Healthy Habits for Singles, Part 5: Best Motives For Eating Well

Millions of us struggle with being overweight as a result of our affection for yummy food. More than one medical professional has lamented the epidemic of obesity in all age categories in recent years.

We know what the basic solution is, but lack motivation to implement it.

The basic principle is: We have to burn off more calories than we consume.There are many methods for doing this. I want to talk about our motivation for eating well.

The typical best motive given for eating well is “We should be healthy.”

That’s inadequate. Let me explain.

Understand the basic principle.

If we tell ourselves we should do such-and-so to get healthy, we’ve already lost. We’re really stating we know what needs to be done and we’re not going to do it. If we were going to do it, we would have already done it.

If we’re going to do temple maintenance right, “should” must be eliminated from our vocabulary.

The Lord gave us everything as a stewardship: money, time, vehicles, children, ministry, employment, family, friendships, houses. This includes our bodies, our earthly temples, in which our immortal spirits dwell. We have been called to be good stewards (think: managers) over all He has given us to manage for Him on earth, even if we don’t have a weight problem. Luke 12:42-46 and 16:10, and 1 Corinthians 4:2

It’s always better to walk toward a positive goal than run from a negative goal because positive emotional fixations produce healthy, guilt-free, permanent results.

1. To be a good manager over the body we have been given.
2. To develop the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, Galatians 5:22-23
3. To eliminate food as an idol that displaces the Lord whenever we have negative feelings, disappointments, boredom, loneliness, frustration, etc. The world calls this emotional eating. Exodus 20:1-6, Mark 12:28-34
4. To enjoy all foods we are given with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4, Genesis 9:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31), but not be brought under the power (think: addiction) of anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
5. To maintain a clear conscience about what, how and how much we eat and drink. Romans 14:23, 1 Timothy 1:5

The ultimate goal is for us to glorify God in everything we do within our temples, which includes eating. 1 Corinthians 6:20.

It’s easier to attain this ultimate goal when we offer our bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice, instead of grinding out an austere lifestyle in our own strength without seeing Him. Romans 12:1-2

Why is it so hard to eat better when we know it’s healthier for us?

You don’t have to hang your head in shame and feel guilty for all the bad food you’ve consumed over the last few weeks. You don’t have to obsess over the leftovers in your fridge and cupboards and how soon you can finish them off before you start your diet. You don’t need to agonize over your last doctor’s visit and the results of all those tests.

We can start over today. 

We can, instead of focusing on our guilt, focus on His love for us and the fact that He died to set us free from any and all forms of bondage, including food strongholds. Romans 6:10 and 1 John 3:8

We can recognize that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against unseen forces calculating to take us down. Ephesians 6:10-18

We can be aware of our eating triggers and lean on God’s strength to endure and overcome temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13

We can also enlist the help of praying, encouraging friends who can support our change of lifestyle. Hebrews 12:1-2

Allow the Spirit of God to motivate you from within using His weapons of warfare, and watch Him produce the results you’ve been trying to achieve on your own.