We can all remember those now infamous MasterCard commercials. The ones listing items easily charged to their high interest credit cards, always ending with that one thing money can’t buy… Pink tutu $25. New camcorder $350. A dozen roses $40. Getting to watch my precious daughter’s first recital… Priceless!
I agree. Those moments are priceless, but nothing compares to God’s love for us. I think one of the most difficult things for me to come to grips with about God’s incredibly endearing love is it costs nothing, yet it is worth everything. All we have to do is open our hearts and accept it.
For so long I have tried to fill the sad, empty places in my heart with something. Alcohol. Food. Shopping. Over the years the obsession changed, but it was always those tangible items I could go to a store and buy. None of these have worked. They only provide brief, deceiving, and temporary relief.
Renee Swope describes this need for fulfillment in A Confident Heart:
You see, God put a longing for unfailing love in our hearts because He knew it would lead us back to Him. Only God’s unfailing love will fill and fulfill the desires of our hearts. It is the deepest thirst of our souls. Until God’s love is enough, nothing else will be.
We cannot fill these holes in our hearts with anything but God’s unfailing love. As I have journeyed through this 31 day program of trying to find relief from food addiction, I have been reminded of this truth many times. When I felt lonely, sad, or any other uncomfortable emotion, I could not turn to food as I have done so many times in the past. God has used this time to lead me back to Him, just as He has tried with each of the many other addictions I have left behind. This time is different. This time I am listening. I am following. I am taking the bait…
I want a confident heart as Renee defines one:
A confident heart is found in a woman who knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that she is loved no matter what. Lasting security comes when we bring the empty well of our hearts to Jesus and ask Him to fill and fulfill us with the security of His unfailing love.
I’m ready for lasting security, not the fleeting kind all of the other objects of my desire have given me. I am putting my trust in Him. Not a bag of chips. Not a 1500-calorie, artery clogging dessert. To beat any addiction that screams to us throughout our lives, we need a long-term solution. His unfailing love is my eternal solution…
Candace,
I am praying that you conquer your food addiction and come to realize God’s unfailing love. Thank you for sharing your post with me!
Thank you for your prayers Jennifer! I am definitely finding His unfailing love more every day. So glad you visited me today!
Beautiful! I love the last line…His love IS our only eternal solution, indeed! Thank you for this post Candace. It exudes a peace that seeps through the words…a peace that can only come from one source…The Holy Spirit. He is working in you and transforming you from the inside out. And the result will, most definitively be priceless! : ) big hugs!
Big hugs to you my friend! Thank you for your sweet comment. I can’t believe how much I am continually transformed by Him. I am a completely different woman than I was even just a few years ago and it gets better all the time.
Candy cane, its awesome to read your growth, I am thankful I was lead to you. You struggles are so common yet many people don’t seek the right answers, they get caught up in the “world” and not the “word.” I was one of those as you were and wavered but kept going back to the source of out Most High. Unconditional love, is that something for someone to love you unconditionally, filling every void we have, what can be greater than that? Romans 5 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Thanks for the reminder CC
I am so glad we were brought together as well Camii! I think we have walked many similar paths. Thank you for the beautiful verses in Romans. They fit here perfectly :)!
Thank you Thank you Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to dig further into your older posts. I too struggle with a food addiction that I am working hard to break. One of my then/when statements I shared with my group is:
When I am about to eat something I know I shouldn’t (either not a healthy choice or something I am eating to avoid doing something or facing something) and I am using doubts to justify eating it (I can’t or I will never so I might as well), I will then turn to the Lord and say He is my portion and my hope is in Him.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. Lamentations 3:24-25.
Many blessings to you!
You are so welcome Melanie! Thank you for sharing your awesome when/then statement and such an applicable verse! I hope you can find some comfort here and help with your food addiction. Please let me know if I can help in any way. Praying for you!
Thank you for sharing! You are such an encouragement. 🙂
Thanks Kymmie! I have been wanting to get over to read your Confident Heart post all day! I’m finally coming over :).
Enjoyed reading your post.
I’m so glad you stopped by to lead me to your blog. I was wondering if a lot of people on the study would use that mastercard commercial :). Loved your life commercial analogy! Thank you for visiting Eris!
I love this!! I’m not sure when you did this 31 day plan, but I am getting so much insight and blessing from these posts!
Hi Edwinna! It was several years ago, but I’m still a big believer in the FAA program. Even though I don’t stick to it these days, I like to use it as a cleanse every once in a while. I’m SO happy to hear these posts are blessing you. Thank you for sharing that with me!!