Is it possible to hurt yourself with an invisible gun? Of course not, you say, you can't hurt yourself with a gun that is not there.
When it comes to binge or emotional eating, certain physical and mental states trigger the desire.
But to actually practice the habit (hurt yourself) then opportunity must be there too.
After all, how can you eat a large quantity of food that isn't there?
That's
what I mean by the "gun."
It's the same as an alcoholic with a well-stocked liquor cabinet.
She may desire to get drunk, but without having the alcohol readily available, she wouldn't be able to do so at that moment - unless she went out to get
some.
Romans 13:14 advises us:
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."
We focus on walking in the Spirit daily instead of plotting to
fulfill the lusts of our flesh or making it easy to do so through environmental cues.
Regarding binge or emotional eating habits, I recommend looking closely at the issue of opportunity.
What provisions do you have in place so that it is easy to
practice?
- Is it the stash of candy in the cabinet?
- The leftovers on the stove?
- The Pepperidge Farm coconut cake on the counter
(oops, that was mine)?
If you want to change, then limiting exposure to your "provisions" is a necessary step to ensure your safety as you renew your mind.
Think about a person who is "trigger-happy"; would you leave that person alone with a well-stock gun cabinet? No!
She might shoot up your house and possibly you.
You may love the person, but you are wise to help them avoid temptation in those areas in which their weaknesses are known.
So today, think about
your own provisions for the flesh. If you are not willing to get rid of them, then ask yourself:
"What am I afraid will happen if I don't have them in my life?"
Uncovering that fear will tell you how you think these provisions are helping you get through
life.
Next, determine if what you think is really true.
Can you even see yourself getting through the day without them? If not, you need to get a new vision of freedom - and make provisions for that.
Finally, seek the Lord for His wisdom as to how you can still meet your needs without hurting yourself.