Ch. 2 Replacing My Cravings

22 days and no cheating.  Some days have definitely been harder than others!  I only have 7 days left of Justin doing it with me, so then we'll see how hard it becomes after that...

Chapter 2 starts off describing my life - how quick I was to be disappointed by failure and to give in.  How easy it was to be tempted by deliciousness all around me and decide to just well, start tomorrow!!!  And since I'm starting tomorrow, I may as well live it up today!  Struggling to decided if this struggle was really worth it.  Wondering if I should tell anyone, but then they might just decide to actually hold me to a standard!  Coming down to it, when I was faced with "temptation", being able to just fit into the jeans I wanted, was going to cut it.  That can leave me motivated for oh, about 2 days.  I had to really work to identify what the real issue was.

"But I did need to make changes.  I knew it.  Because this wasn't really about the scale or what size my clothes were; it was about the battle that raged in my heart.  I thought about, craved and arranged my life too much around food."  pg. 28

Yes. Yes. Yes!!!  When I read that the first time, I knew this lady was speaking to me.  This was it.  This was my battle.  And finally someone understood!  She went on to talk about people not understanding when she did try to share her struggle.  This was me too.  I was embarrassed and not sure how to tell people exactly what I was thinking and feeling without sounding like I was becoming legalistic or striking out on the next trendy eating craze.  "You're making this food thing about God?  Do you think he even cares about food?"  Well yes, I think He does.

"I craved food more than I craved God.  Food was my comfort.  Food was my reward.  Food was my joy.  Food was what I turned to in times of stress, sadness, and even in times of happiness." pg. 29

I have an unhealthy craving.  Again, this could be anything.  For me, it was food.  He did not make us to crave anything more than we crave Him. This was pretty astounding when I started thinking about it.  It really sobered me into realizing how serious this "issue" had become.  For me, it controlled my emotions - how I felt about myself, my marriage, God, etc.

"God never intended for us to want anything more than we want Him.  Just the slightest glimpse into His Word proves that.  Look at what the Bible says about God's chosen people, the Israelites, when they wanted food more than they wanted God:  'They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.'  Psalm 78:18"  pg. 29

Wow!   Lysa goes on to remind us what became of them - they continued to wander the desert for 40 years instead of entering into what God had set aside for them - the Promised Land!  She ends with a very practical application - use these cravings to bring yourself closer to God - use them as a prompt to pray.

She goes on to say that whenever she craved something that was not beneficial to her, she prayed.  She complained, she praised, she talked to Him.  She became honest with Him.  As she worked on breaking down the stronghold food had become in her life, dislodging brick after brick, she used turned them into conversations with God, "building a walkway of prayer, paving the way to victory." pg. 30

Check out this amazing verse that has become my morning prayer:

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.  In the morning, O LORD, you  hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."  Psalm 5:1-3