Category: Explore the More

Ephesians 6:10-15, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Colossians 1:9-14, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Psalm 40:1-4, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3He put a new song in my mouth, Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. 4Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”

Isaiah 40:31, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Psalm 119:1-3, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!”

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Colossians 2:6-7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Romans 8:1-4, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Proverbs 3:21-23, “My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.”

Proverbs 4:10-15, 26, “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 14Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.” “26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

1 John 2:3-6, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 5: 1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5: 6-17, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not become partners with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Psalms 18:36, “Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.”

Over the next 12 weeks, commit to cultivate the habit of abiding in the Word. Commit to a minimum of 5 minutes per day to read the Word. Read the Proverb that matches the day of the month. Read Psalm 119. Read the books of John, 1 John, 2 John and 3 John, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians. Start anywhere, really and go at your own pace. Sometimes I find myself just abiding in a single passage for quite some time – reading it over and over and asking God questions. Sometimes that will lead me to another passage of Scripture. Just make it a habit to be in the Word. Commit not to go a single day without feeding on the Word. This is how we begin to truly walk with Him.

How are we to walk?

In Him

In His ways

In the law of the Lord

According to the Spirit

As wise

As children of lighthearted

In love

In the same way He walked

By faith

In good works

Securely

In a manner worth of the Lord

Peace

How do we walk in each of those ways? What does it look like in our daily lives?

As we move into the new year, people are choosing a guide word or words for the year. I encourage you to bring the Holy Spirit into that selection process so that you can walk in the steps that God has ordered for you!

Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Read John 15:1-17

Galatians 6:7-9, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Proverbs 4:25-26, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”

Colossians 3:1-4, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

Ephesians 4:21-24, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Some things to PRAYERFULLY consider as we enter 2024:

Where does God want you to focus in the Word in the new year?

Some words and themes to consider: Fruitfulness, perseverance, faithfulness, steadfastness, trust, seek, love, in Christ, Joy, peace, content, growth, abide/remain, glory, faith, relationship, renew, refresh, rest, holy, power, believe, wisdom, knowledge, praise/worship, perfection, see, hear, new, heart, righteousness, thoughts, words, grateful/thankful, prayer, healing, patience, goodness, gifts, walk, run, bold, encourage, help, prosper, eat, taste, satisfied, work, works, self-control, prayer, receive, release, remember, mercy, grace, miracles, mysteries, secrets, blessed, called, chosen, whole, forgiveness, favor, prosper, filled, satisfied, hunger, ,thirst, spirit, body, flesh, humble. submit, light, seed, redeemed, victory, the way, truth, life, presence, hope, freedom, more…

What Biblical principles do you most need to learn as we begin the new year?

In what areas of your life do you want change or correction?

What can you do to bring about that change versus what is God’s part?

Where do you need God to help you or strengthen you?

What daily habits do you need to develop to bring about that change?

How will you begin?

I’m trying to catch up on posting, so I am just going to drop the Scripture references from the past 6 weeks in this one post.

WORDshop: Session 13 – Challenging and Acting on Our Beliefs

Mark 9:21-23, “21And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Read the story of Roger Bannister: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-four-minute-mile

Read the story of The Elephant rope: https://medium.com/motivationapp/the-elephant-rope-c22ee790a226

WORDshop Session 15

Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Mark 7:15, “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Psalm 51:1-12, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Romans 10:8-10, “But what does it say?“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (ESV)

Proverbs 4:20-24, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

*** Proverbs 15:3, “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”

Proverbs 27:19, “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

James 4:6-10, “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Psalm 73:23-28, “Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Psalm 119:10-11, “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Proverbs 3:1-6, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with allyour heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

John 14:1, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalms 37:4-5, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.”

James 1:21, “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”

Mark 11:22-24, “Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

Matthew 12:33-37, “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Proverbs 16: 1-3, 9, “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. 3Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.9The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Psalm 27:13-14, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living! 14Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

WORDshop: Session 17 – It’s all about relationship

Matthew 22:37-40,“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

John 1:12, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”

Ephesians 3:14-20, “14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every familyc in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 1:16-23, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

WORDshop: Session 18 – Relationship with Food

1 Timothy 4:1-5, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.”

Romans 8:5-6, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”

The sinful nature thinks in terms of right and wrong and rebels against what is right. Always pushing the boundaries, justifying sinful behavior. The Spirit just seeks to glorifying God. The flesh seeks to exploit grace and the spirit seeks to honor grace.

