Do you ever feel like you’ll never change? Maybe you’ve been struggling with the same sin for years. Or you’re stuck in the grip of a negative emotion. Or you’ve been trying to start a habit, but it’s not happening.
It’s discouraging to work on those things because we keep failing. And at some point we start believing the lie, I’ll never change anyway, so why bother?
I know how hopeless that feels because I’ve felt it a thousand times myself. But here’s the truth: Not only can God help us change, He actually wants to help us change!
The Renewing of the Mind
Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we’re transformed by the renewing of the mind. This blog is all about the renewing of the mind and how God uses this discipline to transform us. If you’re not familiar with the renewing of the mind, here are some posts to get you started:
- How to Renew Your Mind
- Renewing Your Mind: Advice for Beginners
- Bible Study: Working With God On Your Goal
One of the best ways to learn how to renew your mind is to work on a project with God, something in your life you can’t change in your own strength. If you’d like to do that, check out the renewing of the mind project tab on this blog.
Read the material there and then go to the tab at the top of the blog that corresponds to your project. Each tab has a drop down menu with all kinds of resources that will help you go to God for help with transformation.
I’ve included a few links below to get you started, but please spend some time poking around on your own as I think the blog is pretty easy to navigate. Any time you see something in orange, that’s usually a link you can click on. Email me if you have any questions!
Barb Raveling
Links to Get You Started
How-tos:
Bible Studies:
Books and Bible Studies (All of these studies work well for both individuals and groups):
Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study is focused on the lies that make us eat, body image, and the weight loss process. If you want to lose weight, I would probably start with this one and follow it up with Freedom from Emotional Eating. I wrote this Bible study to go along with the questions and Bible verses in I Deserve a Donut, and although you can do the study without I Deserve a Donut, it’s best if you have both books.
I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat) is a renewing of the mind resource to use in the midst of temptation and also to prepare yourself for temptation. I use it all the time, just for regular life. It is filled with 36 sets of questions and over 150 Bible verses that you can use to have conversations with God about life and food. The questions and Bible verses will help you renew your mind, taking off the lies that make you eat and putting on the truth that will set you free. It’s also available as an app.
Freedom from Emotional Eating: A Weight Loss Bible Study is more focused on emotional eating. Although there is material on boundaries and breaking free from the control of food, most of the book is devoted to learning how to let go of negative emotions. The comment I get most often with this book is that yes, it helped me with eating, but it helped me even more with letting go of my negative emotions.
The Renewing of the Mind Project is more of a comprehensive book on the renewing of the mind. In a way, it’s this whole blog put into the form of a book. Although the book isn’t directed towards weight loss, the questions and Bible verses in the starting a habit section of the book would be helpful for losing weight. The questions and Bible verses in the stopping a habit section are similar to those in I Deserve a Donut, but there is one set, the opportunity/sneakiness questions that are new.
Freedom from Procrastination Bible Study is a Bible study that will help you discover the reasons you procrastinate and go to God and His Word for help in overcoming it. The book contains Bible studies, productivity tips, to-do list, and renewing exercises to use whenever you don’t feel like doing whatever you put on your to-do list for the day.
RALLY is a Bible study about going to God for help with life. You’ll learn the list style of truth journaling in this Bible study plus we talk about how to live joyfully in the midst of trials, growing closer to God and more like Him.
To contact me: click here
I love your new site Barb!
Thanks, Ngina! I’m slowly plugging away at it, but it’s starting to feel more organized!
Hi Barb! I am finally tackling your new book. I really was ministered to this morning. Wrote down several verses, printed them on “pretty” paper and laminated them. I think I am finally getting it that this will be a long process. Thank you for writing the Renewing the mind Project. Awesome writing.
That’s so great, Karon, and what a fun idea to print the verses on pretty paper and laminate it – I love that idea! Also, thanks for the encouragement!
Barb, I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for the wonderful work you are doing!! I just finished an online study of “Taste for Truth,” and it’s truly changed/changing my life. You are such a blessing, and I’m thankful that God has called you to speak truth in this arena! I’m an aspiring writer, so I’ve also really enjoyed your personal stories about your writing journey and the periscope videos about goal setting, procrastination, etc. Thank you for being faithful to God’s call on your life, and keep up the great work!!!
Thank you Meredith. I’m so glad the material has been helpful. Plus that’s so great that you’re a writer! I know what a hard goal that is to work on. :) Have you started a blog or anything else online? Would love to read it if you get one going (or already have one going).
Just clicked on your name and found your blog, Meredith – it’s wonderful and what a beautiful family you have. I love that you’re honest in your post and give ideas on how how to help. Praying that God will help you pursue your writing goals!
