I know from experience that it is hard to make yourself go to the gym on Monday after a nice rest from working out on Sunday. It is even harder to make yourself eat right and exercise again when you have had a scheduled break from dieting, or even worse, you cheated for a few days. Neither your body, your mind, nor your emotions wants to cooperate with your spirit’s desire to be obedient to the Lord’s commands to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is your body. How do you get your body to cooperate when it is in mutiny mode?
First, remember what the Word of God teaches, and use it as your sword to take back the ship before it sinks in the sea of gluttony or eating disorders. God’s Word is clear that we become entangled with sin due to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). For example, your eyes work against you by initially coveting the cheesecake your co-worker brought for lunch. Once you start to salivate and your stomach growls, your flesh craves a cheeseburger with fries to go along with the cheesecake. Finally, the enemy will use your mind against you by getting pride to seal the deal. Satan usually does this by making you logically conclude that you deserve another day off or that you can always stop your cycle of cheating on your health and fitness plan the following day.
We should respond to every form of temptation with the truth of God’s Word just as Jesus demonstrated in the wilderness when He was tempted during His forty (40) day fast. When your eyes covet food that is not on your daily health and fitness plan, remember that the Bible says to cut off the body parts that lead you into temptation. Specifically, Matthew 5:29 says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.” When you are confronted with food and beverage temptations, tear your eyes away from the sinful sight and replace the images with the Word of God or food you enjoy that is on your diet plan.
When your flesh insists that you eat what is prohibited, remind yourself just as Jesus did when He was tempted in that exact same manner, that “Man doesn’t live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). When pride attempts to use reason to convince you that it is alright to disobey God’s command to eat and drink for His glory, remind yourself that the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9). Finally, after using the Word as your sword, act on it in faith by obeying it, and constantly praying that the Lord will lead you to make health and fitness choices that bring Him glory and give you the abundant, healthy life that the Lord always intended for you to have. If you are ready to regain control of your health and fitness ship and quell your body’s mutinous uprising, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on Spotify, the DFW Den Radio Station, the StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
