Do you ever feel like those yummy treats are shouting “Eat me!! Eat me!!” and you just can’t say no? The reason we can’t say no is because we’re believing lies. Lies like, “That first piece of cake was so good, I should have another!” or “This treat will make me happy!”
So what do we do when those lies are staring us in the face and making us want to break our weight loss boundaries?
Jesus shows us the way: fight lies with truth.
When He was tempted in the desert, He didn’t just sit back and say, “Help me, Father!” Instead, He engaged in spiritual battle. He answered each of Satan’s lies with truth and was successful in saying no to temptation.
Weight Loss Bible Verses
Here are ten Bible verses you can use as “weapons” when you’re tempted to break your boundaries with eating (or any other habit or sin).
1. It’s just one bite.
Romans 13:14: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
2. I want it, so I should eat it.
1 Corinthians 6:12: All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
3. I won’t have any fun if I don’t eat it.
Philippians 4:11-13: Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
4. I’m sick of saying no all the time. I want to have fun like everyone else.
Philippians 4:19: And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
5. This is NO FUN!!!!!
Hebrews 12:11: All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
6. I shouldn’t have to say no.
1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
7. I should be able to eat what I want when I want.
1 John 2:15-16: Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
8. I can’t do this. It’s too hard.
Jeremiah 32:27: Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?
9. I just need a little more willpower.
Romans 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Not willpower!)
10. I’m never going to change anyway, so why bother?
Philippians 1:6: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
P.S. If you’d like a weight loss Bible study and weight loss renewing of the mind resource to help you with your weight loss efforts, check out the following resources:
Weight Loss Books and Bible Studies
Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study is a 30-day Bible study focused on the lies that make you eat, body image, and the weight loss process. I wrote this Bible study to go along with the questions and Bible verses in I Deserve a Donut, and it’s best if you have both books when you do this study. People often ask me if it’s better to start with Taste for Truth or Freedom from Emotional Eating. If you struggle with emotional eating or entitlement eating (I should be able to eat what I want when I want!), I would probably start with Freedom from Emotional Eating but either one is okay to start with. Some people even switch back and forth between the two books, which also works.
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. 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 a 40-lesson Bible study that will help you break free from emotional eating. It begins with a chapter on Because most of the book is devoted to learning how to let go of negative emotions that make you overeat, people who don’t struggle with weight loss can also be helped by this study. 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.
Note: All of these Bible studies can be done at home alone or with a group. If you’d like to do them with a group, check here for leader’s guides.
Great post and teaching, Barb. Great point about Jesus fighting and facing the enemy head on and with God’s words.
Thanks, Floyd.
Barb, these are all so prevalent! My wife and I are desperately trying to lose a few pounds before going back to the US because we know that the temptation to eat in the US will be 10x greater than it is here. Couple that with the fact that we won’t be doing as much walking and it’s a recipe for disaster! I appreciate all your tips.
Thanks, Caleb. I bet there will be a lot temptation to eat, especially if you’re going around to churches to share about your missionary work. All those potlucks. :)
That’s part of the problem, every church wants to do an international potluck when we’re around. It’s nice being guests all the time but it also means big meals and always, always dessert! We also find that American portions are way bigger than what we are used to eating here. Oh and another thing, there’s those fast food restaurants everywhere! In general food is just more accessible in the US than where we live.
I can see why you want to prepare early! I was visiting with a woman from England who had been over here for just a couple of weeks and had already gained 5 pounds because of the portion sizes. Crazy!
easy accessibility of food – recently hubby and I were trying to remember the last time we had prolonged pangs of hunger (other than when fasting!) without trying to grab something on our way cos food is so accessible here! And the more unhealthy the cheaper it is! We don’t have many fast foods in Kenya, unlike here in the US..and fast food is more expensive than wholesome foods and meals.
@nginaotiende:disqus I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. We live in an area of the city with about 300,000 people and we have 2 fast food restaurants!
Powerful. This will help in my pursuit to lose 20 more lbs.
Glad it will help, Bernard.
I like this “He expects us to be involved in our own transformation.” It’s so true but how often i miss that revelation!
Great tips and scriptures to dwell on.
Thanks, Ngina.
Excellent scriptures, Barb. Just reading through them lifted my spirits. It’s not about MY willpower or my abilities. It’s about trusting God and renewing my mind in HIS word.
A scripture that I quoted on my blog earlier came to mind as I read your post, Proverbs 30:7-9
Keep falsehood and lies far from me. That’s a good one, TC. Thanks for sharing. It’s interesting how just reading through the Scriptures gives us hope, isn’t it?
Hello Barb,
This is a powerful and true statement: “Jesus shows us the way: fight lies with truth.” We fight the enemy with the word of God. Great passages!
Thanks, Dan.
Great post Barb. So much so that I had to share on Facebook.
It was super convicting though. I was about to eat a bowl of cereal before bed, but now I think I’ll pass. :-)
That’s so funny, Larry. I should have read it again myself today because the pressure of launching my book today was making me want to eat. Thanks for sharing it on Facebook. I appreciate it!
Anytime you launch a book, you truly deserve a donut!
Congrats!
Haha, yes, or some chocolate peanut butter ice cream and a few chocolate chip cookies. Thanks for the encouragement. I expect life will be less stressful tomorrow! :)
These scriptures are GREAT
Make NO PROVISION for the flesh… even if it’s a “healthy food” when my meals are done my meals are done
Love that, Shela! I think that’s one of the biggest lies we believe – but it’s healthy! Even healthy food can make us gain more than we want to gain. :)