But just this morning, I rediscovered an even more powerful weapon to handle temptation.
 
This weapon is so important that Jesus himself commanded it.
 
It lines up with one of my favorite sayings from the martial arts: “The best way to win a fight is to avoid getting into one in the first place.”
 
See if you can spot the weapon from the wise words of Jesus:
 

• Jesus prayed: “…And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one (Luke 11:4)”
• Luke 22:40 “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
• And to the disciples he said, “…Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation (Luke 22:46)”

 By now, you know the weapon is prayer. I pray every day, but must admit I don’t always pray not to enter into temptation.
 
That was a mistake.
 
The only reason I realize it now is because Luke 22:39-46 was the focus scripture from the Sunday School lesson I was reading this morning.
 
After I saw Jesus told the disciples to pray not to enter into temptation twice, I remembered ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in which he also said the same thing.
 
I had a revelation: It must be very important if Jesus said it three times!
 
How many eating “fights” could we avoid every day if we would only pray?
 
Starting today, I am going to add “lead me not into temptation” to my daily prayers.
 
How about you?
 
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,
 
Kimberly Taylor
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
 
P.S. Have you ever started a weight loss program with great enthusiasm – only to lose focus and regain the weight you lost?
 
Not any more. To help you stay motivated so you can become a weight loss success story, I recently published my ‘The Weight Loss Scriptures’ 30-day daily devotional on Amazon.com.
 
Learn more here: http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/the-weight-loss-scriptures-ebook/
 
The eBook is in Amazon Kindle format, but you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Amazon has a FREE Kindle reader you can use to access the book instantly on your computer.
 
Learn more here: http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/the-weight-loss-scriptures-ebook/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrVmNbiFUWc

Here are the scripture references mentioned in video:

• Song of Solomon 2:15
• John 15:8

Here are other scriptures that may help to renew your mind on this issue as well:

• Romans 12:2
• Galatians 5:22-23
• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• 1 Corinthians 6:12

Be blessed in health, healing and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor
Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

The increase of fear is not a coincidence.

Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold because wickedness would abound in the last days (Matthew 24:12). The bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

You see evidence of lawlessness, offense, and instability all around you. And when you focus on that, you naturally become more fearful.

Then your mind starts to focus on “What if…”

• “What if I lose my job?”
• “What if we lose our house?”
• “What if I never get married?”
• “What if my husband leaves me?”
• “What if this is cancer?”

But Jesus never told us to focus on “What ifs.” Instead, he told us to focus on “Let not”:

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” John 14:27.

If you are born again, then Jesus has given you the gift of peace. Your job is to guard your heart so that it is not troubled and afraid. I have to remind myself of that often!

The real question is, “Even if your worst fear came true, do you believe that you could handle it with Jesus’ help?”

Meditating on Jesus’ perfect love for you casts out fear. It gives you confidence and strength to face life’s challenges. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

The apostle Paul advises in Philippians 4:8: “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.”

So when you feel fearful, pay attention to your thoughts. What are you dwelling on? I recently learned that the Hebrew word for “dwell” means “to sit down”. Dwell also means to “live in”.

There is a difference between having fearful, anxious thoughts enter your mind for a moment (you can’t help that) versus choosing to “sit down” or “live” in them!

Here is a great free bible study I recently completed called “The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart”. I think it will help you ensure your heart is right and see how important it is to guard it:

The Heart of the Matter Free Bible Study

May this study bless you and help you to keep your heart untroubled and unafraid!

Be blessed in health, healing and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook

http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S. If you need audio inspiration to release fear and anxiety, then I strongly recommend that you own Rhonda Jones’ Christian Meditation audio series.

On the page below, she has a free audio sample you can listen to. Just scroll down and you’ll see the sample.

Christian Meditation audio sample

Nicole actually wrote me over 1 month ago in response to my “Women Food and God” review. She wrote that it drew her to tears and the message that God wants to heal your pain really spoke to her. She told me then that it inspired her to confront her own eating behavior and to write a poem about it.

And this week, she sent that poem to me. I read most of it with my hand over my mouth, overcome with emotion.

I asked Nicole if I could share her story and poem with you. She agreed to share all of it. I believe it will be the catalyst for others who are hurting to turn to God for comfort rather than food, just as Nicole did.

