Proverbs 18:9 - He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavours to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide. (AMP)

A recovering alcoholic once told me that he ate a bunch of chocolate bars because he couldn't get his hands on a bottle of whiskey. Then, he said that he had to stop overeating because it gave him the same effects as the booze.

That statement opened the eyes of this long-time gourmand. A gourmand is a greedy, ravenous eater, a glutton, a slave to appetite, eating only because food is available. Such was I. Cold turnip, gravy by the quart, or delicate desserts were all the same to me. Like my alcoholic friend, I learned that food was a drug. It calmed and satisfied me with its quantity, but seldom with its taste.

When I asked Jesus into my life, He began to sort out my eating issues. Gradually, He wooed me from sixteen years of bulimia. Gently, He spoke to my lack of self-control. He whispered that "everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial" (1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV). He explained that He alone would be my Master.

When we try to ignore our physical health while steeping ourselves in the spiritual, we can expect God to point out that we don't have the right to neglect our bodily health. These signals may come in the form of health issues, a friend's comments, or a shocking look in the mirror. Whatever form His warnings take, we would do well to promptly heed the message.

Prayer: Father God, speak to us loudly so that we don't miss Your best for us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Brenda Wood brenda.w@nextcom.ca
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada

Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca