SPECIAL TO GOD: ASK HIM FOR HELP
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help." Psalm 86:5 NLT
Thoughts for Today
An eating disorder is a perceived external solution to inner turmoil. The focus on body size is an attempt to convert a worry about something inside oneself to something outside. For example, if a person's thoughts of "Am I good enough?" become "Am I thin enough?" she has created an external and measurable scale of her self-worth. When we focus on weight as the source of discomfort, our real problems are not resolved. We are relying on an external substance to alleviate internal distress.
The truth is, nothing we do on our own will give us a lasting peace. Nothing we do will make us perfect . . .But you know what? That's ok because God loves us anyhow. No matter what we have or haven't done . . .No matter how smart or pretty or thin we are. We are his children and he loves us unconditionally.
Consider this . . .
What do we need to do? We need to ask him for forgiveness. We need to rely on him instead of ourselves. We need to let him love us and take care of us.
His love is perfect. His love is unconditional. His love lasts forever. And he loves you.
Prayer
Father, help me remember that even though I'm not perfect, because of Jesus I am forgiven. Help me to stop trying to "fix" myself and instead rely on you and your strength and your love. Thank you for your unfailing love. In Jesus' name . . .
These thoughts were drawn from . . .Seeing Yourself in God's Image: Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia by Martha Homme, MA, LPC. Written by a counselor with experience helping those with eating disorders, this study is born from her own struggles in adolescence. The group challenges members to find their identity in Christ as they overcome this difficult struggle. This guide offers understanding of distorted body image, denial, and the family systems influence. It also explains how to break free of social pressures and how to restore the temple and tie the recovery process together. A companion booklet Seeing Your Loved One in God's Image, can be used as a quick reference guide dealing with issues associated with eating disorders. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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©Living Free 2018. Living Free is a registered trademark. Living Free Every Day® devotionals may be reproduced for personal use. When reproduced to share with others, please acknowledge the source as Living Free, Chattanooga, TN, www.LivingFree.org. Must have written permission to use in any format to be sold. Permission may be requested by sending an e-mail to info@LivingFree.org