“Would our private actions glorify God if exposed publicly?”
I pondered this question after seeing a news story: “Pastor accused of taking picture up parishioner’s skirt.”
The report went on to add that after the Florida pastor’s arrest, he admitted to a struggle with pornography addiction.
I started praying immediately:
- I prayed for the young woman who experienced this trust violation that she would not blame God for the pastor’s sin and forgive the man.
Note: Other recent news stories about well-known pastors confessing to sexual sin moved me to share a Take Back Your Temple article from a sexual abuse survivor. The article author is also a Christian counselor who wrote about how to heal emotionally from such a devastating experience:
- I then prayed for the pastor himself, that he would confess and repent of his sin, receive God’s forgiveness, and get the help he needed to overcome porn addiction.
If we are not wise in appetite control, whether that appetite is for food, sex, or other substance, the enemy can easily pervert our appetites to destroy us and others.
The deception of any addiction is that you think you can control it. But one day, you realize that it controls you!
The following are 5 areas every believer should take heed of daily for appetite control:
1. Remember our Identity
We must never forget that Jesus loves us and sacrificed His life for us.
He rose again so that we could enjoy abundant life in Him, free from bondage.
God gave us His word as our wisdom.
He gave His Spirit as our power to walk in that wisdom.
Romans 8:11 says:
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Not only will we reap abundant life now as we follow Jesus, but we reap an eternal reward in Him:
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
– 1 Corinthians 9:24-27″
To finish our race well, God’s Spirit within must control what we do with our bodies.
If we allow our flesh to control our lives, we are headed for disaster – as the pastor’s story illustrates.
2. Controlling our Bodies
I once had a monthly Zoom session with our Take Back Your Temple program members entitled “Overcoming Mental Resistance to Change” (available on replay for TBYT members).
One of the key points from the session is that mental resistance has a PHYSICAL component. I played a clip from the movie “Aliens” which shows the main character, Ellen Ripley, fighting an alien using a machine called the “power loader” (see the toy of the Ripley character below to see what I mean).
Just like Ripley was inside of the power loader, we are inside of our bodies, managing and operating them.
However, our bodies are not US.
Pause and think about that.
By the way, I talked with my husband Mike about this example and he said that Tony Stark/Iron Man would be a better example for the men 🙂
3. Seeking God’s help
In Matthew 26:41, Jesus advised the disciples: –
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Each day, we must seek God’s wisdom in prayer. He will show us the areas in which we are vulnerable and the resources He has provided to help us overcome them.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He promises:
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Often, the issue is not that God hasn’t provided the resources to help us escape temptation; it is that we sometimes don’t want to take the escape route!
Fear of taking the escape route points to an enemy lie that you are believing. That is why the next step is so important.
4. Take lying thoughts captive
When we first become believers in Jesus, our spirits are renewed, but our minds aren’t.
According Romans 12:2, the work of renewing our minds to God’s word transforms us.
2 Corinthians 10:5 warns us of our daily battles against lying thoughts also:
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”
What are some arguments/lies that justify an addiction?
- “I can’t handle the pain of life without it“
- “I can get away with it/nobody has to know“
An addiction keeps you trapped in a secret shame.
Rather than living a life of freedom in Christ, you remain in the bondage of darkness.
Romans 8:5 says,
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
It is a daily decision to set your mind on things of the Spirit, like the thermostat in a house.
When things get “heated” due to a lying thought, cool yourself down through reminding yourself of Godly truth – and take the escape route based on that truth.
Philippians 4:8 is a great yardstick by which to measure your thoughts:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
4. Removing Temptations
Each of us knows very well the things that tempt us and make us stumble.
Guess what? So does the enemy!
If you have a stumbling block in your life and keep falling over it, wouldn’t it be wise to remove it from your daily path?
Hebrews 12:13 advises us:
and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
We are on a journey to glorify our dear Savior and a mission to share Him with others.
Why make this mission harder than it is?
In the pastor’s case, he could have removed the sources of pornography in his home and installed adult website blocks on his mobile device and computer as a preventative.
When you have an addiction, what drives it is the brain’s pleasure neurotransmitter Dopamine.
So it is also important that you include wholesome sources that add pleasure to your daily life.
5. Getting Godly Support
God never called us to walk alone. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says:
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
With trusted support, you can get wisdom from someone who can see your situation with objective eyes and help you separate truth from error.
With that higher perspective, you can move forward in freedom.
As believers, we are connected with one another through the Spirit. Let’s one uphold one another in prayer so that we finish this race well.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1 ).”
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Ty you it a joy what I’m learning on this journey. Ty Mr.Mike and Mrs.Kim. Lord I thank you for putting this couple in all of our lives. Ty for how you are using them to bring healing to many. Lord bless their financing that they will away have never lacking in anything.
Thank you, Renee – Mike and I receive that and praise the Lord for the blessings we have and are to come. We pray multiplied blessings back to you 🙂
Great article Kim! What a blessing you are!! Thank you!!!
