Gluttony
I am so thankful that God loves me in spite of me. He sacrificed so much to give me salvation—to call me, to justify me, and even to glorify me (Romans 8:30).
But I have some besetting sins. One is gluttony. Ouch! I said the word. Who wants to identify with gluttony? Granted, I'm not huge (but I could be on my way), but neither am I thin. But I think about food all the time; I want something in my mouth all the time. I'm not even hungry when I want to eat, to chew, to crunch. Admittedly, my choice is usually sugary or a carbohydrate of some type. And I don't even feel well as a result! So why do I continue?
Proverbs 23:2 says to "put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite" (ESV). The NIV uses that awful word instead of appetite—gluttony! And the next verse says, "Do not desire his (the ruler's) delicacies, for they are deceptive food."
I have finally realized that my eating, my grazing, is a spiritual battle. It's not just a matter of self-control, although that's certainly a part of it. If self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23), then my lack is a spiritual battle, not physical.
So my battle is not eh "battle of the bulge"' it is truly war "against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore I must choose "to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11)!
That means I must say "no" to those appealing but unnecessary treats at the grocery store—especially those I tend to pig out on. Then they won't be available when "the munchies hit". It's not that I can never have them, but I can't have an abundance available until and unless I can control their hold on me. I can drink tea, drink water, and eat fruit or raw veggies, but stay away from candy, cookies, chips, and crackers!
I am asking God for victory over this vice, this stronghold.
Because I seem to think about food all the time, I must "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
I'm sure I am not alone in this battle! We have so much junk food available to us—a scheme of the devil? I pray these verses that have spoken to me will help others who are struggling in this area.
But I have some besetting sins. One is gluttony. Ouch! I said the word. Who wants to identify with gluttony? Granted, I'm not huge (but I could be on my way), but neither am I thin. But I think about food all the time; I want something in my mouth all the time. I'm not even hungry when I want to eat, to chew, to crunch. Admittedly, my choice is usually sugary or a carbohydrate of some type. And I don't even feel well as a result! So why do I continue?
Proverbs 23:2 says to "put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite" (ESV). The NIV uses that awful word instead of appetite—gluttony! And the next verse says, "Do not desire his (the ruler's) delicacies, for they are deceptive food."I have finally realized that my eating, my grazing, is a spiritual battle. It's not just a matter of self-control, although that's certainly a part of it. If self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23), then my lack is a spiritual battle, not physical.
His divine power has granted to us
all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us
to his own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3
So my battle is not eh "battle of the bulge"' it is truly war "against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore I must choose "to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11)!
That means I must say "no" to those appealing but unnecessary treats at the grocery store—especially those I tend to pig out on. Then they won't be available when "the munchies hit". It's not that I can never have them, but I can't have an abundance available until and unless I can control their hold on me. I can drink tea, drink water, and eat fruit or raw veggies, but stay away from candy, cookies, chips, and crackers!
I am asking God for victory over this vice, this stronghold.
The weapons of [my] warfare
are not of the flesh
but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:4
Because I seem to think about food all the time, I must "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
I'm sure I am not alone in this battle! We have so much junk food available to us—a scheme of the devil? I pray these verses that have spoken to me will help others who are struggling in this area.
Comments
Post a Comment