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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) God has richly blessed us every day with His grace and forgiveness, through the power of Jesus’ blood. When we remember this loving gift, we naturally want to praise and thank God in all our thoughts, words and actions. Remembering that our bodies are a temple for the Holy Spirit, we also want to care for our bodies in the best way we can. Go

What if you stopped trying to overcome overeating through willpower alone? Maybe you've tried countless diets, made promises to yourself, and prayed for the strength to stop overeating. Yet somehow, you keep falling back into the same habits. I know that struggle because I've been there, too. But here's something I've learned in recovery: God cares about every area of our lives, including our struggles with food. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I a

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV) Contentment doesn't always come naturally. It's something we learn. When I struggled with overeating, I often looked to food for comfort, satisfaction, or relief from difficult emotions. But

Eating out can be challenging when you're trying to overcome overeating. Restaurant portions are often much larger than we need, and it's easy to keep eating simply because the food is sitting in front of us. But you don't have to stop enjoying your favorite restaurants! Tony and I were at Red Robin recently, and I wanted a hamburger. Their hamburgers are huge, so I used a simple strategy that has helped me over the years. I cut off about a third of the hamburger and pushed i

Recovery is easier when you have encouragement along the way. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) When I was struggling with overeating, I needed more than another diet or a list of foods I should avoid. I needed to change the way I thought about food, learn to turn to God instead of eating my emotions, and develop daily habits that supported my recovery. And I needed encouragement from others who understood the struggle. Th

Philippians 3:13–14 reminds us to forget what is behind and press on toward what is ahead. You don't have to get everything right today. Maybe yesterday didn't go as planned. You ate more than you intended, gave in to a craving, or found yourself turning to food for comfort. I know how that feels because I struggled with those same things for years. But here's something I've learned in recovery: You don't have to figure out the rest of your life today. You just need to make y

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) Walking in the light means choosing to follow Jesus in our daily thoughts, decisions, and actions. When we fall short, we can turn to Him, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness. This includes our struggles with food and caring for the bodies God has given us. As we seek His guidance each day, He helps us m

Have you ever promised yourself you would eat just one—and then couldn't stop? Maybe you've tried countless diets, lost weight, and even managed to control your eating for a while. But eventually, you found yourself right back where you started. I know that struggle because I lived it for years. I used to tell myself, "I just need to learn to eat in moderation." But moderation never worked for me when it came to my binge foods. That's why Step One of the 12 Steps was so impor

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” — Psalm 121:2 (NIV) What do you do when you really want to eat—but you know you aren’t physically hungry? I know how powerful that pull can feel. For years, food was where I turned for comfort. Changing that pattern didn’t happen because I suddenly developed more willpower. I had to learn to turn somewhere else. And you can too. When the urge for extra food comes, you have another choice. Before you eat, stop and t

What if you gave yourself one weekend to really focus on your recovery? Most of the time, you're trying to work on your relationship with food while you're also working, taking care of your family, running errands, answering messages, and handling everything else life brings. It's hard to step away long enough to really think about what's keeping you stuck. I understand that. I spent years struggling with overeating myself, and I know how easy it is to keep thinking, I'll do

Maybe you ate something you hadn’t planned or went back for more when you knew you’d had enough. And now that familiar thought comes: *I already blew it. I might as well keep eating.* I know that feeling because I lived it for years. But you don’t have to let one choice turn into an entire day—or week—of overeating. You can stop right here. Psalm 51 shows us what to do when we’ve fallen short: turn back to God, be honest about what happened, receive His forgiveness, and move

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) God has created each of us with special gifts to use to help others. He can also use what we've learned through our struggles, such as overeating, to encourage someone else. As we reach out to help others, we continue to grow in our own recovery and in our walk with God. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for all the blessings You've given me. H

Recovery was never meant to stop with us. One of the beautiful things about the 12 Steps is that as we grow, heal, and experience freedom, we have something to give away. And there’s another reason we give it away: helping others strengthens our own recovery too. When we encourage someone else, share what we’ve learned, and remember where we came from, we reinforce the principles that helped us find freedom in the first place. Recovery isn't only about what we receive. Part o

Do you ever feel like you should be stronger by now? Maybe you’ve been working on your eating for a long time, but you still have cravings. You still get tempted to turn to food when you’re stressed, lonely, tired, or upset. And sometimes you may wonder, Why am I still struggling with this? Paul wrote about a weakness he desperately wanted God to take away. Instead, God told him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Easy Chicken Quesadillas (or “Chicken Circles,” as Tony Calls Them) I’m always looking for simple meals that taste good and fit into my food plan. This week I made chicken quesadillas—or, as Tony calls them, “chicken circles.” 😊 I started with cooked chicken breast from the grocery store and shredded it. I seasoned it with garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, and a good amount of chili powder. Then I layered cheddar cheese and the seasoned chicken between corn tortillas (I us

There are days when making healthy choices feels easier. You wake up feeling motivated. You’re ready to follow your food plan, take care of yourself, and stay focused on your recovery. And then there are the other days. You’re tired. You’re stressed. Someone upset you. The food you’ve decided not to eat suddenly sounds really good. Those are the days when it’s tempting to think, I just don’t have the motivation today. But here’s something I’ve learned in recovery: I don’t hav

Maybe you’ve been here before. You decide you’re going to do better. You make a new plan. You promise yourself that this time will be different. And then somehow, you end up right back where you started. Maybe you’ve tried diets. Maybe you’ve prayed for more self-control. Maybe you’ve told yourself you just need to try harder. But what if the problem isn’t simply a lack of willpower? The answer may not be another diet or trying harder. Sometimes we need to understand what kee

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. — John 10:10 Jesus didn’t come so that we could merely survive each day—He came to give us life to the full. As we make choices that support our recovery and care for our bodies, we can remember that we aren’t being deprived; we are choosing the freedom and abundant life Christ desires for us. Dear Lord Jesus, I ask that You help me live according to the abundant

Recovery isn’t just about changing what we eat. It’s also about changing where we turn for guidance, strength, and hope. For many of us, food used to be one of the first places we turned when we were stressed, lonely, frustrated, tired, or overwhelmed. Step 11 encourages us to develop a different habit: turning to God. “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” — Psalm 25:

Life can get noisy. We have work to do, people who need us, problems to solve, and a seemingly endless list of things competing for our attention. And sometimes food becomes part of the noise. We eat because we're stressed. Tired. Bored. Lonely. Frustrated. Or simply looking for a little relief. For many years, I thought the answer to my overeating was another diet—to eat less, be more disciplined, and have more willpower. But recovery required me to slow down long enough to