I’m not on a diet, I’m on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine
art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness”.
Lysa Terkheurst, Made to Crave
I have often referred to
the bible as a love letter. Christians boldly share that “God so loved the
world” and Jesus would have died even if you were the only one to save. Of
course, these are true! But somewhere in the church clichés, I forgot that
Scripture is not just an archetypal
story of universal salvation. The Word addresses EACH of my needs in a unique
and powerful way.
Imagine my refreshing
surprise when…over the last 6weeks of reading Made to Crave…I have seen a new
theme arise across the entire bible. A theme that specifically tackles my
issues with food.
At the very beginning of time and humanity,
Eve was tempted by FOOD!
Genesis 3:6 – “When the woman saw the fruit of the tree
was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also
desirable for gaining wisdom,
she took some and ate it”.
In the Old Testament under the
Old Covenant,
the Israelites’ struggle with food sent them
wandering in the desert for 40 long years!
by demanding
the food they craved”.
In the New Testament, as Jesus prepares for ministry
and
ushers in the New Law, Christ defeats Satan's
temptation after a redemptive 40 day fast!
John 4:34 – “ ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the
will of him who
sent me and to finish his work.’ ”
In Revelation, God’s shares a vision of His promise
and plan;
sure enough, there’s more mention of victory
with food!
Revelation 2:7 – “To him who overcomes,
I will give the right to
eat from the tree of life,
which is the paradise of
God”.
After years of calling the
bible a “love letter” (and calling myself a Christ-follower), it took joining
this Made to Crave journey for me to see how the message of God’s hope
addresses EVERY human issue…even my struggles with food.
You see – it’s not really
about food anyway. It’s not as simple as replacing donuts with carrots. It’s
about ALL the things that have, can, or will consume my heart more than Christ.
When I intimately understand food cravings
but have to stop and ask if I’ve ever truly yearned for God…
there is a problem!
When I spend hours chatting
with old friends
but rarely squeeze in a quiet moment of prayer or praise…
there is a
problem!
When hours of Facebook-scrolling or
Netlflix-marathoning
are more appealing that time spent in the Word…
there is a
problem!
The promise of Revelation
2:7 is for those who overcome.
Overcome what...not to mention how? For me…in this season of life…the initial
struggle was loosing a child and turning to food rather than Christ. It was
only once I reached the end of my own effort that I began to see God’s fingerprints
redeeming the loss and drawing me to Him. As Lysa wrote: “it is good for God’s
people to be put in a place of longing so they feel slight desperation. Only
then can we be empty enough and open enough to discover the holiness we were
made for.”
In another season, there
will be other trials and temptations. But this Made to Crave experience has
reminded me of the bigger process and the deeper plan. Yes – the bible is a letter about love…but remember that His love calls us to purity and then fans the
refining flames.
Dear friends, whether your current idol is the call of cake, the
lure of lust, or the magnetism of money - - take hope! We are on a life-long
journey of redemption...a beautiful transformation from sinner to saint! But chiseling a masterpiece is hard work. Deep cleaning always looks messier in the process. Sometimes it may feel like two step
forward and another back. Keep faith! Eyes on the prize! Triumph lies in your
very next choice!
“One wise choice can lead to two, can lead to three, can
lead to a thousand, can lead to the sweet place of utter dependence on God and
lasting discipline”.
Lysa Terkheurst, Made to Crave
Lysa Terkheurst, Made to Crave
Victory is about intentional sacrifice that chooses
long-term gain over short-term loss. Overcoming is really just a series of
small sanctifying surrenders. So while our Made To Crave study has
drawn to end, our God is just getting started!