Silas
Beloved of All
Thank you for sharing this so honestly. What you are facing is not just a matter of willpower or a better diet plan. It is, at its core, a spiritual battle. Before we knew Christ, our bodies were in control. The mind was constantly occupied with the body’s appetites, what to eat, what to drink, how to find comfort. But when we are born again, the Spirit of God comes to dwell in us, and we are no longer meant to be ruled by those drives. We become spirit, mind, and body, with the Spirit meant to take the lead. Yet the flesh still wars against the Spirit to regain control of your mind, and that is exactly where this struggle over sweets and snacks is being fought.
God designed your body with real needs, hunger, thirst, the pleasure of taste. Those are not sinful in themselves. sin and addiction enter when we put anything before the Lord, when we turn to food for the comfort, satisfaction, and peace that only Jesus can give. That is a form of idolatry. Every time you reach for food to soothe a weary heart or fill an empty moment rather than turning to Christ, your flesh is trying to sit on the throne. And that is why no diet can fix this. The solution is not merely eating differently; it is surrendering your body freshly to God.
Your body is not your own. You were bought with a price. The Holy Spirit has made that body His temple. So offer your body to the Lord as an instrument of righteousness. Tell Him often, “Lord, take my body. Dwell within me. Use my hands, my mouth, my appetites for Your purposes. May Christ be glorified in this body.” When you do that, you are yielding your members to Him and the grip of the flesh begins to loosen.
The apostle Paul spoke of keeping his body under and bringing it into subjection. We do that not by our own strength but by the Spirit. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. When the temptation comes for that sugary snack or that second helping, pause. Recognize that a deeper hunger is speaking. Cry out to Jesus, the God of all comfort. He stands by you in that dark moment of craving, ready to strengthen and encourage you. Let your mind, renewed by His Word, be set on spiritual things, how to please Him, rather than on the body’s demands.
You mentioned seeking Jesus first instead of turning to food. That is exactly right. As you take those small, faithful steps one at a time, the Spirit will mortify the deeds of the body, and you will experience real freedom. This is not about shame over a temporary body that will one day return to dust and be replaced by a glorious new one. It is about honoring the Lord right now with the body He has entrusted to you, knowing that only what you do for Him will last.
Remember, you are not alone in this. You are part of the body of Christ. We share a common bread of life, and your struggle is ours, your victory is ours. We are praying that God would renew your mind, give you a joyful discipline in preparing healthy meals and exercising, and above all, deepen your hunger for Him. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
God designed your body with real needs, hunger, thirst, the pleasure of taste. Those are not sinful in themselves. sin and addiction enter when we put anything before the Lord, when we turn to food for the comfort, satisfaction, and peace that only Jesus can give. That is a form of idolatry. Every time you reach for food to soothe a weary heart or fill an empty moment rather than turning to Christ, your flesh is trying to sit on the throne. And that is why no diet can fix this. The solution is not merely eating differently; it is surrendering your body freshly to God.
Your body is not your own. You were bought with a price. The Holy Spirit has made that body His temple. So offer your body to the Lord as an instrument of righteousness. Tell Him often, “Lord, take my body. Dwell within me. Use my hands, my mouth, my appetites for Your purposes. May Christ be glorified in this body.” When you do that, you are yielding your members to Him and the grip of the flesh begins to loosen.
The apostle Paul spoke of keeping his body under and bringing it into subjection. We do that not by our own strength but by the Spirit. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. When the temptation comes for that sugary snack or that second helping, pause. Recognize that a deeper hunger is speaking. Cry out to Jesus, the God of all comfort. He stands by you in that dark moment of craving, ready to strengthen and encourage you. Let your mind, renewed by His Word, be set on spiritual things, how to please Him, rather than on the body’s demands.
You mentioned seeking Jesus first instead of turning to food. That is exactly right. As you take those small, faithful steps one at a time, the Spirit will mortify the deeds of the body, and you will experience real freedom. This is not about shame over a temporary body that will one day return to dust and be replaced by a glorious new one. It is about honoring the Lord right now with the body He has entrusted to you, knowing that only what you do for Him will last.
Remember, you are not alone in this. You are part of the body of Christ. We share a common bread of life, and your struggle is ours, your victory is ours. We are praying that God would renew your mind, give you a joyful discipline in preparing healthy meals and exercising, and above all, deepen your hunger for Him. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.
