Made for More ~ (If you only read one session of Made to Crave, make it this one!)

Ladies, this section takes us to the crux of the matter. If you only read one session of Made to Crave, make it this one. Chapters Five and Six touch on the heart of it all, not just why we eat, but why we fall short in so  many ways. The very thing that holds us back, and the very key to finding freedom and experiencing victory.

One sentence...

You were made for more than this.

If you get nothing else out of this study...get that. Let that truth permeate your being and soak into your pores. You were made for more than....

Stuffing your face with unhealthy food to cover the pain of all your hurts. To fill the emptiness left behind by people who walked away, to comfort the ache of emptiness, the reality that babies die and loved ones suffer with cancer, to hide from all the ugliness and fears, to cover all the inadequacies.

More than running to the TV to escape for awhile.

More than indulging in gossip or joining in with others who tear down a fellow friend or co-worker.

More than whatever tempts you to stray...whatever makes you less than the woman He created you to be.

Whatever holds you back.

You, beautiful woman, created by God, beloved daughter of the King....You were made for more.

We need to realize and live the truth that our identity is not in every failure, every hurt, every sorrow, every sin that touches our lives. We are not defined by our circumstances, our family, our failures, our past. Our identity lies in being a new creation in Christ Jesus.

If you didn't do this during the study, take a minute and do it now. Put your name in the blank and read these truths from scripture out loud. This is who you are, dear friend:

_______________________, the forgiven child of God. (Romans 3:24)
_______________________, the set free child of God. (Romans 81-2)
_______________________, the accepted child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:2)
_______________________, the holy child of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
_______________________, the made-new child of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
_______________________, the loved child of God. (Ephesians 1:4)
_______________________, the close child of God. (Ephesians  2:13)
_______________________, the confident child of God. (Ephesians 3:12)
_______________________, the victorious child of God. (Romans 8:37)

Lysa's quote: "I was made to be set free, holy, new, loved, and confident. Because of this, I can't allow myself to partake in anything that negates my true identity. Be it a relationship in which someone makes me feel less than my true identity or a vicious food cycle that leaves me defeated and imprisoned, I must remember I was made for more."

Knowing who we are is an important key in finding freedom and victory. Next, we look toward our purpose: to know Him better. Another great quote from Lysa on pg. 59: "...growing closer to God has a whole lot less to do with any action we might take and a whole lot more to do with the positioning of our hearts toward Him."

It's a heart issue. Just like our hunger is less about meeting our physical needs and more about nourishing ourselves spiritually. We need a power bigger than ourselves to overcome the temptations and weaknesses we struggle with. The good news is that we have that power living in us, with the Holy Spirit.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Galatians 5:16 

We know it...now it's time to live like we know it!!

Please take some time to encourage each other in the comments and visit Kate from Called Out One to read her Made to Crave journey and show her some love. I would love to hear how you're doing. It's so important to pray for and encourage one another. Remember last week, we talked about the importance of accountability. An update on my journey: I lost three pounds this week. And, God is working in my heart as I stop filling myself with food and other stuff and reach for Him. So grateful for some victory!

Updated: Oops...I forgot to include that we will be reading Chapter Seven, Eight and Nine, talking about making peace with our bodies and (everyone's favorite subject) exercise. Good stuff. Tune in next Monday, and share your own getting healthy journey.