With the holidays come great food temptations. How can you win? I’ll show you.
I faced two temptations this week. Both start with the letter ‘P’: Pies and Party.
And both temptations came from my husband, Mike.
With the first one, Mike baked three delicious-looking sweet potato pies, leaving them out on the kitchen counter to cool.
The second was at our community holiday party. I had decided in advance how much I was going to eat and made sure that I did not go to the party hungry. So far, so good.
After we finished eating the main meal, Mike returned to the dessert buffet. Another couple was at our table and Mike brought back four slices of cake, announcing as he placed the cake in the center of the table: “I thought I’d get enough cake for everybody.”
Now sweets are my big weakness. How could I win over temptation with sweets right before my eyes?
First, a clue on what NOT to do. In Genesis 3, the serpent tempts Eve to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Here is how Eve responded:
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6)”.
Notice that temptation began with what Eve SAW. Temptations always begin with what is in your sight – either in your physical sight or your imagined sight.
The longer the tempting object stays in your sight, the more you desire it.
And when desire reaches a peak, you’ve got to have it. You take it.
Finally, you suffer the consequences of giving in to temptation. In Eve’s case, the suffering included the Curse from God and being kicked out of the Garden of Eden.
In your case with tempting foods, the suffering may include triggering an eating binge. You may feel shame or guilt. You may feel physically tired or sicker after eating the tempting food.
Recognizing the temptation pattern is the key to overcoming it. Again, the pattern is:
- See it
- Desire it
- Take it
- Suffer it
A principle of martial arts is: “The best way to win a fight is to avoid getting into one in the first place.”
The best way to do that with temptations is to get them out of your sight. Don’t bring tempting foods into your home if you can help it. And that includes in your imagination!
With the pies, I stayed out of the kitchen. And after the pies were cooled on the counter, I covered them up with aluminum foil so that I did not see them. Then I went on doing other things in another room.
At the party in response to the cake, I told my husband “Thanks, sweetie but I’m abstaining tonight.” Then I focused my attention on the table conversation.
In both situations, I felt great about not succumbing to temptation. Remember, temptation starts with your eyes!
Recall the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind.”
- Get the temptation out of your physical sight first.
- If you can’t remove the temptation, then remove yourself.
- If you can’t do that, then cover up the tempting food so that you can’t see it.
- If you can’t do that, then get it out of your mind by focusing your attention on doing something else.
God gives us a promise about temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
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.”
I’ve given you a way of escape that works. You can use the principles in any area that tempts you. The question is, will you take the escape route?
If you are doubting, then ask God to change the desires of your heart so that you act with self control.
And you too will win!
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’Â program
P.S. Have you ever started a weight loss program with great enthusiasm – only to lose focus and regain the weight you lost?
Not any more. To help you stay motivated so you can become a weight loss success story, part of the Take Back Your Temple program is an audio series based my best-selling book “The Weight Loss Scriptures.
Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple program.
Thank you so much, Kim! That helps a TON!
Glad to hear it, Nancy 🙂
I am intrigued by understanding that diets is not the answer. Jesus is! I think I knew that but I had no traction to move forward on it. Over the last two years I have gone from a size 8 to a size 16. The excuse is because of going back to school and studying long hours. I ate to stay uplifted and awake. But there is no good excuse to let things get out of control! I am nearing the end of my studies and it is time for me to “Take Back My Temple!”. The Lord reminded me of Marty Copeland who preaches on Christian Health, while search for her, I came across you Ms. Taylor! I get such a peace. My aim is not necessarily loose weight (that is the ultimate goal) it is to be at peace with my body. As I learn to be at peace with my body, I feel to be at peace with God, the world around me and others. What I felt was out of control, you have shown me God has given me the control in His name and by His blood! And I can take control back on my body, my life and my future!! God has given it to me. Control can start with what I eat, then it can continue with when I watch TV, then continue on to whom and when to give….Thank you Ms. Taylor
I really want to buy the book “the weight loss scriptures” but I don’t have a kindle. I
Have a nook. Just wondering if there was another way to get the book? Thank you! This site is awesome I really relate to kimberly and would live to read this book.
Mindy, thanks for your compliments on this site! The ‘Weight Loss Scriptures’ book is available on Kindle and also in paperback. For the Kindle books, you actually don’t need a Kindle to read them, surprisingly. Amazon offers free Kindle reading apps for those who want read Kindle books with buying a Kindle. Here is the link to the books I have on Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Taylor/e/B00603KYWK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1. Thanks for asking!
I am feeling very frustrated right now to the point of tears. I want to loss the 50 lbs. that I still need to lose, but the ice cream and junk food keep calling me. I crave ice cream because it was what I craved for so many years while growing up in my parents home and being abused every day by my mom mostly, then by my dad and 3 siblings. Mom told me 2 times before she died and I was a mistake, many times that I was stupid, a dummy, and other wonderful words. She even tried to take my son away from me. Mom has since passed on, but the cravings for junk food still has a hold on me big time. I feel that I just have to take it one step, one day at a time with GOD’s help to get through this. Now I am crying and what to stop doing this to myself. I know I am a good person, but I find it hard to stop doing what I am doing to myself. I am also diabetic type II, gluten intolerant, and lactose intolerant with other food issues.
It does feel good to get this out. I am trying to eat better and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Thanks, Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Your pain is apparent, but the most important question you need to ask yourself right now is this:
“Do you want to get well?”
You see, sometimes people are in pain for so long that the pain starts to feel comfortable. After all, the pain is all they know. Plus, the thought of living differently frightens them.
I once had a vision of how I used to be when I struggled with obesity and food. I saw myself huddled in a dark corner and God bathed in light just behind me. I sensed He was calling me to Himself, yet voices were whispering to me that it was safer in the darkness. But God’s love was so strong that I felt compelled to follow Him.
I looked behind me and I saw love, gentleness, and strength. I trusted Him, took His hand in the spirit and haven’t been the same since. Every area of my life has improved. Did I stop having problems? No. Did I stop having hurts and disappointments? No. But I do have the knowledge that God will never leave me nor forsake me. I have the security of knowing that I am never alone. No matter what I go through, He will see me through.
So I ask you again, Ellen:
* Do you want to get well?
* Are you willing to forgive your family for the pain they caused you?
* Are you willing to believe what God says about you above what your family said about you?
* Are you willing to take responsibility for your own choices rather than blaming others for them?
If so, I’ve got three articles that I want you to read that I believe can set you on the road to recovery. I pray you do want to get well. If you feel led to, please post again and let me know your thoughts:
Releasing the Heavy Burdens
God’s Love Letter to You
Making Christian Weight Loss Easier
God bless you!
Kim
As I read this, I couldn’t help but to see how I have become addicted to cigarettes. No how many times I’ve attempted to quit, I’ve ended up given into the temptation to smoke, rather it be real or imagined. Recently I’ve been throwing around the thought of trying ‘one more time’…I will definitely apply this truth when the time comes!!! Thank you my sistah!
You are welcome, Tina – to God be the Glory!