Thank you so much for those encouraging words! I greatly appreciate it :-). I’m looking forward to starting “The Renewing of the Mind Project” online next week! Praying it will help not just with food but with writing as well :-).
That’s great that you’re working on both goals, Meredith. I wrote all the questions in the Starting a Habit/Pursing a Goal section of The Renewing of the Mind Project for help with my own writing woes, so I hope it helps with your writing! :)
Thank you so much for your Freedom from Emotional eating study. I have recommended it to many other women who I know struggle and gaining and losing and gaining and losing weight. My question to you is have you thought about a version for teenage girls? Thank you for all your real sharing in a struggle many of us don’t even know how to approach openly to encourage one another. I believe this is an amazing tool to help others stop believing the lies of the enemy. Thank you
Hi Holly, Thanks for your encouragement. I have thought it would be nice to do a version for teen girls, but I have so many things I want to write, I’m not sure when or if I’ll get to it. Not sure how much I’d need to change the current one. If I only had to change the examples and the tone just a bit, it might not take much time to do but if I were to write a whole new one for teens, that would take more time. I do love the idea!
Barb, What a great message you have! I can relate to so many of these topics. I can’t wait to share your site with some of the people in my life. I know they will love it as well.
Thank you, Summer! I really appreciate that! I also love your site. I’m always looking for good posts to share on my Christian Weight Loss Pinterest board so was excited when I discovered your site. I just looked at your new “Chopped Kale Salad with Chicken” recipe and it looks yummy!
This website is one of the best I’ve seen in Christian circles in a long time. Very well put together. Easy to navigate. Full of really creative content. Love it!
Thanks, Micah!
I agree, your website is very clear, and when I saw all your resources, I was encouraged, even by the topics! Such an important work you are doing!
Thank you, Rachel!
Thank you, Barb, for the model of ‘investing your talents’ and for how God is using your honesty and efforts to teach me the practical ‘how tos’ of applying the truth in my life through taking action in faith. I have been stuck in gathering ideas and feeling paralyzed, not knowing where to start. You are an answer to prayer!
Hi Joanne! So glad you’ve been finding the ‘how tos’ helpful! I know it’s always hard to get started on something new. Praying God will bless you as you go to Him for help!
Hello Barb, my name is Andrew Fox and I hold a doctorate in Holistic nutrition as well as a masters in exercise science and health promotion, I am the author of a few books and teach people about health with a Christian perspective. I have been looking for Christian podcast that I can listen to myself while exercising and came across yours. If it all possible I would love to speak on one of your podcasts with you on nutrition and or exercise. My new book provides people with an understanding in food away that God created it and healthy ways to prepare it. I routinely speak at hospitals, conferences, and Churches. My clientele varies from professional athletes, Olympians, cover models and actors, you can look at my credentials on LinkedIn or my website which is truelifefitness.us
Hi Andrew! I sent you an email – let me know if you didn’t get it!
Hi Barb:
What a great site and such good resources. I blog about healthy little steps we can all take to be diet free. Little steps for our body, mind and spirit. I have a mountain climbing theme as getting healthy can feel just like climbing a mountain. It’s too hard and will take too long. Renewing our minds is such a big component to being free of the lies we have believed for years! It’s great to find your site and your podcasts! I would like to link them in one of my future blog posts.
I blog at littlestepstohealth.ca I would love for you to pop over and read some of my stuff. I’m just new to blogging and still finding my voice. Your feed back would be great!
Hi Dixie! I would love to have you link to my site in one of your future posts. Thank you! I tried to go to your blog, but the link didn’t work. Do you have another link? Or is it possibly down today? If you can, send me a link, and I’ll try to check it out again!
I just love your books and want to start bible studies at my church. Is there a way to purchase your books in bulk at a discounted price to sell in my office and for my participants? God Bless your ministry!
Hi Linda, Thank you so much – I’m glad you like the books! I know there is a way to buy them in bulk, but I’m not sure how complicated it is. They’re available from Ingram Spark – here’s the website: http://www.ingramcontent.com/. I think you would scroll down to the retailers area and should be able to order them there. If you order other books for your office I’m guessing you may be familiar with the process. If not, I can find out how to do it. At some point, I’d like to figure out how to have them available on my blog, but I’m afraid I’m not at that point yet – sorry about that!