Thank you for your feedback, Beth – I praise God for the opportunity to share what He has given me. Stay blessed!
Thank you for this article! I have been attempting to get by on tract after have surgery!! Thanh you that this article has helped me realize I need to keep my mind on things that come from GOD, not on things on earth!! ❤️❤️❤️
You are welcome, Janet – so many distractions exist in this world. I appreciate your reminder that as disciples of Jesus Christ we are in the world, but not OF the world. May the Lord bless you on your health journey. As I often say, it’s not always easy but always worth it!
Thank you for this article, Kim. I especially like the example of Ripley (and Iron Man) as a reminder that the real me is inside this body.. and I am the one in control. Also appreciated Mike’s response to Lorraine when you posted this last year. Even the most devout Christians need to sometimes have a brother or sister give us tough love to keep or get us back on track!
Thank you, Dora – we appreciate your feedback!
Wow yes, thank you Lord.
How can I even begin to glorify God with my life if I am still a slave to food? I am 59 and have fought this all my life. I have NEVER been at a healthy weight in my whole life. What does it feel like to be free?
Hi Lorraine ❤
This is Mike and I usually stay in my lane behind the scenes, keeping everything up and running.
However, I feel compelled to respond to your question.
How can I even begin to glorify God with my life if I am still a slave to food?
First let’s agree that:
Food cannot save you.
Food cannot forgive you of your sins.
Food cannot make a way out of NOTHING, or no way as old school would say.
Food can only enslave you IF YOU allow it to.
It doesn’t matter if you are 15, 59 or 95. YOU still have the POWER and AUTHORITY to take full control over your body AND your spirit!
You can begin to glorify God (IN THE NAME OF JESUS) by recognizing that even though you are not at the PHYSICAL place you desire to be, you are not bed ridden with some debilitating disease because you would have surely mentioned that in your post if you were, so PRAISE God for your health, such as it is.
Think for a moment about those you know from your past who DIED long ago and before they even reach the age of FORTY and did not have God in their life!!!! You know what their end will be without God (IN THE NAME OF JESUS) in their life. You my dear sister have been graced to live FIFTY-NINE FULL YEARS with a chance to praise, honor and Glorify God for ALL of HIS goodness. In return, HE will extend you the opportunity to repent of your sins and to get ALL areas of your life correct and on point whether it is a good eating habit, a spirit to forgive others, love for your family members and others alike.
I don’t remember seeing you in the Sugar Detox Challenge that we had just a little while ago. Start by reading the comments in the TBYT Community as I see you are a LIFETIME Member! Post comments as well because you my dear sister are not alone nor are you an isolated case. MANY and I do mean MANY have been and gone where you are today. Some have failed but MANY have succeeded.
Even if you were to start somewhere and stumble, fail, fall off or whatever you want to call it, just RESUME where you left off – DO NOT say “I will have to begin again or start over” as that is what the enemy what you to say and think so that he can minimize your successes or make you feel as though you are a complete failure WHICH YOU ARE NOT!
I will say that you must be the initiator of it all. We will assist you when and where we can but you my dear sister must give YOURSELF a chance.
I had a problem with potato chips. Once that bag was opened, the chips were gone within one to two days and sometimes a 10oz bag would be consumed in ONE sitting in front of the TV. Once I realized what was happening, I stopped buying chips (This is just recently, like within a month or two ago). I just went grocery shopping with Kim yesterday (from this timestamp) and sure enough, as I passed a display of chips which were in the main aisle and NOT in the chips aisle where they belong, I looked long and hard at them and then smiled and walked away. I even looked back as I thought about buying a bag. but I did not.
I fully admit, the journey can be challenging, and those chips did indeed want to handcuff me and enslave me, but I know who I am and will NOT be consumed by food, chips or anything else.
Ask God for help sis BUT DO GLORIFY HIM NO MATTER WHAT! FTR: He did send you help in my post – I may sound harsh in my reply, but like I said earlier, I felt compelled to respond which I don’t usually do, so I believe God has given me permission to speak to you in this manner and HE will come behind it to do whatever it is He will do for you, to you and through you.
You also asked the question; “What does it feel like to be free?”
Free from what?
Drugs
Alcohol
Pornography
Adultery
Sex Trafficking
Prostitution
Stealing
Lying
Diabetes
Cancer
Stroke
Dementia
Heart Tumors
High Blood Pressure
If you had ANY of these but were FREED from it, then that’s what it feels like to be free from food enslavement as it were.
If you have NEVER been exposed to any of these then you are already in a state of freedom regardless of your trial with food.
What I am trying to sum up is NOT to make food the focal point in your life but rather find out the root cause as to why you run to food. Food might just be a comforter or pacifier to cover up something else or to ease the pain of something else.
You have a plethora of material at your disposal and at your very fingertips in the program, but it is up to you to use the material and resources that GOD (IN THE NAME OF JESUS) has laid out before you.
To God be the Glory!