Romans 8:1, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

Romans 7:21-25, “21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Colossians 2:16-23, “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”

Every relationship in this life is predicated on relationship with Christ.

Anti-nutrients

Cyanide in apples

Example of erythritol news scare

Colossians 1:15-20, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Man does not have the ability to create food. We can only modify what was already created. Hybrid fruits, genetic manipulation, chemical compounds, etc. We cannot create DNA, only modify.

Honey (Grayanotoxins): Bees collect nectar from flowers in order to create honey. If those flowers have a natural toxin, that toxin may end up in the honey from that beehive. One example is grayanotoxins, which plants such as rhododendrons and mountain laurel naturally produce. Eating honey with a high amount of this toxin can lead to “mad honey” poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or dizziness. This type of poisoning is rare.

• Beans (Phytohaemagglutinin): Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) is a lectin found in raw or undercooked beans. Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates and some plants produce them as a natural defense mechanism. In canned and properly cooked kidney beans, the low levels of PHA won’t affect you. But at high levels in raw beans, PHA can lead to nausea, severe vomiting, and diarrhea. Soaking the beans for a minimum of 5 hours and then boiling them in fresh water for at least 30 minutes will remove and destroy this toxin.
• Mushrooms (Mushroom toxins): It’s well known that some mushrooms are toxic. Depending on the type of mushroom you eat, you could experience milder reactions like nausea or diarrhea. More severe reactions include coma and death.
• Stone fruit, such as peaches or apricots (Amygdalin): Amygdalin, also called laetrile, is a natural chemical found in the seeds of apricots, bitter almonds, apples, peaches, and plums. The chemical is not found in the fruit itself and accidentally eating a seed or pit will not harm you. However, consuming a large amount of the seeds or pits can be problematic because enzymes in your intestines can turn amygdalin into cyanide and cause cyanide poisoning. Nearly 500 years ago, Swiss physician and chemist Paracelsus expressed the basic principle of toxicology: “All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison.” This is often condensed to: “The dose makes the poison.” It means that a substance that contains toxic properties can cause harm only if it occurs in a high enough concentration.

In other words, any chemical—even water and oxygen—can be toxic if too much is ingested or absorbed into the body. The toxicity of a specific substance depends on a variety of factors, including how much of the substance a person is exposed to, how they are exposed, and for how long.

Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Proverbs 16:25, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

When we rely on human understanding, we are very likely to take that seemingly right path that leads to death. An example in the area of food would be the government’s dietary advice. The call to eat low fat, high sugar has created an obesity epidemic and health crisis for multiple generations. It seemed good and right, but has led to death for many. God’s wisdom helps us to discern the actual right path – in everything.

Proverbs 2:1-11, “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”

1 Corinthians 1:19-20, “As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-21, “Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”And again,“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you -”

1 Timothy 4;1-4, “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.”

Psalms 32:8-9, “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

James 1:5-8, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

John 8:44, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17, “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Exodus 31:1-6, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!“And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make:”

In this weight loss/food battle, have you ever asked yourself, “What’s wrong with me?”. Maybe it was during or after a binge. Maybe it was in a time of frustration and resentment about having to constantly manage the whole thing. The Scripture has the power to answer that question and teach us what is true and right. No, there is not a diet and exercise plan laid out in Scripture. We are to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) We are to learn to be led by the Holy Spirit and be taught by Him. (Romans 8, John 14:26, 16:1, 1 John 2:27) We are to Trust in God, rather than what we think we know or understand of this world. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

What is true? I have tended to relegate Biblical truth to some ethereal place, applying only to “spiritual” things. The fact is that it applies to everything. It’s all truth, in all things, for all who trust in Him. The Creator knows His creation and not only can He lead us, He desires to, through his Word, as we seek His wisdom and rely on Him.

