Over 115 lbs lost! Transformation through Christ- my journey into food addiction recovery
Vložit
- čas přidán 30. 10. 2019
- Struggling with weight, body image and self esteem for my entire life left me feeling hopeless and stuck. Truly coming to an understanding of what it means to live a life surrendered to God in ALL areas, completely transformed my life. Hear my story of transformation... how laying down my food and choosing to live in the boundaries God set has allowed me to live in freedom- running wild and free because I know where the limits are. This is my journey to health, self discipline and more intimacy with the Lord.
This has not been an easy journey, but it is so worth it!
www.fulloffaith.com
Sweet Surrender
www.amazon.com/dp/1689959282/...
Just watched your whole video, and heard "God gave up his son for you, why not give up food for me".... okay, inspired.
Those are my "mic drop moments with God." Don't know how he talks to others, but it's always in these truth bombs that are given gently but so directly
Sister you DON’T know how much you’ve helped me in your Testimony! Jesus sent me to you on CZcams.. I’m going to watch your video multiple times and days.🙏🏽-your sister in Christ Paris🌸
Paris- what an encouragement. It's such a blessing for me to see how the Lord uses the story of His faithfulness in my life to help others. Blessings on you as you continue to seek his will in this area of your life
Adventuring with Jesus Thanks Sis! Please make more videos and vlogs ok? Would love to here about Jesus and how’s he’s blessed your life❤️🌸 I hit that subscribe button 😊🙏🏽
@@PrissyP__ Thanks for the support...new video is coming tomorrow :)
So proud of you sister in Christ and yes I'm also a Christian who has back slided so many times before I came to the holy spirit amen ✝️ ☦️ ❤✝️✝️✝️🇭🇲🇭🇲🇱🇷🇱🇷@@adventuringwithjesus
JESUS sended you to youtube?😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hallelujah!!
“This is not a journey about weight loss, this is a journey about obedience.” ouch fell out of my mouth, it should have been AMEN!
Thank you for sharing, I needed this more than you know.
I've been struggling, I've gained so much weight over the last few months. I recognized and surrendered long term cannabis addiction almost 6 months ago. Food seems to have slipped in as a replacement for processing emotions. (this is the longest I've been free of substances in like 12 years) Praise God for your obedience!
Thank you Jesus for this bold and brave women of God. I too pray to walk in full obedience and surrender this stress, and food addiction to you for your Glory and honor. Please forgive me for sinning and not fully trusting you. Replace my will with your will, your desires over my own for my life in Jesus Name. Amen!
Thank you Lord!!! Glory to God!
God Bless you sweet sister! ❤️
You are so welcome! I'll admit that this last year has probably been one of the hardest in my recovery and I find myself repeating that phrase over and over. It can be so easy to let it become routine and then the boundaries start to slip.
I imagine when you've walked in sobriety from other things- congratulations on the work done to recognize and surrender the cannabis addiction - in some ways it's harder to see the replacement behaviors for what they are. Praising God for the freedom you've found so far and the courage to keep at it. If you need or want to talk more about it - feel free to email and I am always happy to set up a zoom for encouragement or to talk through next steps. Matina@matinahawkins.com
I almost never struggled with being overweight. But I have had a food addiction all my life even though I am a Christian. Eating when lonely, stressed etc. Pray for me to find freedom in Christ.
Thanks for sharing Cathy and yes, praying with you! That's the interesting thing about food addiction is it's not really about weight, it's totally about our relationship with food AND how it processes in our body -Matina
I had that same problem
Here three years later. Cathy how are you doing now?
I'm binging again on food (a lifelong struggle) & I just found your video. I have really wanted God to just free me from this horrible addiction & you have given me a new perspective. That God wants us to surrender it to him as an act of obedience. He isn't just going to take it away one day which is what I've been praying for. I haven't surrendered food. I have wanted to hold onto it and never thought of it as disobedience to God. Maybe this will be my breakthrough to think of giving certain foods up as an act of obedience to God. Thank you.