❤
Mike Taylor
TBYT Membership Coordinator
Virtual Assistant
Thank you for being obedient to post your comments. They were for me too. Another 59 year old who struggles with sugar, depression, and all too often- giving into all of that. I truly want to glorify God in all things, please pray I will be faithful to use what He has already provided, in this program, and these materials. We are not alone. Thank you Jesus.
Awl my dear sister ❤
I will indeed pray for you (Cindy), Lorraine and for anyone else who are struggling with this affliction.
____________________
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus!
I come before you on behalf of your dear sweet daughters Cindy & Lorraine specifically and your other children as well who are finding it a challenge to control their eating pattern. We know that the food is NOT the problem O’Lord but rather some underlining issue is at the core.
Cindy may have identified the culprit of depression which in and of itself is not necessarily the root but the symptom of something else to which we lay in at the alter for you to handle on behalf of Cindy. Give her peace in her mind and body. Help her to see that she is indeed spiritually and wonderfully created by YOU and that you have taken YOUR time and delighted in the creation of Cindy whom you love so well.
Help her to see that the enemy does indeed see in her what YOU see in her and is trying to destroy her to the point that You cannot use her which is IMPOSSIBLE for the enemy to do because NO MAN, WOMAN, BEAST OR DEMON FROM HELL can stop what you have proposed and determined for Cindy.
Help her to be strong and vigilant in ALL her ways. Help her to see that she has the power and authority that YOU have given her to move in a way that is pleasing to YOU and peaceful to her.
Help her to not allow herself to be a footstool for others. Give her the answers to the questions she asks of YOU and others. Do not hold back your knowledge and wisdom from Cindy, Lorraine or your children.
What I pray for Cindy, I also pray these words for Lorraine as well, for you care for ALL of your children and just as concern for Lorraine as you are for Cindy as you are for the least among us which there is none least among us so again you care equally for us all.
Touch Lorraine in such a way TODAY or as soon as she read this post so that she will have NO DOUBT why YOU ALONE are to be GLORIFIED!!! YOU heard her cries and saw her tears over the years. Dry her tears and give her a soft heart and peaceful spirit as YOU perform your will in her life this day and every day.
Continue to love on your baby girls as You have been doing as well as the others who will no doubt come across this post as Cindy helped me to realize (see YOU are using your kids already).
In the meantime, we will continue to give you the HONOR, GLORY & PRAISE that YOU ALONE deserve in the Mighty and MATCHLESS name of our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN and again I type AMEN!!!!!!
❤
❤
Finding freedom to walk in the spirit, not run but walk, keeping our eyes on Jesus is freedom. This does not require having arrived at any certain destination ie weight goal. It is a process. Applying the healthy choices & exercise each day is what freedom feels like. Changing from the inside out, not the outside in. Hang in there sister, be determined to keep walking forward with Him. There are many, many suggestions of steps to take on the TBYT website. Keep trying them until you find what works for you, but arriving at a weight goal is not required for freedom. It is a result of freedom. Baby steps. Encourage yourself with words of healing and small successes ie writing here, reading the community posts on TBYT site, listen to podcasts by Kimberly & Judy, stand up, take a walk, have a devotional time, make one change in your eating today. All of these things lead to success. It’s not an overnight fix, it is a process. Decide to join in the process❤️
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So….does 1 Corinthians 9:27 mean that Christians are to be temperate in all things? In eating, too?
Yes, Judy – We don’t not want to put stumbling blocks in our way that would make our lives any harder than they have to be. I like the way Hebrews 12:1-3 puts it: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Kimberly, I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your lessons/ devotionals and they have really helped to encourage me to be healthier and follow more closely God’s plan for my life. Bless you!❤️
Thank you so much, Kelly – I give God all the glory for the opportunity to speak into your life!
Thank you for sharing. Oftentimes as Christians, it so easy to consider the faults of others rather than our own. And as brothers and sisters in Christ we are to pray for each other and admonish one another. All of us has a strong hold that we need to be delivered from…gossiping, lying, unforgiveness, busybody, bitterness, racism etc. and to God, it’s all sin – none is worse than the other.
So true – God does not grade sin on a sliding scale. That’s why we all need a Savior!
This is a powerful article!!!! I love when you said sometimes we don’t want to take the way of escape. Then you explained why. I kept getting hung up right there! I’m so glad you shined a light on this.
You are welcome, Taris – it helps to understand the enemy’s schemes and our own flesh so that we have the tools we need to overcome. God bless you!
Thank you, Kim, for the audio of “Faith Self-Talk for Self-Control!” I am amazed every time I listen to this at how much the Lord WANTS me to be healthy! I start my day with this audio as I do my walk outside. It is the most encouraging audio i could possibly listen to on my walk… better than music, better than noise, better than any other affirmations I have heard.
Thank you so very much for your labor on this project. It HELPS me daily!
Hi Julia – I am so glad that you are finding the Faith Talk for Weight Loss audio helpful. God’s word is full of encouragement and it gladdens my heart every time I hear it myself!
This was so powerful and life changing. I will take heed!!!! Thank you!!