Winning the Mental Battle

When you have a negative habit that you are battling, you have mental strongholds that support it. Conquering these strongholds is critical to winning the mental battle of emotional eating and weight loss. Imagine this: our minds are like a courtroom. You have 2 lawyers arguing about what is the right choice for you to make at any given moment. Your emotions are the Judge. The argument that your emotional self agrees with wins. It can be a weak argument logically, but emotions will trump logic in the end.

Uncovering the Argument

How do you know what your argument is that supports a negative habit? Well, the next time you want to take an action, ask yourself: 'Why do I want to do this?' A 'Because'... argument will show up. 'Because' is your reasoning, the argument. I always like to separate the word 'Because' into 'Be' and 'Cause'. The 'Cause' is the reason that you are using to justify what you are choosing to 'Be' at that moment. So let's say that you want to get some donuts after having a stressful day at work. If you ask yourself 'Why do I want to do this?' you may answer: 'Because the donuts will make me feel better.' Ah-ha! That's the argument. So 'stress' was the 'Cause.' However,  the 'Be' is even more important because it reveals the person you have chosen to be at that moment. In that case, you have chosen to 'Be' a person who believes that donuts are the cure for stress and act according to that belief. Once again, the argument will reveal the person you are choosing to 'Be' at that moment. You could just as easily choose to 'Be' a person who believes that a prayer walk, praise music, or stretching will relieve her stress. Do you see what I mean? Who are you choosing to be at this moment? Think about it. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5  says,
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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,"
In Biblical times, people built altars to false gods on high places (see 1 Kings 14:22-24 for an example). Think of any mental arguments that we elevate above obeying God as idols on high places. 'Casting down arguments' means dismantling those mental idols and tearing down strongholds.

Casting Down Arguments

This is not about condemnation, but respect of your body as God's dwelling place. The first step to overcoming arguments is to eavesdrop on them. You may even journal them. Then ask God 'Is this the truth or is this a lie'? To be able to walk in the truth, the first step is to identify what it is. Once the argument is revealed as a lie, then mentally say 'Cancel' or 'Strike that' and replace the negative argument with truth from God's word. If there is no specific word, then ask God to show you wisdom and the truth He wants you to live by. Remember, the more you think a certain way, the more you'll tend to keep on doing it....unless you learn to think differently. When you think differently, not only does it affect your choices now but you are laying new thinking tracks in your brain for the future.

Who Do you Want to Be?

With your choices, start asking yourself ''What person do I want to be at this moment?'' Then, make choices consistent with the person you want to be. You can start changing in the next moment. You don't want to miss out on any blessing that God has in mind for you. Good health is a BLESSING. Say that now. The good habits that lead to good health are a BLESSING, even though it takes time and effort to establish them. Think about your arguments today. I would love to hear about any specific habits you want to change and what is the argument/reasoning you are using to keep it in place. Be blessed with health, healing and wholeness, Kimberly Taylor, Creator of the Take Back Your Temple program P.S. Tired of carrying emotional weight? The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through Biblical truth. You’ll discover how to lay aside emotional weight and walk in freedom. Join a support community of other empowered Christians discovering how to release weight and keep it off. Click here to become a Take Back Your Temple program member.

About the author 

Kimberly Taylor

Kimberly Taylor is a certified Christian life coach and has a heart to help others struggling with emotional eating and weight loss. Once 240 pounds and a size 22, she can testify of God’s goodness and healing power to overcome. She lost 85 pounds as a result of implementing techniques to overcome emotional eating and binge eating disorder.

Kim is the author of "The Take Back Your Temple Program," which teaches Christians how to take control of their weight God's way and the books "The Weight Loss Scriptures" and "The Weight Loss Prayers."

Kim has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Charisma Magazine and on CBN’s 'The 700 Club' television program.