"How we see ourselves determines how we treat ourselves."
- Kimberly Taylor
One practice Overeaters Anonymous (OA) promotes highlights a problem I have with the 12-step program.
Why am I writing about OA? I've received emails from readers asking me what I think about it.
Many years ago, I participated in Overeaters Anonymous for a while – before I became a believer in Christ.
While I am sure the program helps some people, it did not help me when I was a member.
Now I know why.
It violates a key Biblical principle at its core. Let me explain.
Problem #1: A Negative Confession
I had to stand up each meeting and say, “I’m Kim and I am a Compulsive Overeater." It was fine at first, but then I started to become depressed. Then I noticed something else:
In my group were women who had been attending the meetings for 12, 9, 7 years – and they didn’t appear to have any healthier relationship with food than I did.
Instead, they were obsessed with food in the opposite direction - overly restrictive, bordering on anorexia.
I asked myself, “Where is the victory, the peace, the praise?” I could not see myself still attending meetings for 10 years, but not getting anywhere.
So I quit going.
Now I know the problem was one of identity.
Problem #2: Reinforcing Fear
The Bible says that our God is one who calls those things that do not exist as though they did (see Romans 4:17). He declares the end of a thing from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
So by continuing to confess myself as a "Compulsive Overeater," all I was doing was reinforcing that oppressed identity mentally.
Confession means "to say the same." In confessing myself as a compulsive overeater, with whom was I agreeing? The Lord or the enemy?
Even when I wasn't bingeing on food, this identity made me fearful of a relapse. I felt doomed to remain helpless to food addiction.
That was bondage - not the freedom that Jesus promises!
God's Way: "A Future and a Hope"
Because God declares the end of a thing from the beginning, the Biblical way of confession would be to say what God says: “I’m Kim and I’m a RECOVERED overeater.”
So the Lord sees us as complete in Christ, regardless of our current behavior.
As we learn to see ourselves through His eyes and through the Holy Spirit working within us, our character becomes conformed to the image of Jesus over time.
God exists in Eternity, so time does not limit Him as it limits us. The Lord can see all of our days before one of them comes to be (Psalm 139:16).
One of my favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
I see the Bible as full of the Lord's promises for His people. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord wants us to have a personal relationship with Him?
If we believe Him, His word has the power to set us free.
My freedom came when I took that step of belief, anchored myself in Jesus and renewed my mind to His Word.
Today, I don't live in fear of a relapse and I can eat any food I want.
Each person ultimately has to make the decision as to how they will live. I chose to put my trust in the Lord to deliver me from compulsive overeating back in 2003.
Today, I am overjoyed to say that my trust in Him was rewarded!
Be blessed in health, healing and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. Do you struggle with eating too much sugar? If so, you are not alone!
Overcoming sugar addiction was a key factor on my journey to losing 85 pounds and dropping from a size 22 to a size 8.
In our 14-day Sugar Detox Challenge online course (inside the the Take Back Your Temple program), you’ll get the same success strategies and support to gain peace in your eating habits and achieve lasting weight loss success.
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