Jeremiah 17:5-10, “This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land.“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

Colossians 2:20-23, “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,“Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

When I realized that this verse was literally how my Weight Watchers journey had played out, I really began to question where I was putting my trust. I felt like I had been stuck and miserable for over 35 years, yet I was still turning to a constantly changing, ever more entangling program to try to find my freedom. Ultimately though, no matter how closely I followed the plan, no matter how “good” I was, I was still tormented. The constant desire for food was still there. The constant focus on food was still there. My desire, time and attention have been fixed on the things of the flesh, instead of the things of the Spirit.

Hebrews 13:8-9, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”

As I have begun to believe and understand this passage, in the context of my food and weight battle, I see that the Word really is alive and powerful and applicable to every area of our lives. I don’t need more of man’s weight loss plans or food science, I need more of God’s grace. I need to be led by his Spirit. I need to seek Him in ALL. Following man’s rules for 35 years not only did not help me, but had me more ensnared than ever; more frustrated; more discouraged; more defeated. I finally realized that I needed God’s wisdom in this area of my life, as much as any other, and that His wisdom does apply to ALL areas of my life.

Proverbs 8:1-36, “Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side, I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 3:5-8, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.”

Has the battle with weight ever felt like a sickness? It did for me. One day, after time in the Word, I realized that I needed healing for my body in this area, and the Word says I can have it!

How do we get wisdom?

– Cry out for it. (Proverbs 2:3)

– Seek it. (Proverbs 2:4)

– Ask for it. (James 1:5)

– When you ask, be in faith, do not waver – believe! (James 1:6)

– Love and prize wisdom. (Proverbs 4:6-8)

James 1:5-8, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Where do we find Wisdom? God is the source of ALL wisdom.

– The Word.

– Teaching of the Holy Spirit

How do we know we have wisdom?

– We fear (reverence) God. (Proverbs 9:!0)

– We love correction. (Proverbs 9:8-9; 12:1&15)

What are the benefits of wisdom?

– health/healing (Proverbs 3:7-8, 4:22)

– long life (Proverbs 3:2, 3:16, 3:18, 4:10)

– riches (Proverbs 3:16)

– protection (Proverbs 4:6)

– greatness (Proverbs 4:8)

– honor (Proverbs 3:16, 4:8)

– disciplined and successful life (Proverbs 1:3)

– living in peace, untroubled by fear of harm (Proverbs 1:33)

– you will find the right way to go (Proverbs 2:9, 3:6, 4:11)

– you will be filled with joy (Proverbs 2:10, 3:13)

– your life will be satisfying (Proverbs 3:2, 3:17)

– happiness (Proverbs 3:18)

– loving yourself & prospering (Proverbs 19:8)

Engage and apply:

– Has any diet plan ever solved the problem, or has it merely treated the symptoms?

– Is holding on to man made rules about food/dieting actually hindering what God wants to do for you, in His wisdom?

– Do you need healing in this area?

– Have you ever given God as much consideration in this journey as you have WW or some other plan?

– Who/what are you looking to as your salvation in this battle?

– What wisdom of man do you need to release?

Before we do anything else, grab a pen and some paper. Yes, we’re writing again, and if you think writing the things you say was difficult and revealing, just wait until we address this topic! Write down the thoughts that you think on a regular basis. Be honest. What runs through your mind night and day? What are thoughts that you think over and over again? What thoughts overwhelm you at night?

Do you have at least ten things written down? If not, keep writing.

Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Is the Holy Spirit already showing you some areas where you need to change how you think? If you yield to him and ask for that guidance, he will show you every wrong thought. This is not to condemn us or make us feel guilty. It is to teach us God’s will for our lives. We want that! It is pleasing and perfect!

In the dieting world, we often talk about transformation. There are twelve week transformation challenges everywhere. All kinds of products and plans promise to transform your body. However, in seeking God in all of it, transformation comes from renewing our minds – by allowing God to change how we think. But how do we do that? What does it mean? We need to look at other verses about our mind and thoughts to get a clear picture.

