How to Break Free from Emotional Eating

You can break free from the ties food has over your life by reclaiming your God-given identity and shedding light on the truth influencing your emotions. 

Emotions are powerful, that’s for sure. 

In the past, your emotions have been held responsible for lifting your mood or sending your mood crashing to the ground, all in one fell swoop. They’ve also been responsible for having a direct impact on your eating habits, the types of foods you crave, and your reaction to situations around you. 

Although your emotions are powerful, they don’t have the control many believe. With awareness and intention, your emotions can flourish into the tools God intended them to be. 

3 Truths About Emotional Eating 

Your Emotions are God-Given 

If you look around long enough you will find news articles and social media posts casting a dark shadow on emotions, as if they are something to be feared or avoided. 

The truth is just the opposite. 

You were fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of Heaven and Earth. You were knit together in your mother’s womb. Every single part of you is an intricate detail God made with divine intention. 

Knowing you are a masterpiece, created by the Master Creator, is an indication that when God gave you emotions, He didn’t do so by accident. 

Your emotions were built into your make-up as a part of your God-given identity and giftings. 

They are powerful because God designed you for a relationship - with Him and His creation. Your emotions are designed to help you more powerfully connect with people, embrace and love people, and be able to minister to people. 

Without emotions, your ability to connect, love, and minister would be muted and that is simply not what God wanted for you. 

Your Emotions are Signals 

Have you ever told a child “Don’t touch that, it’s hot?”

Have you also seen that same child proceed to touch the exact thing you warned them not to touch? 

If so, you most likely noticed as soon as they touched the hot object, they quickly pulled their little hand back and most likely had a stream of tears follow. 

This is because as soon as the child touched the object that was not designed for their human hands to touch, the nerves within the hand sent signals to their brain that it was in pain. These signals went forth to ensure  the child would quickly respond, remove their hand from the danger, and not keep their hand in a place that could do significant bodily harm. 

Just as God designed our physical bodies to transmit signals to the brain to warn of physical danger - our emotions were designed to transmit signals to the brain in the same manner. 

When you encounter a situation that brings stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and even joy and happiness - signals are being sent throughout your body to notify your mind that something is happening. 

These emotional signals aren’t negative and aren’t to be avoided - but rather they should serve as indicators for you to take notice of the situation at hand so you can know how to respond wisely. 

You Can Control Your Emotions 

Your emotions begin with thoughts. 

Intentional or unintentional - when a thought passes through your brain, there is a release of neurochemicals. These neurochemicals create a cascade of chemicals and hormones that are released throughout your body. 

Becoming self-aware of your thoughts, emotions, and reactions to your thoughts and emotions is possible and extremely important so you can remain in control and ensure your emotions remain in the rightful place God created them to be. 

How to Reclaim Control of Your Emotions 

Knowing Your Identity 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

You must realize and remind yourself daily that you are a child of God. You are a daughter of the King. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 

God didn’t err while forming you. 

Every single characteristic that makes you ... YOU - God did that on purpose.

He gave you the emotions you have for a specific reason and a specific ministry. 

Knowing the Power You Possess 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV) 

Your emotions are divinely given, powerful and are designed to be used to cast down the lies that speak against God’s word.

God gave you exactly what you would need in the day-to-day battles - spiritual and physical. 

Knowing How to Control Your Emotions 

“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.” Acts 26:2 (KJV)

Paul made this statement to King Agrippa. He was a prisoner of Rome and his life was hanging in the balance. He had encountered a great deal of tests leading to this point in his life. 

Yet, he says “I think myself happy.” 

Without a doubt Paul’s neurochemicals were firing off and he could have easily and justifiably allowed the reactions to his situation to control him. 

However, he did not. 

God allowed this statement to be shared in His word as a reminder to you that no matter what situation you find yourself facing today and no matter the signals firing off in your body, you have been given the divine power to take control and not allow your emotions or situations to control you.

You can learn more about how to walk in the emotional authority God has given you when you join The Empowered Challenge, a free 5-day series of coaching sessions that will help you reclaim your power over food and lose weight in the process. 

The Empowered Challenge kicks off May 16th.

Spots are filling fast - sign up TODAY to grab your spot in The Empowered Challenge! 

See you in the challenge!