Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Proverbs 18:21 : “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.”
What does the word say about your situation and are you speaking life into what triggers emotional under or overeating?
Fear
Grief
Shame
People pleasing
Trauma
Covetousness
Pride
Envy
Self-Hatred
Double-mindedness (I’ll do Intuitive Eating when I lose the weight is a common thing I see as an example)
These things are underlying disordered eating.
If you don’t think you have disordered eating, then this is denial of the programming we’ve all been raised in. The vast majority of the population have at least some fear and negativity about food and body.
When food is just not food and is given more purpose or power than what it can do, it has become elevated above what God wants to do with us and for us.
Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Food is for nourishment, pleasure and connection. Sometimes for straight up entertainment when you are in charge but if something better comes along you can let it go.
God is a God of order and eating to change the body to please others, as the only way to deal with emotional discomfort, as a way to “not be on the planet” to live out your destiny despite harmful circumstances, to “be somebody” are all “dis-order” and no body change or regimen can bring back order if the roots of how we eat or see ourselves are negative or from hurt.
You will know when you’re pursuing order. Your motives to learn and eat what the body needs will be the priority each meal.
You will be capturing your thoughts “ I eat junk” , “I’m out of control“ , “I shouldn’t eat that “, “I’m too fat/big/sensitive/old” , “I can’t let them see me eat this, so they don’t become behaviors and take over your heart.
You will learn to discern what are pure motives and nuances of pursuing health and movement without everyone knowing about it. Know that what might be right now will likely change in the future.
Galatians 1:10: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Matthew 6:1: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.“
Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.“
You accept that God loves diversity (obviously the world systems hate it) and does not make wrong bodies, including yours.
If you need reminders of what is available to support this disorder to order process:
1. guard what and who you listen to or watch. Test everything!
2. Get in the word about your underlying situation and/or meet regularly with others who are safe, care about your sanctification without co-dependence and know the nuances of recovery and the spiritual battle.
3. Engage in the battle. Read non-diet books and listen to podcasts of the people who have gotten to the other side and the professionals who know what they are doing.
4. Lone wolves are actually lost sheep. People who become self reliant are afraid of vulnerability because they have been hurt and don’t trust God or other people to help them through their uncomfortable emotions. These emotions just fill up the body container and lead to more avoidance and overwhelm. If you live in your head about recovery you have turned non-diet work Into another diet program.
5. Ask questions and share the hard and the testimonies here! How are you going to have relationship with others who won’t judge if you don’t make it known you exist.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you are learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
God loves you and is pressing you with the recovery process to go to the next level and as 1 Peter 1:6-7 says “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (7)These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed”.
If you made it this far, praise God and bless you and your day.
All of our resources for Spirit-led Intuitive Eating:
To start one-on-one trauma informed, non-diet nutrition counseling where the Holy Spirit is invited to do the work, www.tracybrownrd.com/get-started
Lots of food and body image recovery and prayer gifts: www.healbytheword.com/resources
For ongoing live group community: www.tracybrownrd.com/peaceful-eating-community
Parents and caregivers: Eating Disorder Caregiver Support (tracybrownrd.com)
Intuitive Eating Workbook Study Group: https://www.tracybrownrd.com/intuitive-eating-workbook-group/
My colleague Jennifer has a free biblical counseling class on her website here at www.blessedbeliever.com/healing-class/