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Perfect peace! Do you have perfect peace? If we believe God’s Word, it is possible to have perfect peace. If we don’t have perfect peace, where does the problem lie? Has God let us down? Is it just not possible in some circumstances? Or, does it simply come down to what the Word says? Do we not have perfect peace because we don’t trust God and our thoughts are not fixed on Him? The Word does not offer exceptions. Perfect peace is for all who do those two things, trust in Him and fix our thoughts on Him. Will having peace be transformative? When we fix our thoughts on Him, He literally fixes our thoughts! That, in turn, transforms us. It’s not a matter of just prayer and asking God to do something. He told us what to do and we have a responsibility to take action. James 1:22-25, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

So how do we keep our thoughts fixed on God? What does that even mean? We are offered some insight and step by step instruction in Philippians 4:6-9, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

I’ve read and quoted this passage of Scripture hundreds, if not thousands of times in my life, but am only now beginning to have any understanding of it. I’m finally putting it into practice and it is life changing. We are given specific instructions not to worry. We are told exactly what to think and do so that we can experience peace. We don’t just loop “God” and “Jesus” through our minds. There is so much practical application here.

“Don’t worry about anything”. That pretty much covers it. There are no exceptions that we are given. We are just not to worry. Instead, we are to “pray about everything”. If we are tempted to worry, we are told to pray instead. To worry means to feel troubled, uneasy or anxious; torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret. This is exactly what happens in depression and even just in the battle with food and weight loss. We torment ourselves with disturbing thoughts. If we are doing it to ourselves, that means we can stop. So, don’t worry about anything! Next, pray about everything. That’s pretty all inclusive. Talk to God about it ALL. Let God know what you need. Again, no exceptions are made. Then thank Him for ALL He has done. After you do these things, His peace will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. His peace will guard our emotions and thoughts in the Word. As we continue to read this passage, we will see that we still need to do some work. When it comes to our thinking, we are first told to fix our thoughts on what is “true”. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, (John 14:6) Jesus is also the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) The Word is truth. Thinking on truth will certainly fix our thoughts.

John 17:17, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Psalm 119:160, “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.”

2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

In order to fix our thoughts on what is true, we need to fix our thoughts on the Word. We need to know it, memorize it and understand it so we can meditate on it when our mind tries to go elsewhere, or when the enemy tries to attack us through our own thoughts. This verse in Hebrews illustrates just how the Word ties to our thoughts and desires. It can expose wrong thoughts and wrong desires before they become wrong actions.

The Word exposes what thoughts are untrue. Since Satan bombards us with untrue thoughts, it is fundamentally important to know the Word. Hosea 4:6, My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.” (Rev 1:6 says He’s made us priests) If we don’t know the Word, we don’t know Him. We are unable to recognize the lies of the enemy. Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44) We’ve already discussed how one lie, a single untrue thought, embraced by Eve, plunged us all into sin. Satan still uses the same tactics. If he captures our thoughts, we are easily led into all kinds of bondage. This is yet another area where we do the enemy’s work for him. We should not take 2 Corinthians 2:5 lightly, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (ESV) Every thought needs to go through the filter of the Word. Is it true? If it is, there will be peace of heart and mind. If it isn’t, we need to destroy it and stop thinking it.

Can you identify any lies that you believe and think on regularly? These can be food, diet and weight related or in any other area. Look at your list of thoughts that you wrote. Do you need to add to the list? Are these thoughts true? If not, you need to stop thinking them and replace them with true thoughts – Word thoughts.

I can hear the arguments that still remain. “That’s great, but my circumstances are true too.” “I can’t help but think about what is going on in my life.” “It’s impossible to have peace because of what I am facing.” “I can’t help how I feel.” I had these arguments too, but we are arguing with the Word. The Word will win and transform us by renewing our mind, if we continue to look to it, so let’s do just that.

We’ve looked at thinking what is true and established that the Word is truth, so we need to think on the Word. Just applying this one filter to our thinking would eliminate much of our wrong thinking, but we are given seven more filters to run our thoughts through. There is an “and” between these words, not “or”, indicating that they all need to apply to our thoughts. A thought could be true, but fail to meet some of the other criteria, which would mean we still need to not think on it.

(1) Think on what is honorable or honest – Deserving honor, respect, or admiration. Not false or misleading; genuine.

(2) Think on what is right – morally good, justified, or acceptable

(3) Think on what is pure – free of any contamination, perfectly in tune

(4) Think on what is lovely – Beautiful especially in a pleasing or charming way.Enjoyable; delightful. Inspiring love or affection.Full of love; loving.

