Desperate for Freedom

by Beth Ann Ziarnik @bethannziarnik

Desperate for Freedom from overeating? Yes … yet here I pause at a crucial point. Will I firmly address this problem in a God-honoring way? Or slip back into telling myself I really don’t care.

Yet the truth is I do care. I’m desperate for freedom from my years-long struggle, and these last few weeks have been a tug of war. I guess that means I need to really consider …

My Desperate Situation

How Miserable I am! I don’t understand myself … I really want to do what is right, … Instead, I do the very thing I hate … Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Romans 7:15 & 24-25, The Book NLT 

Miserable is the right word! I really don’t understand. As much as I truly want to eat in a God-honoring way, I’m wavering. Many times succeeding. Other times caving, all the time hating what eating too much does to me. Yes, I’m just plain desperate for freedom.

And it’s my fault really. (sigh!) I haven’t yet made that irrevocable decision. Even though I know how making a clean break with gluttony would load me with amazing benefits.

Yet despite my indecision, God remains lovingly patient. He’s ready to free me … if only I’ll let him. He knows he’s my answer and continues to encourage me through his Word.

Offering True Life

True Life If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life [of gluttony] for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life ~ Mark 8:35, The Book NLT

God is right. My attempts to control my eating don’t work long term, and I lose out in so many ways. As this verse says, I need to give him complete control of my eating. I’m not entirely sure what “for his sake and the sake of the Good News” all involves, but I love and want to please him.

Plus he promises if I choose his way, I will find true life–one free of gluttony. I’ve known that true life before … when I walked this pray-and-obey path successfully. Not only free from overeating, but living in daily joy in the Lord as well as precious close fellowship with him.

And he promises much more!

Dead to Sin

Sinful Desires Crucified Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful [gluttonous] nature to his cross and crucified them there. ~ Galatians 5:24, The Book, NLT

God’s truth says that, because I belong to Christ Jesus, my passions and desires to eat more food than my body requires are nailed to his cross. They were crucified there with him. I need to internalize this truth–really believe what God says.

Dead to Gluttony He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! ~ 1 Peter 2:24, The Book NLT

Because Jesus carried my sins, including gluttony, to the cross, I can now count myself dead to sin, and do what is right–stop this ridiculous overeating. And when he went to the cross, he also bought my healing–including healing not only from the physical, but also from the spiritual and emotional effects sin. By his wounds, I’m completely healed. If I want it … the decision is mine.

Free to Live

Free to Live for God  He [Jesus] died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 6:10-11, The Book NLT

This is key, isn’t it Lord? To consider myself dead to sin–including gluttony–and, with your help, able to live for your glory. When I’m tempted, I can now remind myself that I’m dead to sin, that I’m now living for your Glory! Yes, that is what I want, Lord. Please!

God Heard Me! You heard me! You listened to my pleading …  heard my weeping! Yes, you came at my despairing cry and told me, “Do not fear.” ~ Lamentations 3:56-57, The Book NLT

Thank you, Lord for hearing my pleading to be released from this overeating trap. For hearing me weep over this sin, for seeing me desperate for freedom from it, and for coming to rescue me when I cried out to you, “I can’t, Lord! By myself, I’ll never be free. Please help me!” Thank you for encouraging me not to fear. Your kindnesses assure me that you have a plan. One that will work.

What Next

We will learn more about that plan in next week’s blog of Scriptures related to Diet No More STEP TWO. Thank you for taking this journey with me. See you next week!

HEARING FROM YOU: Oh, and if you have any questions or comments, you can leave them below,  or use the email form on this website, and I’ll get back to you. Have a great week!

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