The commandment of God says, “Do not serve any other god except Me, for I am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:5). 

Many Christians believe they don’t fall under this category of idol worshippers because they do not have a carved object they worship or other forms of gods.

But what if I expose a practice that people engage in that becomes an idol? First, I will share my own brief story and how God delivered me.

Once upon a time, many evil things happened in my life, and I would run to the Lord to deliver me. He would show me dreams or visions related to food and social media. At first, I did not understand what this meant. I thought the Lord was simply asking me to cut down on them. However, I eventually realized that the Lord was not just asking me to cut back but was revealing that my disobedience to His commandment of not serving any other gods except Him was opening wrong doors that the enemy was capitalizing on.

Before then, I could engage in various Christian practices like long prayers, Bible study, and midnight prayers, but when it came to fasting, I struggled. I could manage just from 6 AM to 12 PM and then wait months before attempting another fast. I loved food and could not surrender that to God. Bear in mind that I was overweight, and this weight issue severely impacted my self-esteem and confidence.

I knew I needed to make a change, but after planning how to tackle my weight loss, I never got past one week before falling back into my unhealthy eating habits. Food was controlling me instead of God. This unhealthy eating habit affected every aspect of my life and my walk with God.

The Holy Spirit would constantly lead me to fast or be more intentional about my eating habits, but I chose to obey food instead. Food had literally become my god, as a god is something or someone you serve and obey. By disobeying God and continuing with my unhealthy eating habits, I was making food my god.

That extra plate of food you collect after eating the first one is gluttony and a sin. Food is for satisfying hunger.

The Word of God tells us that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

This means we are to depend on God and His Word, not on food.

Most times, when we are sad, we eat food; when we are happy, we eat; when we are depressed, we eat; when we are excited, we eat. Literally, every celebration involves food. 

This is what makes some of us Christians hypocrites. We judge unbelievers or even fellow believers who go to clubs and get drunk when they are going through a rough season, relying on drinks to help absorb their frustration or to forget about it temporarily. 

Meanwhile, we Christians might have a bad day and order pizza or stay indoors and overstuff ourselves with food, which is similar to those who turn to alcohol.The ideal response in such situations is to turn to God for comfort.

This is a call to check whether food is occupying the place of God in your life. Trust me when I say that God is interested in every single detail of your life. 

During my struggle with overeating and weight loss, I realized that it was not just taking the place of God in my life and becoming a stronghold; I also understood that eating healthily is not just about meeting society’s standards of beauty but is essential for staying fit, energetic, and living healthier, longer lives.

God has plans for you, and He needs you to be able to work without the extra burden of unhealthy food. Excessive food dulls our senses and our spirits. He wants you to live longer to fulfill the task He sent you here on earth, to do.

So, if you are struggling with overeating, surrender it to God. Cry out to your Maker for help. Many issues are spiritual and often beyond our abilities, so give them up to our spiritual Father in Heaven for assistance.

Engage in fasting and prayer, pleading with the Holy Spirit for the fruit of self-control to overcome the flesh and ultimately connect with God better. 

Be very intentional in your eating. Set realistic and solid plans and goals for your health. Consider adopting proven healthy diets that suit your needs. Focus on eating the right foods, avoiding unnecessary items, and only eating when you are genuinely hungry — not just when you have a desire to eat.

Discipline is key; commit to eating healthily and in moderation. Start with your mindset — believe that you can do this. Trust in your ability to exercise self-control and discipline to overcome any food addictions.

Also, remember to forgive yourself if you stumble. If you had plans to eat healthily but then reverted to old habits, don’t be too hard on yourself. Acknowledge your slip-up, forgive yourself, and focus on bouncing back.

Keep moving forward and fighting until you learn to eat the right way. We are called to nourish our bodies properly and avoid overeating. Those extra plates of food won’t help our relationship with God, how we look, or how we feel. 

This is a call to improve our relationship with food and make healthier choices.