An article appeared today in the CNN health section regarding binge eating and Oprah Winfrey. The title of the article was Don’t Overeat Like Oprah.
The article reports that binge eating is more prevalent then anorexia and bulimia. It’s an informative article that addresses some of the issues concerning binge eating. Among other things, the author points out that it’s important to get down to the roots of the eating. In many cases the root issue is an emotional or spiritual one. The article further outlines how Oprah, as well as many other people interviewed for the article, report that they eat during stressful times. They find solace in the food that they eat.
Over the years I have spoken with many people who are challenged by binge eating. Several have participated in programs that I have administered at a health system and at a YMCA setting.
There’s a verse that comes to mind that I often refer to regarding eating and food.
“You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” Psalm 63:5
Jesus is the real satisfaction and answer for the very deep needs and spiritual concerns that we have. The scripture makes that very clear. So many people have a difficult time changing their binge eating behavior because they try to change on their own or using some kind of system that really does not get down to the root issues.
Counselors say, according to the article, that what fuels the binges is a desire to get away from an unpleasant feeling. Jesus paid the price for all of our sins, hurts and pains on the cross. It is for freedom that Jesus died and was resurrected. If you, or someone you know, is challenged by binge eating behavior, then I would urge you or your friend to turn in a deeper way to Jesus.
Spend more time with him. Spend more time reading the Bible. Spend more time on your knees in prayer with him. Mostly, keep him close to you in your heart and cry out to him when you feel especially emotional or are challenged with significantly strong negative emotions.
An article published this week in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that chocolate and depression go hand in hand. According to a study, people who feel depressed eat about 55 % more chocolate than their non-depressed peers. The more depressed they feel, the more chocolate they tend to eat.
Many people I know turn to sweets and other foods when they are emotionally depressed. When I get blue, I occasionally tend not to eat.
A better way to handle a depressed state of mind and other strong negative emotions is to turn to God. The writer of a popular Psalm recognized this years ago.
“You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.” Psalm 63:5
God wants us to ask him to meet all of our deep inner needs. If you have a habit of turning to chocolate or other foods when life is tough, try to begin turning to God in prayer and asking him to meet that deep emotional need. Take more time to sit quietly with him and share your deepest burdens with him. Cry out to him. He promises to satisfy those inner needs more than any food ever will.
Hummingbirds live on nectar from flowers and the sugars that are found in specialty feeders. I have two plants out back that have attracted Ruby Throated Hummingbirds for the past five years. One is an Autumn Sage. The other is a Black and Blue plant – which is what the hummingbird in this video is feeding on. The last few days, these tiny birds have been visiting these flowers frequently as they stock up on the needed fuel they will need for their migration South.
These little birds are amazing. Their average weight is 1/8 ounce. Their wings beat between 40 and 80 beats/second. They breathe approximately 250 times per minute . Their heart rate is an unbelievable 250 beats/min at rest and 1200 beats/min while feeding. Finally, in flight they reach up to 63 miles/hour. Most researchers seem to accept the fact that those who migrate to the Caribbean Islands and Mexico cross the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean waters during a non-stop flight taking 18-20 hours. No wonder they require a lot of food for energy and strength!
People Need God
I imagine most of you know the story of David and Goliath. When David came face to face with the giant, he relied on God’s presence for strength. Read 1 Samuel 17:1-51. David was clearly aware that God was with him. and that the battle was not his, but God’s.(verse 45)
During David’s battle, he focused on God’s presence, not his circumstance or problem. David’s knowledge of God’s presence prevented him from becoming discouraged or giving up.
If you focus on life’s challenges and your opposition in the battles you face, you are likely to lose hope and give up. When you stay in God’s presence and keep the focus on him, he will give you optimism and the strength you need.
Remember, with God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Questions for Reflection
When you need extra strength to make it through a tough or challenging time or when you are facing “giants” in your life, where do you turn? What is your source of strength?
When I learn of information that I think will help others, I’m likely to pass it along more quickly than more slowly. This is one of those times.
About 5 years ago I read a book by Dr. Kara Davis, a practicing internal medicine physician, on the secrets to losing weight. It was based upon the application of the different “fruits of the spirit” addressed in Galatians 5:22-23.
I’ve read the introduction and the first of the 50 four-page chapters and scanned over the remainder of the book. One thing is clear - Davis’ heart is that people know the loving God of the Bible and that they be in good health. This book would be great to read read as a devotional over a 50 day period and I suspect could be a life-changing experience for some of you.
“For He (God) has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He (God) has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9
Questions to Reflect On:
Are struggling with your weight and ready to grow more deeply in your relationship with God and yourself? If so, I strongly recommend you read this book.
Do you know of a friend or family member who is challenged by their weight? Consider sharing this post and book with them.
Health experts would agree that a regular diet of grains is essential for us, especially whole grains. Dietitians will tell us that we should eat about 6 ounces of grain products each day and half of those should be whole grains. Whole grain breads are one such source. Whole grains benefit us because they help reduce heart disease and constipation and may help with weight management. Whole grain bread is also a good source of magnesium which helps keep our bones strong.
Chapter six of John speaks about Jesus being a source of spiritual nourishment. Jesus tells people that have been following Him that the reason they desire to be with Him is because their spiritual hunger is satisfied when they are in His presence. (verse 26). He tells us that God has given the people true bread from heaven and He is speaking of himself. In verse 35, He tells us that He is the “bread of life” and that all who come to Him will never be hungry. Jesus is saying that we will be nourished spiritually by Him, not only here on this earth, but forever.
We all eat food when we are physically hungry. It satisfies us for a while, but then when we’re hungry again, we need to eat some more. We will never be satisfied by eating regular food such as whole grain bread, as nutritious as our diet may be.
