“Our cravings and distractions are not meant to overwhelm us. They are meant to show our ability to crave what we need most – a soul that is no longer tangled, distracted, and hindered, because we have set apart in our hearts the lordship and love of Christ.” Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave Devotional

Right now* the LORD feels very sweet. He has truly met me in places of discouragement, fear, and need this day. He gave me new promises to hang onto, some good friends to have a real cry with, free pizza, a movie night at home with Jerry and the kids, and a couple of other big surprises. He knew how little reserves I felt I had, how I sought to believe Him for what I needed to hang on a little longer, one moment at a time.

I have clung to the verse that God never leaves or forsakes me. That truth is paramount because I need it when my feelings tell me the opposite.

Jerry and I walked through some hard knocks the last 6 or 7 years. I’ve fought through discouragement with the reminder that I don’t need to be dismayed or discouraged because my GOD is with me.

I have other verses I turn to–like the one that says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. I’ve had fear in my life that has almost paralyzed me, and I must have prayed that Scripture hundreds of times, reminding myself I could rise above the fear because GOD gave me the ability.

When I don’t understand life I return to the verse that tells me that God loves me with an everlasting love, and to another that promises His ways are best for me. I cling to the truth that He loves me and plans GOOD for me.

The craving for food is just a microcosm of lots of things that distract me from God. But it is such great training ground to learn to think of HIM. If I can turn a longing for chocolate into a reminder I need Jesus, maybe when other life distractions hit I can do the same with them, allowing the distraction to push me closer to the One who meets my needs.

Father,

Please pour Truth into our lives to displace the things that distract us from You. When we bump up against food cravings, worries, hardships, or fears, meet us there with promises from Your word. Redirect our thoughts to thoughts of YOU and draw us into Your heart. Reach into the deep places of the things that hold us back from You and the goals you have for us. Pull out the roots of the lies that need to be exposed and plant new seeds of life and hope and joy and the ability to overcome the things that separate us from You. Give us success. Show us Your goals for us, make them our goals, and then show us we can meet them in Your strength.

What about you?
I’d love to hear about a verse that gets you through a distraction from HIM.

*This devotional was written some time ago.

Tagged: connecting with God, connection of body and spirit, devotional thoughts, emotional eating, God, God's faithfulness, growing stronger, losing weight, losing weight inside and out, weight loss devotional, weight loss journey