I resonate so strongly with having that "aha" moment but also with the "come on God, just take it". I have recently been having to wrestle through obedience yet again in another area of my life, so I'm in the thick of that process myself and am praying for you! -Matina
I started struggling with food for the past few years and this year it escalated and I came to realise I am completely out of control. My weight fluctuated for the past few months (lost a few kilos and gained back more). I prayed tonight in desperate need of God to break this chain and addiction. Then started searching for help and randomly this video popped up. When you said this is not about weight and it is about obedience. It hit me so hard... I know I can't do this by myself but with God he will make it possible. Thanks for the video, it helped me a lot to see what I couldn't see! I live in Australia and it's hard to get the hard copy of sweet surrender. But I did go through the website contents of full of faith and I am going to start this journey of abstinence. I'm scared and not confident about this at all but I want to be truly free of food addiction.
Wow, wow...God is so good! That word obedience has been coming up a lot for me this past week and it truly is that- a journey of obedience. We all have different struggles and things we want to hold onto and the work is in learning how to trust that His way truly is better. I am so glad that you found encouragement through my testimony- He does make a way as we learn how to walk in it.
I've been addicted to food for 40 years. I'm obese now . I'm glad I stumbled across your video. Now I need to get my head around giving up sugar. Theres even sugar in bread! Again thank you
Ron- so glad it brought you some hope! I know...sugar is in literally everything. I even found it in fat free half and half. Good luck in your journey...no matter how long we have been stuck, freedom is possible -Matina
Ron, bread is a processed food. It's the processed foods that are created to addict us. Try the whole food plant based, no oil (processed), no sugar (fruit is great replacement), beans, potatoes/rice, starch & fiber our need. You can do this. Lots of people who eat this way have recipes on youtube.
Hey Matina, This is Gayle, You have been describing me as I listen to your testimony, This is my first Video of you that I have listened to you over and over and over, as I listen to it I catch something different out of it that I didn't catch before, I know that I'm a emotional eater, too especially when I've had a very bad day @ work or whatever, You are soooooo right, It's not about weight list, it's about obedience, I love your testimony, I can't thank you enough for making this Video and being so honest about it, I know that if you can do this with God's help, So can I, You are a great inspiration to me and I know to others, God Bless you Matina, We can do all things through Christ that Strengthen's us, ❤️
There's sugar in everything except for mustard & worershire sauce
thank you for sharing! Not enough people get that food addiction is not a food issue, it's a spiritual one! I also found freedom by going deep in God. So glad you're getting this message out there.
Amen to that! It is the food, but it's not the food at all. So happy that you have found freedom as well
Thank you so much for this. I lost my dad last year and all i have been doing is eating. God Bless you. Its so hard im going to try.
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad- grief is something else for sure. Making that connection between your feelings and the eating is a huge first step. Being able to be honest with ourselves about why we are going to the food and then taking those raw feelings to the Lord is part of this process. Praying for you! -Matina
The worst thing about giving into my food addiction is knowing that I am living in willful disobedience to God. Praise the Lord for your success! Your story is inspiring and has encouraged me to keep pushing on despite a couple of bad weeks with my eating habits. God Bless!
I feel the exact same! I will pray for us, brother! God bless you!
DJ- This is definitely a struggle- it's that ultimate question of His way or my way. Which is why I think the Bible talks about daily surrender. It's an every day choice and His mercies are new each day as well. All the praise and glory to Him as I NEVER could have done this in my own strength. And even though parts of this aren't as much of a daily struggle for me, the surrender piece for sure is. Praying for you as you start this new year!
@Caetano- Praying for you as well in this journey. The other side is so worth it
Because of your video and testemony, I found Full of Faith. Thank you sooo much! Today I celebrate 40 days of freedom! One day at a time....May God continue to bless you! ❤️
I just watched this video again. I learn so much with your experience and wisdom.
Ana- Amen! That is so so amazing to hear and thank you for coming back on here to share your testimony with me
God Bless You for your
obedience. God is "Faithful"!
Your light is shining
bright. Thank you for
coming back to give
GOD glory.