(5) Think on what is admirable or of good report – worthy of admiration; inspiring approval or respect; excellent.

(6) Think on what is excellent – exceptionally good; extremely meritorious; superior

(7) Think on what is worthy of praise – praise is an expression of approval, commendation, or admiration

Look at the thoughts you wrote and begin to run them through this test. Are they thoughts you should be thinking or thoughts that need to be taken captive?

I have known of Philippians 4:8 since I was a child, and as I stated, I have quoted it and read it hundreds of times, but even as I wrote this, I could not remember all eight of the things we are supposed to think on. I certainly had no clear understanding of what each of those things meant or how they applied. Yet it states very clearly in Philippians 4:9, “Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” I hadn’t learned or received it and I certainly wasn’t practicing it and doing it. As a result, there were many, many times I did not have peace. It wasn’t because God wasn’t there or failed me in any way. I just was not doing what the Word said to do. I lacked wisdom and understanding. He already made a way for me to control my thoughts and feelings to establish peace. I was begging for supernatural intervention when it was just a spiritual skill I needed to understand and put into practice.

Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Have you paid attention to your words recently? If not, you should. Before we even begin to look into the Word, lets look into your words. What can you recall saying to yourself or others about a situation in the past day or week? How many times did you say, “can’t”, “won’t”, “never” or “hopeless”? How many times did you murmur and complain? How many critical words flowed freely? How many names were called? How many times did you tell God your problems and circumstances instead of telling your problems and circumstances what the Word says? If you prayed, did you offer anything to God or just ask him for what you want? Before you read any further, grab a sheet of paper and write down what you have said. Seriously, stop right here and do it!

Are you uncomfortable yet? I was when the Holy Spirit began to ask me these things, and I truthfully acknowledged the things I had been saying. Such amazing freedom has come from this correction. What we say can affect others and ourselves for good or bad. Words are not without impact. The Word has a lot to say about it. As I began to examine this topic, I understood why I had lacked peace for so many years. Peace is inextricably bound to what we say, think and believe. First we are going to focus on what we say.

Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

There are three things this passage directs us to do before God does anything! 1. Stop worrying! 2. Talk to God and tell Him what you need. 3. Thank God for all He has done! Did you hear anything about crying, complaining, begging or telling Him what you can’t do or how bad you are? In our battle for health and weight loss, we have probably put lots of focus on what goes into our mouths, but what comes out of them is far more important – for this journey as well as all of life. What we say, think and believe about this journey, our ability and God’s ability, matters. What we say sets our course.

James 3:2-12, “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”

Matthew 15:11, “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Mark 7:15, “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Both of those verses are quotes from Jesus. He explains the meaning in the following verses.

Matthew 15:16-18, “Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asked. “Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.”

Mark 7:18-23, “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you.For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

I want to point out that Jesus puts emphasis on the fact that what is in our hearts comes out of our mouths. If we listen closely to our words, we discover what we truly believe. Grab your piece of paper that has your words on it. What do your words say about the condition of your heart? Spend some time here and allow the Holy Spirit to give you understanding in this area and bring conviction, where necessary, so you can change.

What comes out of our hearts, through our mouths defiles us. This is not a word we tend to use much in modern culture, so let’s dig into the meaning.

Defile –

:to make unclean or impure: such as

a:to corrupt the purity or perfection of: debase

b:to make physically unclean especially with something unpleasant or contaminating

c:to violate the sanctity of:desecrate

d:sully, dishonor

If we believe what the Word says about our words, it is illuminating and life changing. How have you been corrupting and desecrating yourself? Do you ever contaminate your own spirit and mind by what you say to yourself? What do your words say about you? How are they hindering you? How can you use them to help yourself and others?

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Proverbs 15:4, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 18:20-21, (ESV) “From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 10:11, “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”

Proverbs 10:31-32, “The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

Luke 6:43-45,“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

Proverbs 4:20-24, “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.

Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

We hear our own words, but are they an encouragement? Is your speech corrupt? How has it corrupted you?

Psalms 34:1, (KJV) “I will bless the Lordat all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

If His praise is continually in our mouths, there is not room for what is harmful to us. These Scriptures tie together what is in our hearts to what we say. They instruct on what should be in our hearts and what we should be saying – the Word. We are to think on it, speak it and get it into our hearts. If you dwell in the Word and let it penetrate your heart, you will speak differently about yourself and others, as well as your circumstances.

