Galatians

I read the book of Galatians this morning. I thought how much we can apply the lessons in this book of the Bible to our eating. We are no longer under the law. We live by asking and allowing the Holy Spirit who lives within us to guide our eating.

I am making a couple of changes. I am finding that coffee is not a whole body pleaser for me and rich holiday treats are not whole body pleasers for me. The treats are causing me to feel sluggish and the coffee stimulates my bladder and my appetite.

More about Holidays

Help me, Lord to not make Holidays an excuse to get back into old habits of lusting after food. Help me to exalt you and to put you first. You truly are the Bread of Life. Help me to come to you for all my needs instead of turning to food or business. Help me to be a good example of self discipline and obedience esp. during this season of the celebration of your birth. Happy Birthaday,Jesus.

Holidays

I want to glorify God in my eating as well as in all areas of my life. I spent hours with the Lord on Thanksgiving from 5am until 9am. I decided that if Jesus needed to spend all night in prayer before choosing His disciples I need to spend at least that much time in prayer and in the Word before tempting situations. I was so richly blessed. The day went smoothly and without dysfunction or strife, which is unusual when we get together. My Daughter even commented on how relaxed I seemed, which is also unusual for me since I do not believe the gift of hospitality has been one of my gifts. I did not overeat and the rich food did not even appeal to me. I experienced unspeakable peace and joy not only that evening and day but also the next day.
What a lesson for me. Abide in Him.
The answer is so simple and I make it so complicated.

a breaking of my will

During early prayer at Church this morning the thought came to me that I am like a wild horse that had to be brought into the will of its Master in order to be used for the purpose for which it was created. I weep as my will is being broken and as I pray over and over again, not my will but thine be done, Jesus.
It is my will to overeat because it tastes good and temporarily relieves stress. It is God's will that I glorify Him in my body because my body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost.
I think how Jesus gave up His place of glory to come to earth and that all He did was to glorify the Father and how he agonized in Gethsemane when He yielded to the Father's will that night.
I had many selfish dreams for my retirement. To travel, lay around and read novels, rest a lot, spend lots of time running around with my Husband. Not so. Christians who retire do not get to retire. We are here a short period of time and to live for self is not the desire of the heart of God.
How does God feel about the homeless and the Fatherless? We can easily find that out in the Word. My desire is to have the house to ourselves. We have one of our adult children living with us who would otherwise be living on the streets. Help me to be happy with your will, God. We help care for Grandchildren two of whom have a Father who is not there often and another whose Father is very sick and unable to be a Father. Not my will but thine be done, God. Help me be happy with your will.
In the food area, the old me would have thought I will eat whatever and however much I want on Thanksgiving. The will of God is that I glorify Him even on this day and that I focus on Him and my relationship with Him and on my relationship with others and not be a glutton on that day but to show others that I can be happy without worship of food or self.

living in the Spirit

In my eating and in everything am I living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.
I am sad to say that much of the time I live in the flesh. Our mind must be set on the things of the Spirit. Col. 3:2
If I am living in the flesh I dwell on past failures, disappointments, or victories.
I dwell on the future. On what my fantasy life will be like.
I dwell on my plans, agenda, and way of doing things independent of God.
I dwell on and compare myself to others.
I dwell on food and eating or some other pleasure of the flesh.

When I live according to the Spirit
I dwell on God's provision.
I live and enjoy the present life in the present.
I dwell on God's Word and my identity in Christ
I dwell on His will, agenda, and enabling grace.
This provides a sense of peace as I trust God while melting down to my natural size. Romans 8: 6
This lesson from workbook number 2 really spoke to me. Lord help me live according to the Spirit not the flesh. Help me cast down every thought and imagination that exalts itself above the knowledge of Jesus Christ not only in eating but in all I do and to give you the glory, Dear Father God.

the key

I am going through TW workbook number 2. I have gone through this before but this time something really jumped out at me that did not jump out the first time. A section of this lesson says that the key is to quit trying by our own strength and start trusting by faith.
Faith involves turning away from the law and trusting in the Holy Spirit as we walk in the power of God's transforming grace.
Reexamine your hunger numbers and make adjustments
Observe and correct by the leading of the Spirit.
Pay attention to how your body responds to various foods.
Continue to taste God's Word and see that the Lord is good.
God knows what I need and when I need it. I got really offtrack on my eating 2 or 3 times in the last couple of weeks. He feeds me His Word and speaks to me just exactly what I need when I need it and how much I need. If I follow the lead of the Lord He will do this with my food and eating times as well. I just need to trust and obey.

Listen

It is so true that we need to learn to listen to our bodies. I do not believe that our bodies will lie to us.
When my body tells me I am hungry, I neeed to eat. When it tells me I am no longer hungry I need to stop eating.
I had been working very hard gardening, babysitting and cleaning. Yesterday my body said it was time to rest. I took a nap, slept all night and feel better today but I am still tired so I am getting extra rest again. It is a temptation to drink something with caffeine or eat something with sugar to give myself a boost, but in the long run this would not benefit me.
What is your body telling you today?