As promised, here is the how-to's of mapping your emotional history with food from the FP4H Members Guide.
Sometimes we have hurts, frustrations, insecurities, etc that create emotional needs within us. God created us to fulfill those needs through Him, not through food. For some of us the issue may not be food, it may be shopping, pursuing physical beauty, money, a relationship etc. The list goes on and on. Whatever we consistently turn to for comfort instead of turning to God first. So, this is titled, "Mapping Your Emotional History with Food," but feel free to substitute your own issue in there for food.
Go get a paper and pen, and a quiet spot/time to think and let's begin with step 1.
STEP 1: Pray. Ask God for clarity to identify thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior that have resulted in your current emotional relationship with food. As you pray, ask God to reveal truth to you through this process and allow you to visit the deep places of your heart to bring about inner wisdom. See Psalm 51:6.
take a few minutes to write out this prayer to God in your journal
STEP 2: Label seperate sheets of paper with each major stage of your life, starting with early childhood and ending with your current stage. For example, early childhood, grade school, middle school, high school, college years, single years, 20s, 30s, pre-having kids, post-having kids.... Whatever seems appropriate and manageable.
STEP 3: Think back to the earliest time in your life that you can remember and write out the story of what life was like for you during that period. Go as deep into your heart as you can, even if expressing those emotions is painful. The Lord will guide you to the memories and experiences that have impacted you the most. Jesus tells us that God sent Jesus "to comfort all who mourn...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair" (Isaiah 61:2-3).
STEP 4: Identify when there were major changes in your life and desribe how you responded to those changes (family move, graduation, marriage, birth of a child). Maybe you began eating more when your parents divorced, or you lost a significant amount of weight just before a major change in your life. Thoroughly explore the patterns of your eating behaviors and your weight during each of the periods you write about.
STEP 5: Be specific about your feelings, destructive patterns of behavior, choices and longings. At the same time, be sure to also include your strengths and successes so that you develop a balanced view of your life and who you really are.
STEP 6: Ask again for guidance and clarity. Is there any thing you have blocked from your memory or just forgotten to list. Ask Him to shed light and truth on the story of your life and relationship with food.
STEP 7: After you have read back through your thoughts, take a few moments to record what you have learned from this exercise. Ask the Lord to show you the connection, if any, between your eating and your emotions, the events of your life and the patterns you have developed to cope with certain events. Has over-dependance on food kept you from becoming the person God desires you to be?
STEP 8: IF you are able to see well-defined patterns and you are prepared to turn from the destructive behaviors you have developed, take some time to pray and make a commitment, both in prayer and in writing, to the changes God has led you to make.
Step 9: Finally, write a prayer of repentance and rededication to God. Don't forget to thank Him for allowing you to search your heart so deeply and revealing the wounds He wants to heal in you. Thank Him for the work He is going to do in you as you turn back to Him and allow food to play its proper role-to bring physical nourishment to your body.
Jesus promised, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" John 8:31-32. As you continue to seek Him in the process of returning food to its proper role in your life, you will find the freedom that results from the abundant life Jesus promised we would have.
First Place 4 Health Members Guide. Copyright 2008 by Gospel Light; Ventura, California, 93003. Used by permission.
