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It’s true! Praying earlier than meals can truly enable you to overcome overeating and glorify God. Right here’s how merely saying grace can change the best way you eat.
One of many greatest struggles ladies have when they’re attempting to shed some pounds is making adjustments to their consuming.
Whether or not it’s emotional consuming, overeating, or being tempted by junk meals, there’s no denying that meals is an space the place we’d like some additional power to remain on observe.
I’ve definitely struggled with overeating (you possibly can examine my 100-pound weight reduction journey right here) and emotional consuming, however they CAN be overcome.
(These are the 4 steps that took me from calorie counting to meals freedom.)
So, I’ve a easy problem for you this week.
Earlier than you eat something, cease to say a blessing.
Whether or not it’s a snack, a meal, or a dessert, simply cease to hope.
How you pray isn’t as essential as the truth that you do pray.
- I grew up in a household that sung grace collectively at mealtime. I had no thought this wasn’t a “regular” factor that each household did, however we nonetheless do it each Sunday night time at household dinner!
- My husband, Adam, and I maintain fingers and he prays earlier than our meals once we eat collectively.
- Once I’m alone, I typically cease for a second of silent prayer earlier than I eat.
Whether or not you’ve 5 minutes or 5 seconds to hope, simply the straightforward act of stopping to speak to God earlier than you eat is highly effective.
On the finish of this put up, I’ll offer you an instance of one among my dinnertime prayers if you’d like some additional steering, however first, let’s dive into some methods praying can assist you overcome overeating!
5 Methods to Use Prayer to Overcome Overeating
#1 – It reminds us to be grateful.
Meals is a present.
Whenever you’ve completed numerous weight-reduction plan, it’s simple to have a skewed view of meals. There are “good meals” (salads, inexperienced smoothies, kale chips) and “unhealthy meals” (french fries, donuts, fried hen).
The feelings we carry to the desk (actually) can change the entire expertise.
Once we are feeling responsible for consuming a portion of “unhealthy” meals, it might lead us to overeat to punish ourselves for our unhealthy selection or doable overindulge as a result of we have now been so strict in our food plan.
However, maintaining a healthy diet meals can really feel like a punishment once we’ve categorized them like this. We will really feel like a sufferer ( “Ugh…I have to eat this salad as a result of it’s good for me…”) and that may damage the expertise, too. That always leads us to run to junk meals as a result of “we deserve it” for struggling by maintaining a healthy diet meals.
As a substitute, I encourage you to begin each snack or mealtime with a coronary heart of gratitude.
Thank God for His provision.
Keep in mind that meals is sort of like a love language! He gave us meals to take pleasure in, nourish our our bodies, and take care of us in tangible (and scrumptious) methods.
The carbohydrates in potatoes give us power, the vitamin A in bell peppers helps us to see clearly, and the protein in hen builds our muscular tissues to assist us raise youngsters and groceries.
And it’s okay to thank Him for unhealthy meals, too!
“Eat honey, my son, for it’s good;
honey from the comb is good to your style.”Proverbs 24:13 NIV
After all, there are boundaries there for our personal good, however these candy issues are a present, too.
There’s a lot to be glad about while you eat and also you’ll discover that your grateful coronary heart adjustments the best way you eat.
#2 – It brings God to the entrance of our minds.
“So whether or not you eat or drink or no matter you do, do all of it for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Consuming is a method to glorify God, identical to train could be an act of worship, work could be ministry, and doing dishes could be an act of affection.
Dwelling as a Christian doesn’t cease on the door of the church. Your life – the alternatives you make each single day within the on a regular basis issues – is a dwelling sacrifice to God.
Our pastor’s sermon final Sunday was on “Jesus consciousness,” simply merely being conscious that God is with you in each single factor you do every single day.
Stopping to hope will increase your Jesus consciousness and makes consuming a holy expertise and a stunning method to join with God.
On the earth of emotional consuming (which often leads us to overeat), we frequently attain for meals once we really feel:
Guess what helps to calm all of these issues? Jesus consciousness.
Stopping to hope is one other reminder that working to God is way more efficient at coping with these deep feelings than working to meals.
He’s our final supply, not chocolate, of consolation, pleasure, peace, satisfaction, and the entire issues we crave.
#3 – It has the facility to cease cravings of their tracks.
When cravings hit, they hit onerous and so they scream that they NEED to be happy and proper NOW.
Whenever you cease to hope, you’re telling your craving that it isn’t in command of your choices.
In even simply these few moments, you’re placing area between your self and that craving, placing meals again in its correct place.
You might be additionally bringing God’s power into the expertise and He fights onerous for His youngsters!
No temptation has overtaken you besides what’s widespread to mankind. And God is trustworthy; he won’t allow you to be tempted past what you possibly can bear. However when you find yourself tempted,[c he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Temptations are strong, but God promises to show you a way out.
Prayer gives you the time to stop and look for that way out and ask Him for guidance if you just can’t see it.
#4 – It reminds you of food’s proper place in your life.
Food is a gift from God and He wants you to enjoy the blessings He gives you.
But there are proper boundaries for everything for a reason, in relationships and in food.
One of the biggest wake-up calls for me was when I realized that my secret eating was out of control. I was sneaking food, binge eating behind closed doors, and hiding food from others so I could have it for myself.
That day, I realized my desire for food had become a character issue.
Food has its purpose. It fuels our bodies, brings people together at the table, and gives us so much joy…but food should not be calling the shots in our lives.
Prayer helps you to be intentional about the type of foods you choose to eat (and how much you eat).
Praying before we eat is a reminder that it is a God-given gift to be enjoyed, but we should be the ones consuming the food, it shouldn’t be consuming us.
#5 – It reminds you of your identity
Prayer not only reminds us of who God is, but also who we are in Him.
Like I mentioned earlier, we often reach to food to fill those gaps in our hearts where we feel alone, powerless, and out of control.
We may feel fat, ugly, unlovable, weak, beyond repair, and like a mistake, but those are all lies from the enemy.
As Christians:
- You are never alone. God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)
- You are never powerless. I may be powerless on my own, but God renews my strength and gives strength to the weary. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
- Your life is never out of control. God is always in control and He is always working for your good. (Romans 8:28)
- You are a masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)
- You are chosen. (1 Peter 2:9)
- You are valuable. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
- You are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)
- You are free. (Romans 6:18)
You don’t have to rely on Cheetos and chocolate to fill your gaps. Jesus has already done that.
You can be confident in who you are, knowing that food you are using to fuel and nourish your body is helping you to live out a powerful purpose that God uniquely create you to fulfill.
An Example of Praying Before Meals
Heavenly Father, thank You for today. This is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it! Bless this food to my body and bless the hands that prepared it. You are so good to me, always showering me with abundant provision. Help me to use this meal to take care of my body well, as a temple for Your Spirit. Remind me to turn to You to fill my gaps instead of food. Help me to live passionately and purposely for You, serving and loving those around me well and glorifying You in all of my thoughts, words, and actions. I love You, God. In Your Son’s name, I pray. Amen.
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