I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can vow to change, make promises to do better, commit to trying hard, and still find that temptation overpowers you. This weakness of our flesh is why it does not work to make resolutions or vows, promises to eat better, etc. None of that works long term, for it is not God’s way of setting captives free.
King David in the Bible had a terrible time of sin in his life. He was upstairs looking down on a woman, and he lusted in his heart after her and ended up committing adultery with her. One sin led to another, so he ended up having her husband killed.
David was hardened in his sin (Hebrews 3:13) for nine months until God sent Nathan the prophet to rebuke him. David’s heart became broken over his sin, and as David cried out to God for forgiveness, he said these words:
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7 (NIV)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalms 51:10-12 (NIV)
David understood his sin defiled him and made him impure, and he prayed for cleansing, to be washed and made whiter than snow. He also prayed for God to change his heart, that is, to create in him a pure heart. And while our sin is different, the way to be cleansed and changed in our hearts is the same.
Friend, if you and I are ever to get free from overeating, God must work in our hearts. Jesus said, “But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them” (Matthew 15:18-20). King David did not heed this warning: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23)
Do you see how the issue is the heart? God must change our hearts, which control our desires, loves, and passions, for us to find true and lasting freedom. Otherwise, we can do all the diets, make decisions to stop overeating, try as hard as we want, and we will remain enslaved. Do you see this?
I remember one night having fallen very badly to overeating; I was stuffed to the point of feeling sick and thought I might vomit. Having eaten two fast-food meals, a large meal at home, and several snacks throughout the day, I was full of guilt, shame, and self-loathing. I felt like there was no hope for me ever to change. Have you ever felt this way?
Well, in my dark moment, I felt God calling me to Him. I reluctantly pulled my Bible out of my suitcase (I was a professing Christian, so I always carried it) and read through David’s prayer in Psalm 51. That night God enabled me to cry out to Him for cleansing - to wash me and make me new, to rescue me from slavery, to give me a new heart and a new spirit. And He heard me, and He began working in my heart and changing me slowly.
Do you acknowledge that overeating is damaging to your body and causing harm to your health, and possibly to other areas of your life? Are you seeing the importance of being washed and having your heart changed? Do you want to see God do an amazing transformation in your life?
Question 4. Maybe you are crying out to God like David did and I did. Please write out your prayer here:
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