I don’t like how I look, so I’m always dieting.  Is there anything wrong with that?  First of all, you need to see what God thinks is important about the way you look.  Find out in 1 Samuel 16:7, NIV.  “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  The media presents lies to us that convince us that beauty is pencil thin or buff. 

So what’s wrong with bingeing and purging or not eating at all for awhile?  Our bodies are not our own, and we need to care for them because they belong to God.  You’ll find it in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV.  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”  If you do have this problem of bingeing and purging, talk to someone about it.  If there is a real problem with weight, someone can help you know the best kind of diet that will be right for you.

Being satisfied with yourself does not mean that you have to accept being overweight.  It is our responsibility to take care of the body God has given us.  Check out 1 Corinthians 10:30-31, TLB.  “If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why let someone spoil everything just because he thinks I am wrong?  Well, I'll tell you why. It is because you must do everything for the glory of God, even your eating and drinking.”

Does God give me any idea of the kind of food I should eat?  Yes, He does.  In the original diet given to mankind, we find the best foods that were given by God.  You’ll find it in Genesis 1:28-29, TLB.  “And look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.”

So how do I stop bingeing and purging and constantly dieting?  The Bible points us to trust in Jesus to deliver us from all our sins.  Look in 1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV.  “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is our privilege to ask God to help us lose weight sensibly and to be satisfied with who we are.  Look in Hebrews 4:16, NIV.  “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”  Also, look in Matthew 7:7, NIV.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Our worth is in who we are to God, not what we look like or who we think we are!  You’ll see this in 1 Peter 1:18-20, NIV.  “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20, TLB.  “…Your own body does not belong to you.  For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it.”