Our classes have been structured to follow the progression of a typical eating disorder. The first week we discussed the issue of control. An eating disorder often starts because we believe it is a way to find control in situations that are out of our control. Last week we discussed the issue of worry. Our worries are often what trigger destructive behaviors associated with eating disorders. This week we discussed the idea of fear. Even when the eating disorder is brought to light and we no longer want to struggle with it, fear often has such a grip on us that we can't let go.
Fear can have incredible power and control over us. We discussed the concept of fear in respect to VALUE. Fear comes from the potential of losing something we value. The greater the value something is to us, the more we fear it. Therefore, when something has no value to us, we have no fear of losing it. In this respect, when we are afraid to let go of our eating disorder we are giving it value in our lives. However, God clearly states in Scripture that we are to fear only 1 thing... Himself.
Fear of God is recognition of His value. Without God we have nothing. Mark 8:36-37 states, "What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Fear of God puts things in perspective. Nothing we have, nothing we accomplish, and nothing that happens to us will last. We should not fear losing things of this world because they have no lasting consequence. When we fear God and value Him above all else, we realize that things of this world have NO value in our lives. When we fear anything other than the God of the universe we are not in line with his plan for our lives.
We spent some time listening to The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns. This song is a powerful reminder about God's truth. We will always be bombarded by lies from the enemy. The enemy will always try to deceive and have us believe the lies that "we've tried before and failed." The wonderful news of the gospel is that we have another voice to listen to. The voice of truth tells us that we don't need to be afraid. God says that everything we go through can be used for His glory. God says that he can use a tiny stone to defeat a giant and that the waves are never too big for us to reach out to Him. We have a choice to make. While we hear many voices out there, we can choose to listen and believe the voice of truth. God is holding out His hand to us saying, "fear not," come to me and I will give you the strength to stand.
Make the choice today, and every day, to listen to the Voice of Truth.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7
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