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For many years, I did not truly trust God for my comfort. I begin eating to replace the pain of not having my parents in my life, then to cover or mask my fears, anxieties, or disappointments.  A few years ago, I ate also to replace my appetite for other things that I desired but could not have such as sexual pleasure and intimacy. Funny, how we use something that God gave us to enjoy and pervert it with addictive and abusive behaviors. This world and country is in denial that food is the next hit, shot, and overdose. Marketing and the food industry has obliged us with bigger, larger, and heavier portions for our delicacies and appetites.

Just recently I read on a blog, view God as the one who loves you so much that He wants heal your pain — instead of viewing Him as judge and condemning.  God is not condemning.  At that very moment, I became not the same.  I have been on this journey for a long time to lose the pounds of the pain; I am really set free to receive Him as my comforter.  I knew and adored Him as my redeemer, but now I trust Him as my lover and friend. I made a decision to Trust God for Comfort.   I was led to write a poem about it.

Trusting God for Comfort

How can I trust you when I could not let go.  When I would not say no —

How can I say yes to you, when in my mind was a “maybe.”

Once I thought I was stuck here, caught in an illusion — a dreamer deferred — it did not occur to me He died also for me to be freed in this area indeed.

Where were you comforter, when my mommy left me and my daddy stopped looking?

Where was comfort, when self-doubt, defeat, desires unmet was present?

I found comfort at 7 years old in a rice bowl, neckbones, and a glass of tea–really sweet!

All those days, I would wait and declare this is the day she would come for me — I am going to hide her in the closet so she can’t leave.  She has been running for so long — I guess that is where I learned it.

Where was my comfort? — it was in the second and third plate and a Dairy Queen’s Parfait.

Broken heart, broken promises, and potential not fulfilled — I thought it was better to pretend than to feel — that they loved me, comforted me, and was the real deal. I was so messed up, I pretended when he touched me it was a bad dream. Then, one day many years as an adult I remembered and he thought I used food because I felt so unclean. Maybe I did….

I had to ask the questions — what am I hungry for and what is eating at me?

Now on those long nights when my peace is dim and sleeping is hard, I reach out to Elohim to keep me and bring me peace.  God is the only one that can make us complete.  In my singleness, He is my source of protection, refuge, comforter, and redeemer.

I trust God for a “just right, Holy Spirit filled” man that is available, willing, and actively pursuing me.  Our Almighty God is waiting for us.  He wants to woo, love, and dine with us. What a beautiful dance it is to dance with the Heavenly Father!

I am a daughter of the Most High King. He is a mother to the motherless and a father to the fatherless.  I am royal and peculiar.  [He will redeem the time and heal the pain]

I am more precious than rubies.

I am valued and loved.

I am truly comforted by the Holy Spirit. He indwells and renews me daily.

I have come to learn how to Trust God for my comfort and so much more…

I rest in His Glory and I offer to you to open your heart and Trust in His comfort and receive eternal life.

©2010. All rights Reserved.  No duplication.
C. N. Henderson Speak LIFE Ministries

**************************************************

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

In fact, the word “devil” comes from the Greek word “diavolos” which means ‘slanderer’ or ‘accuser’. If you allow slander or accusation to rule your mind, then mental strongholds are built that drive you to destructive habits. That will eventually ruin your life.

To be victorious, you must be faithful in “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)”.

I have a special article by Rhonda Jones of thechristianmeditator.com to assist you with that. Rhonda shares some excellent advice on how to renew your mind to God’s word and defeat negative thinking habits for good.
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How to Defeat Negative Thoughts with Christian Meditation

by Rhonda Jones

As Christians we are in a battle everyday of our lives. It is not a battle with our mates, kids, friends, or even our bosses. The greatest battle that faces every believer is the battle with his or her own mind. But what does it mean to battle with the mind? Our minds or thoughts are usually contrary to God and the scriptures. Instead of focusing on faith we focus on fear. Instead of focusing on abundance, we focus on lack. Instead meditating on the word of God, we meditate on news, sitcoms, and negative thinking. These thoughts steal our peace and joy, and interfere with living out God’s promises.

Here is what the Bible says about our minds:

• Romans 1:28: “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

• Ephesians 4:23: “to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”

• 2 Corinthians 11:3: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

• Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern (conditioning) of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Paul said it best in Romans 7:21 when he stated that he knows what to do, but has trouble doing it.

• “When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

You can see from these scriptures that believers truly have a mind problem. Ephesians Chapter 6 tells us to cast down every fiery dart that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. This is easier said than done because many of our thoughts are unconscious. They just play like a broken record in the back of our heads over and over again and we live our lives according to what they are telling us. It’s kind of like living on autopilot.

