A common emotion that drives people to eat emotionally is anxiety. I struggled with anxiety myself on my weight loss journey and wrote a book called ''The Anxiety Relief Scriptures: The 30-Day Devotional for Overcoming Anxiety and Worry'' to help myself combat this destructive emotion. 

 

The following is an excerpt from the book. I pray it blesses you, especially during our current health crisis:

 

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If you are struggling with anxiety right now, then I recommend praying the following scripture:

 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14)."

 

Why is the meditation of your heart so important?

 

Jesus taught in Matthew 15:18-20: "...For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man..."

 

While you can't help fleeting thoughts, you can choose whether to permit them to live with you!

 

When thoughts contrary to God's word visit your mind, what do you do?

 

• Do you remind them of truth from God's word and evict them?
• Or do you permit them to move in, allowing them to influence your emotions, intellect, and morals?

 

When the Bible refers to the heart of man, it means more than just your feelings; It means the center of your inner life: your emotions, intellect, and morals together.

 

Think of it this way: A house has two main parts, the outside (which is what people see) and the inside. It is the inside that is most important. Why? Because this is where you spend most of your time.

 

Proper management of your internal environment helps ensure that everything else operates efficiently. What good does it do to have a good-looking outside, but the inside is a hot mess?

 

When the inside of a home is peaceful and well-ordered, it improves the quality of your whole life.

 

What is acceptable Christian meditation according to the Lord? Philippians 4:8 gives you guidance:

 

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

 

Everything related to Jesus fits this description! Here are eight simple meditations that can bring peace to your mind:

 

• True: Jesus is the living Word and His word is true.
• Noble: Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross for my sins.
• Just: Jesus paid for my sin debt, so I am no longer condemned under the law.
• Pure: Jesus lived a sinless life and He is my ultimate role model on how to live right.
• Lovely: I love Jesus because He first loved me.
• Good report: Hallelujah, I have overcome the world through Jesus!
• Virtue: I am being transformed into Jesus' virtuous image from glory to glory.
• Praiseworthy: I am seated in heavenly places in Christ and He lives in me now and forever.

 

 

Meditating on the character of Jesus is the surefire way to ensure your meditation is acceptable in God's sight. When you do this, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind - through Christ Jesus!

 

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Note: This content was excerpted from Kimberly Taylor's top-selling book "The Anxiety Relief Scriptures." 

 

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor
Author of the 'Take Back Your Temple' program