But I also gave part of Gilead to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. The area I gave
them extended from the middle of the Arnon Gorge in the south to the Jabbok River
The above verse is found where the Israelites are
getting ready to finally leave the dessert (after 40 years of wandering) and
cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land.
The Israelites had conquered land where they were and Moses divided the lands
they’d taken between some of the tribes. The boundaries were clear and
detailed. And they had a purpose.
While this might seem as far as we can get from
food and eating issues, the truth is boundaries are talked about consistently
throughout scripture and we can learn from them, even when they’re talking
about land.
God always
gives us boundaries for our good and His glory.
In the case of the Israelites, God gave them
boundaries so each of the tribes would have their own space and be able to live
freely to worship Him and be able to grow and prosper.
In the case of putting boundaries around our
eating, we have the opportunity to live free of negative consequences of bad
eating and be blessed with energy and strength to grow and prosper –
emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
I was talking to a friend yesterday about a time
when I could eat anything I wanted and was losing weight. That’s really what my flesh wants – to have what I want when I want and
still look how I want. The problem was what was happening on the inside
during this time. My pancreas had shut down and while I might have looked good,
by body wasn’t able to use what I was giving it and was slowly being destroyed.
That is not worth being the size I’d prefer to be.
Once we figured out what was going on and I was
put on insulin, I gained weight and had to put some fairly strict boundaries
around my eating, but I felt a world better!
Our health is
never a sacrifice worth making.
The costs to every area of our lives are too high.
But that knowledge doesn’t always make staying
within our boundaries easy. That’s because boundaries aren’t easy. They are
difficult, just as most things with a reward are. Sticking with a diet can work
for a while, but we generally have a “short-term sacrifice” mindset. This will
only give up short-term results.
A lifetime of
appropriate boundaries is the only thing that will give us lifetime results.
What boundaries do you need in eating? Have you
prayed about it? Have you asked the Holy Spirit to heal the parts of you that
turn to food instead of Him for comfort, rejuvenation, relaxation, and/or
fulfillment? Have you asked God for strength to live within your boundaries so
you have the physical wherewithal to live abundantly for Him?
These are decisions and prayers that would
benefit us, and sometimes are necessary every day. I’m not sure how often I’ve
made a commitment to do better, to live better, to be successful this time.
Usually in my own strength. But today (and maybe tomorrow, and the next day and
the next) I’m asking for God-centered boundaries and God-infused strength on
this food journey. Won’t you join me?
Thanks for sharing this! I need boundaries, my choices have been so bad and satan uses them to get me so down, so much so to the point that I can't live the life God wants me to have! Jesus didn't die on the cross for me to live in constant bondage,, HE died so that I may live victorious day in day out! I must accept His healing power over this Sin of not following boundaries with food! Dear Lord, i pray right now asking you to heal my mind Lord of the stronghold of my non boundary eating, I pray Lord that even if my mind goes to thinking of eating something bad for my Holy ghost filled temple, that your Holy Spirit will convict me at that very moment and remind me that Jesus bore stripes on Calvary for my healing and I Pray Lord that I will draw strength from you that only you can give!! I Pray Lord for comfort from you, that only you can give, not the instant gratification from food that satan wants me to think will make me feel better, only you Lord can fill me!! I pray for my sisters as well Lord, that each one of us will live our lives with boundaries in the area of food and that we will be obedient and honor our God given temples that you have entrusted us with, I pray these things in the sweet name of Jesus Christ! Amen!
ReplyDeleteBoundaries are a good thing. We use boundaries in our daily living. For example, we use the fenced in backyard for our dog and child to be able to freely roam, play and run. If it were not for the boundary of the fence, both could get in the busy street and bad things could happen. There is freedom inside boundaries because they are there for our good. We are free to eat of anything in the garden! Whatever God has created...in the form closest to what He has created is best. If this is the boundary He sets for us then we feel better on the inside, and we function better both emotionally and physically. When we abide in Him, Christ Jesus, the True Vine, we will naturally be fed properly by the Holy Spirit. Lessons I am continually learning.
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