So how does Christian meditation help believers bring healing to their minds? Christian meditation helps us to still our minds so that we can observe the subtle and subconscious thoughts that we’re thinking. Spend a day recording every thought that comes to mind. Write it down. Then review your thoughts at the end of the day.

I had my daughter do this for a day and every thought she wrote down was negative and debilitating: “no one will ever hire me, I’m a failure, I’m ugly,” etc. It was no wonder she was having so many emotional problems at the time. Do you know that we would never let another person talk to use like this, but too often we say horrible things about ourselves.

The good news is that once you know what is going on in your head you can do something about it. You can change your thoughts and change your life. You can replace negative thoughts with God’s word.

By getting still and quieting your mind and filling it with the truth of God’s word through Christ-center meditation you can uproot negative thinking and replace it with thoughts of peace, joy, and purpose.

CLICK HERE to listen to a free sample of Christian Meditation now

Rhonda Jones is the author of a series of Christian meditation and relaxation CDs that encourages listeners to relax, spend more quality time with God, and learn to live more consciously and in the present.

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I hope this article blessed you. Go ahead now and check out Rhonda’s Christian Meditation sample so you can see how it works. Just click the link below, scroll down the page and you can listen to the sample. See for yourself how relaxing and soothing it can be:

CLICK HERE to listen to a free sample of Christian Meditation now

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

P.S Please share this message with your email lists, on forums you visit, or on your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media pages. I need your help in getting the message out. Thank you in advance!

Note: Below is my original review of Women Food and God. Since then, I have since taken a closer look at the book and recorded a video with my additional thoughts. You can listen to it at the end of this post.

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You may have heard of a new book called “Women Food and God” by Geneen Roth about compulsive overeating. I heard it was featured on Oprah, but I discovered it by accident while browsing popular books on Amazon. The title intrigued me, so I bought it.

But I stopped reading on page 16. More about that later, but first I want to share a conversation I read on an earlier page. The author has a retreat for women who compulsively overeat and this is what one attendee told her over dinner. It is startling:

______________________

Laurie, a thirty-five year old CEO of a Boston mortgage company, raises her hand. “I am not hungry, but I want to be. I want to eat anyway.”

“Why is that?” I ask.

“Because it looks good and it’s here, right now. It’s the best comfort in town. What’s wrong with wanting comfort from food?”

“Not a thing,” I say. “Food is good and comfort is good. Except that when you are not hungry and you want comfort, food is only a temporary pallative; why not address the discomfort directly?”

“It’s too hard to address things directly, too painful, and there isn’t any end to it. And if it’s going to be endlessly painful, then at least I have food,” she answers.

“So you figure that the best you can get out of life is cold vegetable soup?”

When she talks again, her voice is quivering. “It’s the only true comfort I have and I am not going to deprive myself of it.”

______________________

That hurt my heart because I was once in the same place as Laurie. Even though I was “saved,” I did not trust God for comfort. At that time, I didn’t view him as one who loved me and could heal my pain. Instead, I viewed him as ready to judge and condemn me.

Reading that conversation alone was worth the cost of Women Food and God for me, but I stopped reading on page 16 because of this author statement: “It doesn’t matter whether we believe in one God, many gods, or no god.”

Oh, but it does matter! I believe there is no such thing as a weight management issue; it is all ultimately a life management issue.

Your belief about God determines how you view life, approach it, and what you expect from it. If you believe there is no god, then all you have is yourself as the compass to discern what is good and right. And we know all know how self-deceptive humans can be.

If you believe in many gods, then how do you know which to follow in a given situation? God is not the author of confusion.

I believe in the God who says in Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me  there is no God.”

It makes a big difference when you view yourself as a daughter (or son) of the King.

I believe in the God who heals as said in Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”

And I believe in the God who comforts, protects, and leads me in the right way as said in Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

I have a personal relationship with the one true God, which I obtained through the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6): Jesus.

So I say to Laurie and to anyone else suffering from compulsive eating: “God is the true source of comfort and he wants you to expect more from life than cold vegetable soup! He wants you to experience eternal life, which is that you may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent.”

Open up your heart and let God comfort you. Trust him and you will be healed.

_____________________

Video Follow-up Review: Author’s Views on God

Did you find this information on overcoming compulsive eating useful? You can learn a lot more about starting the healing process through achieving a closer relationship with God and how to achieve healthy weight loss. Check out my Take Back Your Temple eBook and the 8 bonuses that come with it.

Click here to learn more.

Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

Just the other day a question popped into my head: “Why do people eat?” My first thought was to relieve hunger. Then another question: “Why do people get hungry then?”

