Thought for the day: I pray that you, being rooted & established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide & long & high & deep is the love of Christ, & to know this love surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
The author says for years she walked around with a little heart shaped cup in her soul, holding it out to people or things trying to find fulfillment. Some of us hold out our heart shaped cup & expect a husband to love us in ways that right our wrongs & fill up our insecurities. Sometimes, we expect our kids to be successful so that we look good & feel validated by their accomplishments. Or we hope that a successful career will confirm that we are a valuable human being.
At times , she has asked the impossible of all of these. But her consistent "friend" of choice over the years has been food.(I can relate) Imagine her little heart shaped cup as a candy dish, using sweets & snacks to soothe her emotions. (I can relate I have a bad sweet tooth, heck I have all sweet teeth) However if we are going to replace destructive cycles with lasting changes in our lives, then we have to empty ourselves of the lie that other people or things can ever fill our hearts. Instead, we have to deliberately fill up on Gods truths & stand secure in His love. Here are some examples of how we can do that:
Old Lie: I am such a failure when it comes to my diet
New Truth: I am not a failure. I am a lavishly loved child of God. Part of my right as a child of God is to operate in a power beyond myself. The Holy Spirit is Gods gift to me. SO it is possible for me to use the self control Ive been given.
Old Lie: I need these Oreos!! ( ok why do books always seem to find one of my biggest weakness')
New Truth: The thought that these Oreos will fill me is a lie. They will taste good for just the few minutes it will take to eat them. Then that hollow feeling of guilt will rush in as soon as the chocolate high dissipates. If I truly need a snack right now, I am capable of choosing a healthier option.
Old Lie: God seems far away & french fries are right around the corner at the drive-thru
New Truth: French fries dont love me. And the only lasting thing I get from them is the cholesterol & cellulite they inevitably leave behind, which will just compound my frustration. Gods love is here in this moment & in many more to come. His love is true & carries with it only positive residual effects.
Examine how you can replace the lies & rationalizations in your mind with the truth of Gods love. Experience the power of renewing your mind & learning that food was never meant to fill the deepest places of your heart. And as Ephesians 3:19 reminds, may you understand that the only way to true satisfaction is to be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God".
No comments:
Post a Comment