Engage and Apply

Pray these two Psalms over yourself daily and see what the Holy spirit points out. You will be surprised!

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

What do you need to say differently?

What words/phrases do you need to completely remove from your vocabulary?

What are you going to do this week to get more of the Word in you so that is what comes out?

Do you need to go back to Psalms 139:23-24 to re-check the condition of your heart?

Do the things you say sound like God’s words or the enemy’s? We need to make sure that we are speaking Truth.

Add, “If you say so!” to the end of the things you say to yourself and see how that feels. It’s eye opening!

So, what does the Bible have to say about food? A lot, actually. The desire for food is a surprisingly common topic and theme in the Bible. That desire and a well spoken lie set all of humanity down a dark path of bondage that required Jesus’ death on the cross to redeem. Is it any wonder that desire for food and Satan’s lies can still entangle, distract and limit us today? Let’s take a look at how this desire for food has been illustrated and addressed throughout the Word. Appetite is a far greater spiritual issue than I ever imagined.

Eve

Genesis 3:1-6, “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”

We only get to chapter three, in Genesis, before food becomes an issue. Eve is confronted by the serpent and he plants doubt. Eve knows what God said and actually quotes Him. The serpent lies, and since the fruit looks good and she wants to know what God knows, Eve eats it. Then we see the first incident of mindless eating as Adam partakes as well. Eve was tricked into disobeying God. The serpent lied, but Eve knew exactly what God had said. She wanted the fruit and what it offered, so she chose to believe the lie instead of what God had spoken.

Genesis 3:13, “Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

When I re-read this story, for what was probably the thousandth time, I had to ask, “Was Eve telling the truth?”, or did she deceive herself because she wanted the food? She believed what she wanted, so she could do what she wanted. This is the very heart of deception. Have you ever done anything similar? What lies are you choosing to believe? The battle with appetite is what plunged us all into sin. Think about that for a minute. The first recorded spiritual battle was over food and it lead us all into the bondage of sin. We are still using the same tired excuse that Eve did – justifying our behavior by questioning if God really said what he did and if what he said was true. This applies to every area of our lives. Do we want to indulge the desires of our flesh more than we want to walk in obedience to God?

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau Jacob

Genesis 25:27-33, “When the boys grew up, Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for wild game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field exhausted. He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, because I’m exhausted.” That is why he was also named Edom. Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look,” said Esau, “I’m about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?”Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to Jacob and sold his birthright to him. Then Jacob gave bread and lentil stew to Esau; he ate, drank, got up, and went away. So Esau despised his birthright.”

How many times have we despised our birthright, as Christians, because of our relationship with food? By that, I mean how have we sacrificed our testimony or effectiveness because we chose our appetite over what God has for us? What have we given up because the desire for food was so strong? What have we not done because the consequence of indulging that desire is a body that is sick, tired and depressed; a spirit that is defeated?

Children of Israel

Exodus 16:1-31, 1 “Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.

3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” 8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’” 10 And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud. 11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’” 13 That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. 14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. 16 These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.” 17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. 19 Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” 20 But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them. 21 After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.” 24 So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. 25 Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today. 26 You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.” 27 Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. 28 The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions? 29 They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you. That is why he gives you a two-day supply on the sixth day, so there will be enough for two days. On the Sabbath day you must each stay in your place. Do not go out to pick up food on the seventh day.” 30 So the people did not gather any food on the seventh day. 31 The Israelites called the food manna. It was white like coriander seed, and it tasted like honey wafers.

Numbers 21:5-6, “The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit them so that many Israelites died.”

In Psalm 78:18, David refers to how the Israelites related to God over food, “They stubbornly tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved”.

Exodus 16 is an entire chapter about disobedience toward God over food. It manifests in many ways, just in that one example. God’s people, who had seen His provision so many times and were led by visible signs of God’s presence in the cloud by day and fire by night, were basically at war with him over food. They wanted to go back to physical slavery just to have the foods of Egypt again. They preferred slavery and death to God’s provision, because it was not what their flesh craved. Think about that for a minute. Do you stay in bondage to food because you want it more than what God has for you?