Have you thought about that?

God designed you so that you must eat to supply nourishment to your body. God gave you taste buds so that eating is pleasurable. Because it feels good, you want to do it.

God also gave you hunger so that it becomes uncomfortable when you don’t eat. So he gave you two “insurance policies” to ensure that you eat so that your body receives the nourishment it needs to stay healthy.

Here are 4 things proper nourishment does for your body. Just remember the word MINT.

• Metabolism – Your body needs nourishment to convert the food you eat into energy for you to work, play, love

• Immune Function – Your body needs nourishment to defend itself against disease

• Nerve Strength – Your body needs nourishment to maintain the messaging network that the brain uses to communicate with your body

• Tissue Growth and Repair – Your body needs nourishment to build muscles and heal wounds

But what if the food that you are eating is not nourishing? What if the foods you are eating are so addictive that not only do they crowd out the foods you need, but you are unable to control the amounts that you eat?

It is clear to me that this is an overlooked key to healing binge eating. The physical part of healing occurs when you begin to fulfill the purpose of food, which is to nourish your body. Healing foods are used to replace any addictive foods from your diet so that you can exercise self control in your eating.

Think about your current eating pattern – if you suffer from binge eating disorders, I doubt that you turn to salads or broccoli when you are emotionally upset. Instead you probably crave carbohydrate-heavy foods since the body breaks them down quickly, giving you an instant sugar high. You feel calmer – that is until the next craving hits.

To get off the roller coaster and start healing, then you must supply your body with the foods that keep it in MINT condition – foods that God made originally for your body like dark green vegetables (rich in magnesium, which is needed for all MINT functions) and fruits like apples, oranges, pears, and strawberry. You also need limited amounts of lean protein like beans, fish, turkey, chicken, lean beef, eggs.

And you do need some carbohydrates but they must be the slow processing kind like brown rice and sweet potatoes. That way, you won’t trigger the sugar hits that compel you to overeat. Be sure though to pay attention to how you feel when you eat carbohydrates until you know how much you can tolerate to stay in balance.

So in addition to prayer, using a journal so that you can identify your binge eating triggers, you must eat for nourishment to restore balance to your body. Your body will thank you for it!

Did you find my tips on overcoming emotional eating useful? You can learn a lot more about this topic and how to achieve healthy weight loss. Check out my Take Back Your Temple eBook and all the bonuses that you get with it.

Click here to learn more.

Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book

A barometer measures pressure in the atmosphere. I learned that when the atmospheric pressure is high in your area, that means fair weather because the atmosphere can resist stormy weather patterns that are trying to come into your area.

But when the atmospheric pressure is low, that means storms can come in to your area because storms take the path of least resistance.

The Spirit revealed this truth to me: The only was to overcome emotional storms is to keep the atmospheric pressure inside yourself high by being full of the Spirit. That way, when pressures are high in your external circumstances, you will be able to overcome them because they can’t get inside you – after all, you are already filled!

So from now on, think of your feelings as a barometer. When you are full of the Spirit, you are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

But when you are spiritually low, you are habitually worried, troubled, fearful, doubtful, depressed, jealous, prone to anger, selfish, envious, and lack self control.

Don’t use spiritual lows as an occasion to condemn yourself though. Think of them as a warning sign that you need to retreat to the Father and build up the spiritual pressure inside yourself again so that you can resist the storm.

Praying, meditating on the Father’s word, and speaking it to yourself throughout the day keeps the spiritual pressure inside yourself high. These disciplines also inspire you to praise and worship Him.

When praise and worship fills your heart, then you will know that your Spiritual atmospheric pressure is high enough to overcome any storms that come your way.

I hope you start practicing this principle every day. As you stay filled with the Spirit and are led by the Spirit, you will live a victorious life. You will also draw others to Jesus because they will see the difference in you and want the peace that you have!

Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,

Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.

P.S. Do you know what is the #1 issue that stops women from reaching their ideal weight? Emotional eating! In the Take Back Your Temple ebook, I cover practical strategies for overcoming emotional eating as well as other “tests” that can sabotage your weight loss efforts – from night-time eating to food-pushing relatives!

One of the 8 bonuses that comes with the eBook is “Kiss Your Stress Goodbye” which provides over 40 strategies for managing stress effectively. Not only do you get the bonues, you get to try the program free for 30 days. If you are disatisfied for any reason, you may request a full refund, no questions asked - but, you get to keep all of the bonuses! There is absolutely no risk to you.