Jesus promises us that if we follow Him that He will meet the deeper spiritual hunger that we all have inside. He is the true source of spiritual nourishment that provides all we need for a rich and rewarding life while we are on this earth and for life eternally.
Are you feeding on the bread that Jesus provides? Are you being nourished deep in your soul by the One who satisfies your deepest hunger pains?
Life and stress… they go hand in hand. We will experience lots and lots of stress in our life. There is no getting around it. I believe that the degree to which we effectively manage and cope with the stress in our lives will determine the degree to which we are healthy. If we turn to unhealthy behaviors to cope with the stress, our physical and emotional health will suffer.
Many people turn to food as a way to cope with stress. Others turn to the use of drugs. Some turn to alcohol. Still others light up a cigarette. Some burn the midnight oil surfing the internet and pay for it the next day because they have had inadequate sleep.
Long ago Jesus told his followers: “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find much rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I don’t know of any more effective technique to get a handle on the stress in my life than to turn to Jesus. God designed you and me in a way that our spirit, mind and body would react together in a marvelous way when we feel tense and anxious and “heavy” and set our heart and mind on Jesus. God knew that Jesus was our anecdote for stress … not drugs, food, alcohol and the internet. That’s why he inspired Matthew to capture and write about Jesus’ short teaching on this topic.
How do we “Come to Jesus?” We pray. We listen to inspirational music. We sit or walk quietly and listen for His voice. We cry out to Him in desperation. We read His Word, the Bible. We get on our knees and pour out our heart to Him. When we do this, He promises that He will give us rest.
A Few Questions to Ponder:
To what or whom do you turn when you are weary, burdened or stressed?
How do you turn to Jesus in a way that is personal and meaningful?
When you’re hungry what type of food do you eat? What’s your favorite food that satisfies a deep craving you may have? Is it sweet, crunchy, salty or creamy? After you’ve eaten it, how long do you feel satisfied? When I am really hungry I open the cupboards and look for a bag of crunchy Cheeto’s. Several handfuls of this snack food often satisfies my physical hunger when I have gone too long without eating any food. What do you turn to when you have a deeper emotional or spiritual hunger inside?
In Psalm 81:10 God says to the writer “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things.”Later in verse 16 God is saying “But I would feed you with the best of foods. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”
In this Psalm, God is saying that if we turn to Him and follow His ways that He will take care of our needs. When we have a deep, deep need to be satisfied He does not want us to try to meet that need by going to the refrigerator and eating any food that might temporarily meet what we think is physical hunger. He wants us to go to Him to meet what really may be a spiritual need. God wants us to have the “best of foods.” Cheetos, a piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream do little to satisfy an emotional or spiritual need. Only God can do that, as these verses tell us.
The Hebrew word for ‘rock’ used in verse 16 of Psalm 81 is sur meaning a place of security and safety. That’s what God wants to be for us. When we need a place of security or safety He wants to be that place for us. When we are stressed over a life situation and are looking to feed the temporary emotions like loneliness, fear or pain, God does not want us to turn to physical foods to be satisfied. He wants us to turn to Him. He wants to “feed” us in a way that really satisfies our deep needs.
The next time you have a deep need because of a situation or event in your life, try turning to God. Put on a favorite CD or plug in your MP3 player and listen to songs that remind you of God’s nature. Open up the Bible and read your favorite scriptures. Read some other material that helps you understand God better. Or consider getting down on your knees and pouring out your heart to Him in a deep and meaningful way. Give God a chance and see if He won’t meet that deep ‘hunger.’ He is waiting for you.
Recently the idea that blogging on scriptures related to health might be insightful and helpful for me as well as readers. With that in mind, this is my first entry.
In John 4: 31-34 Jesus was urged by his disciples to eat some food. They felt he needed some food because it had been a while since he had eaten. Jesus responded that hehad food available to him that they did not know about. He told them, “my nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work.” This “work” was to spread the news to people about his Father’s love and of the joy and everlasting life that people could have if they knew of this love in a personal way.
Yes, Jesus needed the same type of nourishment in traditional food just as we do today. But He knew that His more meaningful nourishment came from doing what He came to earth to do… to bear all of our sins… past, present and future… so that we might have everlasting life when we die and so that we might have a more abundant/full life while we are here, being filled with His love.
As I read these verses, it causes me to reflect on what “nourishment” I need. True, I need carbohydrates, proteins and fats to fuel and nourish my body. I need to consume a healthy diet of foods so that I have the energy to function. I need the correct nutrients for my mind to work properly. When I run, I rely on a certain amount of glucose floating around in my blood to fuel my muscles. But these are for physical functions. What does my spirit need to perform the spiritual functions God would have for me?
Deep in my spirit I believe I am called to share the ‘Good News’ of who Jesus is and about the love of God with others. As my heart is set on this and I am in this mode, I am nourished in a way that I cannot be by eating even the healthiest of foods. As Psalm 81:10 reads, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” God is telling the Psalmist, and me(and us), that if I open my spirit to Him that He will fill me with good things deep in my inner most being. Well, I think that God placed in me a deep desire to share with others about His love. To tell others about His goodness. To provide hope to others. And when I do this, deep in my spirit, I am nourished.
So my questions to you are…. what type of nourishment do you need? How is your spirit nourished or fueled? Are there other scriptures that speak to you on this topic?
An article appeared today in the CNN health section regarding binge eating and Oprah Winfrey. The title of the article was Don’t Overeat Like Oprah.
We all eat food when we are physically hungry. It satisfies us for a while, but then when we’re hungry again, we need to eat some more. We will never be satisfied by eating regular food such as whole grain bread, as nutritious as our diet may be.
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