Look at how the Israelites interacted with manna – God had to order them not to be gluttonous and greedy with his provision. He wanted them to trust him, but they did not have enough faith to trust him for a single day. They disobeyed him at every turn because of their appetites. They complained to the point that God sent snakes and killed many of them. I am incredibly thankful that grace has covered all of my complaining about food!

In what ways have you complained about food? Have you actually complained about God’s provision? I know that I have. “Why don’t vegetables taste like chocolate?” “Why can’t I just eat what I want and not have to think about it?” “Why don’t the things that are good for me taste better?”

The irony to it all is that the Promised Land, where God was leading them, was described as a “land flowing with milk and honey”. Exodus 3:8, “So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.” I find it interesting that the Promised Land was described by the promise of delightful food. God truly speaks to us in ways we understand, if we can manage to look at his promises rather than our own desires. What he offers is far better. We just need to trust him to get there.

Has your battle with food ever made you question God? How did that manifest?

Practical steps to freedom:

Know the Word. Stop complaining. Be thankful.

Are you beginning to see how this is building on itself? We are establishing a foundation of freedom, through the Word. We are building on the basics, before moving mountains. We have established that we are forgiven, but now we need to talk about the freedom that flows from forgiveness and how to walk in it. The first step is recognizing that this is a spiritual battle that we must overcome by walking in the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-2, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18, “The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God. In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold.We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away.But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

John 8:31-36, “Jesus said to the people who believed in him,“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”Jesus replied,“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

We try to use the Word to justify what we are doing and call that freedom. The reality is that we are lying to ourselves in order to remain in a bondage that we enjoy.

Overcoming the sinful nature, by dwelling in the Word, (truth), in Christ, and walking in the Spirit is how we find freedom, but we make the process so difficult. One huge pitfall of trying to walk in freedom is trying to have freedom outside of God’s guidelines and often outside of the realm of common sense. This is true in most areas where we are prone to sin. We try to use the Word to justify what we are doing and call that freedom. The reality is that we are lying to ourselves in order to remain in a bondage that we enjoy. We don’t like the consequences, but our flesh desires the behavior. This is not freedom. Freedom comes from applying the Word to truly set us free. It goes back to praying Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Do we want true freedom or do we want our own way?

1 Corinthians 10:23-31, 23 “You say, “I am allowed to do anything” – but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”- but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

The context here is different than what we are facing when it comes to dieting and weight loss, but the excuse making process is the same and the principle of how we should approach every action is the same. If it doesn’t glorify God, we need to re-think our position.

When we allow the desires of our flesh to define freedom, we will never truly walk in it.

Freedom does not always look the way we think it should. In the area of food, we want to redefine freedom as the ability to eat anything, anytime and in any amount – without consequence. However, this definition is a direct contradiction to the Word, because we are to have the fruit of the spirit produced in us, part of which is self control. It also flies in the face of reality. Everyone will have negative consequences, at some point, if some level of self control is not applied to eating and drinking. When we allow the desires of our flesh to define freedom, we will never truly walk in it.

What does freedom actually look like in relationship to food and weight loss?

What are some common bondages related to food and weight?

– Fear of being hungry or not having enough

– Binge eating

– Adversarial relationship

– Fear of how you will interact with food

– The diet de jour

– Guilt about to seeing progress

– Obsession about weight or with the scale

Food is a gift from God. The ability to enjoy it is one of life’s pleasures. Ecclesiastes 2:24 says, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.” Yet this is another gift that the enemy steals from us through lies, confusion and “out of control” desires of the flesh. He then adds guilt, shame and all kinds of condemnation to the mix. Food is required to sustain life. We must interact with it. It is no wonder it is such an effective weapon of the enemy.

Next Week:

So, what does the Bible have to say about food? A lot, actually. The desire for food is a surprisingly common topic and theme in the Bible. That desire and a well spoken lie set all of humanity down a dark path of bondage that required Jesus’ death on the cross to redeem. Is it any wonder that desire for food and Satan’s lies can still entangle, distract and limit us today? Let’s take a look at how this desire for food has been illustrated and addressed throughout the Word. Appetite is a far greater spiritual issue than I ever imagined.