather for emotional appeasement. Not just people who are overweight but even normal looking people have been getting into it. Comfort food is used to feel good after a hard days work or after difficult times.
I once was talking to a woman who said that she ate a lot so that she could tackle depression. On talking further I realized she was still in depression, she too understood that her comfort food was harming her. She wanted to leave that habit but found it near impossible to leave it. All that over eating did was make her obese and in a few months she was hospitalized. She not just gorged on food but now got addicted to sleeping pills too. Later by medical treatment she physically recovered and was put on a strict diet. She then by means of prayer and faith in the Lord Jesus decided to face her negative emotions. She took a stand against them instead of hiding her life into excessive eating. She became more confident emotionally and mentally. Also her weight normalized as well.
I’m not saying that emotional eating ie eating comfort foods is the same as gluttony though it possible in some cases that the boundaries between them are blurred. I’ve also noticed that both men and women fall prey to emotional eating. The reasons why people fall into it may differ but everyone needs to be free from it.
To be truly free from such addictions to comfort foods one must be willing to face their weaknesses and troubles with courage. Jesus can give you the courage it takes. One must understand that Jesus is willing to help you if you want to be helped. Take refuge in the Lord Jesus who gives true hope. Asking him in prayer is a sign that you are taking ownership of your situation instead of the situation owning you. Try to change your food habits. Keep fixed times and quantities for eating. Though, not every case may be extreme, you might want to consider medical treatment if you get breathless or have recurring chest pain etc due to overeating. Pray to the Holy Spirit that you take the right decisions with your eating and drinking.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Don’t keep facing the temptations that are being pushed over to you and let it run you over. Don’t keep getting overwhelmed by the economy or politics. Just call upon the name of the Lord and don’t give into negative emotions. Ask him to deliver in you in the righteousness of Jesus our Lord.
When you are in trouble take refuge in the name of the Lord God. The Lord will be your strong tower when you run up to him in prayer. He is mighty to save. He is almighty forever.
Being in a place of refuge is not about being scared in hiding. It is about being calm and trusting in Christ who is your refuge in difficult situations no matter what.
Taking refuge in danger is not an act of cowardice. Its in fact a very wise thing. It’s a wise thing to be in a bomb shelter when there is an air raid from bomber planes. Taking refuge away from heavy bombing is a tactical move in most armed forces till they can later launch a counter attack.
Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus when you are grave danger because he can hear you from his sanctuary. He loves those who trust in him and seek his kingdom and his righteousness.
2 Samuel 22:2-7 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. “The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 144:2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
When you trust in the Lord you are saying NO to terror, you are saying NO to the enemy’s plan for you. When you trust the Lord you say YES to his Christ’s plan for you.
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. The Lord Jesus comes that you may have life and life in abundance. Desire that God’s plan of life is manifest in your life.
For this I strongly suggest that you call upon his name when in danger of any sort. Doesn’t matter if you not used to pray loud, what matter is your faith in Christ. So, if you can’t pray out loud then pray in the silence of your heart. The Lord God will answer when you pray in faith. Amen.
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