Written By: Micah Hilbert
Throughout my life, I’ve honestly had a weird relationship with food. For years, I struggled deeply with bingeing and eating way more than I needed. Then, for some time, I found myself completely on the other side of the fence, tracking and restricting my food down to the daily macronutrients. I’ve gone from one side to the other and now use my struggles as a way to help women in my career as a fitness trainer.
However, this journey towards my now-healthy relationship with food is only thanks to the absolute grace and power of the Lord. I’m serious.
About 3 years ago, amidst my obsessive and restrictive phase in my relationship with food, I prayed and asked the Lord to help me. I had been struggling with anxiety surrounding what I was eating, and it had become a huge idol in my life. I’d wake up worrying about what I could eat for breakfast, how many calories I’d burned, and if I deserved more carbohydrates that day.
In my kitchen, as I was doing my dishes, I prayed and said:
“Father, will you help me with this food thing? I can’t do this on my own.”
I didn’t use flowery language, perfectly manicured thoughts, or scripted words. I simply asked for help out of my own struggling heart.
It was then that things began to change.
The Holy Spirit began whispering to my heart as I was eating certain foods. I’d hear a little voice in my head/heart, saying “that’s enough,” or “not right now.”
I’d asked for help, and the Lord began to speak.
I’d finally given up the one thing that I was certain that I didn’t need the Lord’s help with, and he began to change me.
I believe that we each have one area of our lives that we know that we need to surrender to the Lord. We each have a specific place of comfort that we run to in place of the comforting arms of Jesus.
What is yours? Social Media? Movies? Sex? TV shows? Cleaning? Alcohol? Working? Food?
The list goes on.
Chances are, that when you hear that question, there is one thing that comes directly to mind. Almost instantly, though, you talk yourself out of it.
“Nah. It’s not that big of a deal. Seriously.”
Trust me when I say this: it is.
These things that we hold on to separate us from a deeper relationship with the Father.
In order for us to grow deeper in our relationship with him, we’ve got to ask him for his help, surrendering the things that we often cling to.
The truth is, I STILL struggle in surrendering my food to the Lord. Frankly, I hadn’t completely fasted from food in over 2 years, completely because I like it too much and desperately HATE feeling hungry. (Literally, ask my husband, I’m a HANGRY little turd when I haven’t eaten.) Yet, I know that it’s an area of my life that I sometimes need to surrender to God by going without for a certain period of time, in order to keep my focus on Jesus as my sustainer.
Maybe, for you, you know that the Lord is calling you to give up a specific activity. Remember, the heart of the Father is GOOD and KIND, wanting desperately for you to let him in. He wants a relationship with his precious child. Let Him into this area of your life.
Spend time today praying on this idea, asking the Lord what he needs you to release to him.
Then, spend however long that you feel is necessary, without that specific thing. As you do, ask the Lord to change your dependence on other things to a dependence upon Him.
You won’t regret it.
In fact, it just might change your life.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
-Micah