Surrendering My Food Addiction by Janet Brown

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Isaiah 61:1

“to proclaim liberty to the captives”

I fully understand that line, for I was bound, and the Lord set me free. Twenty years ago, I fought with white-knuckled grip to control my food addiction, but the more I struggled, the less peace I experienced. My life felt empty. I thought myself unfixable. I believed God couldn’t help.

During my adult life, I moved between binging and dieting. I lost weight through sheer determination and strength of character, but I longed for food treats that had become so meaningful to me like Reese’s candy, donuts, and fudge. I returned to regular eating. Satan’s chain tightened around my thought life. Depression permeated my belief system, and I dropped, once again, to the pit of food binges, along with occasional purges.

Death seemed my only viable option. A church service would be inspiring, drawing me close to the Lord. Again, I prayed, “Lord, take away my cravings for sweets. Please release my mind from food addiction.” I went from the altar to search for a new way to eat, a new secret potion, or support group, and went into diet and losing mode one more time.

In 1993, I reached bottom. I told God, “I can’t do it. I’m powerless over food. Unless you change me, I will keep gaining weight until I die.” I walked into a Christian Weight Controller meeting at church, weighing two hundred, fifty pounds and having no belief in my ability to change.

What a surprise!

That was exactly where God wanted me.

Moment by moment, I looked to God for direction on everything. I began many days telling Him, “I’m weak. Before I reach my job, I plan on stopping for a dozen donuts to eat this morning unless you stop me. It’s in Your hands. I can’t stop myself.”

Praise God! Many times I’ve made it to work without donuts. I don’t remember what changed. I just know God took control.

Food had become my idol.

I put God on the throne of my life.

I learned not to pray and then resume control. It doesn’t work.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

To succeed at combating food addiction, or any other addiction, compulsion, or hang-up, we must surrender to God’s will, not ours.

My control brings captivity.

God’s control gives liberty.

Worth Forgiving

Second in the Wharton Rock Series

Prejudice and mistrust hinders an ex-con, drug addict’s new beginning.

The state of Texas releases from prison Katie Smith. Full of optimism, she sets out to get a job, rent her own place, and make a home for her eight-year-old daughter, but Katie gave away her daughter three years ago. She could use a friend, but her past choices threaten to doom her to continued failure.

Larry Pullman graduated from seminary with high marks, but the fact that he has no wife makes finding a preaching job almost impossible. It doesn’t help that running from God as a teenager gave him a past that he can’t undo. All he needs is an ex-con, drug addict messing up his life, but then why did God lead him to her? Or did He?

Isn’t it enough that Lacey Chandler gave her sister’s daughter a home? Does that mean she has to clean up Katie’s messes forever?

Could it be that Katie is not Worth Forgiving?

PURCHASE WORTH FORGIVING HERE

Janet K. Brown lives in Wichita Falls, Texas with her husband, Charles.

Worth Forgiving, an inspirational women’s fiction, is the second in her Wharton Rock series. Her only non-fiction is Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness.

Worth Forgiving marks Brown’s fourth book. Who knew she had a penchant for teens and ghosts? She released her debut novel, an inspirational young adult, Victoria and the Ghost, in July, 2012.

Janet and her husband love to travel with their RV, work in their church, and visit their three daughters, two sons-in-law and three perfect grandchildren.

Janet teaches workshops on writing, weight loss, and the historical settings of her teen books. The author uses her platform of recovering compulsive overeater to weave stories of hope for addiction, compulsion, or impossible situations.

Find her at http:/ /www.janetkbrown.com

on Twitter at https://twitter.com/janetkbrowntx

on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Janet-K-Brown-Author/143915285641707

E-mail: Janet.hope@att.net

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