What's Eating You?

Every year for as long as I can remember I make some variation of the same New Year's Resolution.  THIS will be the year I lose some weight and get healthy.  Only to reach December the same (or heavier).  Making the same resolution again, and again, and again the next January 1st.

This week I began a new online Bible study through Proverbs31 Ministries based on the Lysa TerKeurst book "Made To Crave".

I have to confess... the first time I sat down to try and read this book I had a Snickers almond bar in hand and a bottle of Dr. Pepper sitting next to me.

Um... yeh.  Not the best way to begin a study about satisfying your cravings with God rather than food.

Clearly I still wasn't getting it. As Lysa says in the introduction: it's about the "want to". Something I was missing.

God created us to have cravings.  A longing.  A desire for something to satisfy us.  A great want.

For Him.

Satan wants to replace our cravings for God with something else.  An idol to displace God in our hearts, minds, and lives.

For some it may be food.  For others it's material objects.  Money.  Or the approval of other people. Fame. Or an emotional or sexual relationship.  In some cases it becomes alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

It becomes the thing we work for, strive for, seek.  Our lives become focused on getting that thing we think will satisfy us. We may ignore things that are truly important in life to get it.  We find ourselves in a cycle of excuses, rationalizations, or promises to start (or stop) at some later time/day/month/year.  In some cases it may destroy relationships, our health, or entire lives.

But somehow when we seek fulfillment through something other than God, we always come up feeling empty.  Needing more.  Wanting more.  No matter how much we get or have, we are always left unsatisfied. It's like a raging battle.

This has given me an entirely different perspective on my plans to get healthier and get back to a healthier weight!

This time it has to be about more than just me.  It has to be about more than a smaller clothing size or number on the scale.  I have proven over and over again that I CAN'T DO IT. Not by myself.

I have to replace my cravings for the chocolate and Cheetos with something healthier.  Something that will really satisfy.  By getting closer to God in the process.