Gluttony (Part 3): How to Overcome

Overcoming gluttony is difficult. I struggle with that from time to time, as my solace from emotional stress is going out to eat. I want to make myself feel better through food. This has spiritual issues as well as health related ones.

The key to overcoming gluttony is twofold: you must become self-disciplined and you must give God control. These two things are always easier said than done. However, the rewards for success are unfathomable.

First, get right with God. This has to come first and foremost for you to be successful and continue to be successful. Be honest with God about your weakness. Ask His forgiveness and then hand this burden over to Him.

But he told me “My grace is enough for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will gladly glory in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Second, become self-disciplined. This second step is very important too. You must be self-disciplined in your walk with God as well as what you put in your mouth.

Make time each day to read the Bible and pray. If you’re having trouble doing this, start small. Say a few verses out loud every morning and pray that God will help you with gluttony.

Instead of eating three big meals a day, change your routine. Start eating 5-6 meals a day with smaller portions. He will eat approximately every 3-4 hours. Make a fist with your hand. For each meal, eat something the size of your fist. Some examples would be a small Wendy’s chili, a small hamburger, a fist-sized piece of spaghetti…anything the size of your hand clenched into a fist. If you prepare 5-6 morning meals for the whole day, you won’t have to worry about keeping up. You will know that when the food is over, you will have finished eating.

Keep plenty of water and water flavors with you. Between 5-6 meals, be sure to drink water. Add the flavor for some variety and help you get to the next meal.

Allow yourself two snacks a day. These snacks should be something healthy like nuts, raisins, fruit, sunflower seeds, beef jerky, etc. Snacks can be anything, just avoid things like chips and candy. These snacks should also be small in nature. Check the serving size of the snack and pre-pack it in a Ziploc brand bag. Then you’ll know you’re keeping your snacks within good guidelines.

If you start to feel tempted, go to the scriptures. He repeats those spills out loud and ask God to set him free. If you have someone you trust, ask them to partner with you on this. When you feel like you’re going to break, call them. People need support to stay on track. We all fail sometime. A friend is there to help you get through it.

Remember, changing a habit is never easy, and the path to change is never without obstacles. If you make a mistake, ask for forgiveness, refocus and move towards your goal. God is there to help you. He wants your success as much or more than you do.