Made to crave Week 4 day 3

Today I'm answering the reflection questions from yesterday's chapter.

1. Recall the last special occasion or celebration you attended. What foods were present that you knew probably weren’t good choices for you? If you ate them, how much of your decision was influenced by telling yourself that this was a special situation and deserved an exception? If you passed them by, did you nevertheless resent your choices because it didn’t seem fair?

Christmas is the last big thing I can think of. O there were cheeses, cookies, puff pastries, crackers... I did eat them, lots of them and it was because I was like it's christmas it only comes once a year, I don't have to weight in for a whole week I can eat whatever and then I'll be fine by then. PS for teh record I was up 5pounds after the christmas season.

2. “Temptation doesn’t take kindly to being starved” (Page 101). Have you experienced what it’s like to starve temptation in any area of your life? What happened? How did it make you feel? For example, did you feel peaceful and empowered or like a tug-of-war was raging in your heart?

These past few weeks I have been doing just that. I used to diet 4-5 days a week and eat whatever I wanted the other days. I was constantly justifying my bad choices. But as I've learned to say no and as I've learned to turn to God I have felt so much freedom. Those foods aren't an option any more and I'm not missing them.

3. Lysa says she recognizes that having a pity party is a clue she is relying on her own strength rather than God’s strength rather than God’s strength. What clues you into the fact that you are relying on your own strength in your battles with food?

There are definitely times that I overeat. I eat the right foods I just don't eat the right portions. 

4. Have you ever felt as if issues with food and weight were God’s unfair curse on you or wished your struggle could be with something other food? In what ways might your struggle be beneficial or even blessing?

At times I have wished for another curse but I realized that I was so fortunate, I could struggle with alcoholism, drug use, porn things that are not only detrimental to me but also have a personality altering effect or are hurting others for my pleasure. So thinking about this I realized I've been blessed it's just food. I can identify with people who are struggling in this as well as other areas of life, it's also a blessing as I have been able to go through this process of growing closer to God as I work through my issues.

5. When facing a moment of indecision about food, Lysa recommends thinking beyond the moment by saying, “This feels good now, but how will I feel about this in the morning?” Thinking back to the last time you ate something you later regretted, do you believe asking yourself this question would have changed your decision? Why or why not?

I don't have to think back too far, it was last night I finished my salad when I was already full. This morning I don't feel too bad about it. But I know that it needs to stand as a reminder to walk away from food when I'm full and to eat slower to I can feel when I'm satisfied.  If I could have changed the decision I would have eaten less, yes.

6.  “Compromise built upon equals failure… [P]romise upon promise creates empowerment” (Page 104). Some decisions about food may seem inconsequential in the moment, but even small decisions can have a big impact over time. In which direction are your small decisions about food leading – toward failure or empowerment?

Like I said above I think the occasional overeating of healthy foods is pointing me in the direction of failure. This is something that God is showing me and something that I will clearly need to be more aware of.  

7. “The struggle to say no may be painful in the moment, but it is working out something magnificent within us”  (Page 104). What is the magnificent thing you hope God might do in you through your struggles to say no? 

I was to sense God and know that he is here with me. There are times I just can't feel him. I want to have such a strong relationship with him that there is not doubt in my mind he is with me and he is leading me.  

Verse:

Fot this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with Love.

2 Peter 1:5-7  

Prayer

Lord, it is y prayer today that you give me self-control. Lord, that when I'm full I will stop. Lord, I thank you that you have reminded me of these things I pray Lord I would heed them and that I would learn to be obedient to you in this area. Lord be with me today and Lord give me self-control. 

Amen