Hi Barb, I just want to thank you.. I was a drug addict for many years and went into treatment in 2007. I have struggled with food since then, earlier this year it struck me that it had been 10 years that I had essentially replaced one with the other. I’ve been a believer coming up to 4 years now and was so blessed to find your blog a few months ago – I really believe it was an answer to prayer. I got your ‘Freedom from Emotional Eating’ and also the IDAD app, these have changed the way I thought about food – with such simple and profound truths revealed to me each time I worked through the book. I was shown how I had literally been “walking with food” rather than “walking with God” through life. I have experienced more freedom in the last few months than I have in 10 years in this area – so thank you so much. However, I am going through a bad patch with my food, I have all the tools right in front of me and can’t seem to just start again and pick them up. It’s like I’m doing everything possible to sabotage this. It seems too hard. As I’m writing this I can hear in my mind to just commit to renewing my mind each time I want to break boundaries, so maybe that’s what I should at least start with. I really believe that these are the tools for me to get closer to Jesus and this is what it looks like to actually bring struggles to Him. It can just be so hard to keep getting back up after failing. Anyway, I pray that many more are set free and our Hevavenly Father continues to work through you – thank you for your obedience to Him.
I know how you feel, CJ. I never would have believed that I could break free from the control of food if I hadn’t seen God do similar things in other areas of my life. It just seemed too impossible – especially when I’d be doing well and then blow it again. I agree that the answer is to renew your mind every time you break it, but I also know how hard it is to do that. That’s why it took me several years to break free – because I couldn’t get myself to renew my mind all the time! When I finally did, I don’t think it took all that long. Maybe 4 months? I can’t remember for sure. But the point is, that it can be a long process unfortunately! If you could find a friend to hold you accountable, that would be super helpful! So glad FFEE was helpful! You could also try Taste for Truth if you haven’t done that one yet. It sounds like you’ve already had some victory – that’s great! Try to take just one step at a time and expect that you’ll have a few steps back every once in awhile – and sometimes more often than we want! I’m praying that God will give you victory!!
hi barb,
I want to order one of your bible studies but I’m not sure if I should get a taste for truth or freedom from emotional eating? they both sound like they would be helpful to me. I have the I deserve a donut app which is amazing and so helpful
heather
I’ve sighed up to get your emails and I was wandering how often do you send them out. I haven’t gotten one yet. I really enjoy your book Taste for Truth and I’m waiting on the book renewing the mind. I’ve read some of your articles from off line and I’m anxious to get your emails. Thank you for being an inspiration to me to me to lose weight.
Hi Elizabeth! I don’t send them out very often as I have been putting more effort into my Taste for Truth podcasts lately. Usually only once a month for emails (with blog posts) or even less sometimes although I may get on the ball one of these days and send them out more often! So glad you’re enjoying the Taste for Truth Study! Hope you also enjoy the Renewing of the Mind Project!
I have just recently found your stuff and love what you are doing! I am trying to get a “Renewing of The Mind Project” study going in my church and will be starting the TFT study online with Robyn. Thank you, thank you, for directing me to God and the Bible for these issues, which is exactly what I needed!
So glad the resources are helpful, Julie! That’s exciting that you’re trying to get a Renewing of the Mind Project going at your church. I love having that group experience and camaraderie of growing together. I’ll pray that you’ll be able to get a group going!
Hi Barb,
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you and your writing and your resources. I have been in a season of struggle not with my weight, but with my work. It is the thing that the Lord has been using to refine me and to bring out those questions and doubts. He has been pretty specific in His leading, so there is no doubt that I am currently in the right place. Thank you especially for your bottom-line questions and honest answers. I so relate to you in the struggles and I am thankful for your honest modeling of the struggle, failures and eventually the changes that have come. You are a great encouragement to me and I just wanted to let you know. Blessings on you and your family. With many thanks, Cindy
Thank you, Cindy, for that encouragement. I’m so glad the resources have been helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know!
Good Morning Barb, I will like to invite you to a guest on my podcast, as I would love to have you. I hope that you accept our invite and to hear from you soon.
Thank You, have a blessed day!
Hi Tiffany! Thanks for that offer! Would you mind emailing me with details? My email address is barb.raveling@gmail.com. I’m traveling right now so may not be able to get back to you until next week. Have a great day!
Have you heard of the ministries of Deeper Walk Internation, Life Model Works, or Thrive Today? They teach and focus so much on how the brain works and what we need to be transformed. I love your work, and love their work. I am trying to make them merge in my efforts to break my attachment with food and turn to the Lord for all needs that aren’t hunger!
Hi Cindy, I haven’t heard of the first or last one, but they have interesting names! The second one looked familiar, so I looked at my bookcase and I have one of their workbooks called Forming, Change by Grace. I’ll have to check it out as it doesn’t look like I’ve read it. Hope you have good success with either making them merge or choosing one you think will help. There’s a lot of good material out there!