Thank you Phyliss for those words of encouragement. Every day that I can share what God has done in my life is a good day
What a powerful and stunning testimony! Thank you for sharing your experience. Absolutely agree - this is not a diet, it is a spiritual journey.
You are so welcome. Glad that my testimony can be an encouragemnt to others -Matina
thank you for sharing this video.. God bless you as you continue your journey. God is so good
God is good! Thank you for the encouragement... 4 year anniversary of this process beginning is this week -Matina
This is INCREDIBLE. Your point about the garden of Eden took me out, it was SO TRUE!
Isn't it crazy how God often uses the most common Scriptures (or things we have heard a million times) to flip our thinking totally upside down on an issue? Thanks for watching and be blessed today. -Matina
Amen!! I see the pure joy of the Lord in your spirit🙏😁❤.. Sending love from South-Africa❤
Thank you and all glory to God! It's amazing how walking in obedience can totally change your countenance. I also love how technology allows for our testimonies to be heard worldwide -Matina
Given the misery it's brought into my life, I don't understand why I don't want to let it go
I know how it feels...
Laura- this is the ultimate question right?! For me it was that I wanted to keep control over it. I didn't want to think about what I would have to actually sacrifice because I just didn't want to do it. I looked for any other way that would let me do it my way. So many times I threw everything in the trash because I was miserable and ready to be done only to turn right back around and go to the store only to be upset with myself for throwing it out since now I had to spend more money to buy all the sweets again :/ It is a vicious and ugly cycle for sure, but there is hope.
Wow. I just found this. I don’t know what to say. I’m honestly speechless.
God is speaking to me right now. See I’ve been struggling my whole life and am still struggling. Thank you Holy Spirit for bringing me to this video. :) Thank you for sharing your story. I will be free from this!
I am so happy the Lord led you here and that it spoke to you in just the way you needed to hear. Praying for you in this. You can be free! -Matina
I loved that this popped up on my feed. Thank you for this. 💛❤️💛❤️
So glad it blessed you
I hope I can learn to trust the Lord to take this from me. Like you I’m resistant and want to keep my sugar and flour. It is a horrible feeling. Thank you so much for this video, I have watched it twice now and you give me hope that if I really let God take this from me He will.
Coming to that place of being ready to surrender is certainly not the easiest journey. And it's about intentional choice. He will walk you through it, but at least in my experience, it wasn't just something that was taken... the cravings have gone because. I no longer eat those foods, but I have no doubt they would return full force if I went back to them. Praying for you and reach out if you need/want
Thank you so much for sharing this. I needed this ❤️
You are so welcome. I am always blessed when I hear how the Lord is using my story to encourage others. -Matina
Thank you for this post. I am
struggling with my weight and self control over food.
I stumbled upon your video when searching for online resources out of desperation. This is super helpful!! Trying to surrender this battle to God/ I am not able to do this on my own
So glad you find it helpful and encouraging. Food can be such a stronghold, but there is freedom in Christ! I am actually posting another video on this subject this week as it's my 3 year recovery anniversary, so that may also be helpful. Taking the first step of reaching out and saying I need you God is HUGE and I'm praying He will bless that step of obedience. You've got this!!! If you ever want to chat more feel free to email- info@matinahawkins.com
Ann, this program has literally been a Godsend. It works on so much more than weight loss.
I needed to here this today! Thank you and God bless
Becky- you are so welcome. Grateful that the Lord continues to use my testimony to speak to others. -Matina
Thanks!!!
Thank you for sharing !!
Glad it was an encouragement to you! -Matina
I needed to hear this. Thank you .
So glad it was an encouragement to you. Press on! -Matina
Amen!!!! Wow good for you sister! ❤️
Thank you Austin!
Amen. I appreciate you sharing your story so much!
Thanks for watching and glad it brought encouragement to you
fantastically clear and inspiring! .bless u abundantly.
Thank you so much!
I’m so grateful I for this video thank you for the video
You are so welcome
Thank you for sharing this with the world. Praise God!! I can relate to just about every single thing you shared. It hit home in a most personal way. I’m ready to be done with the struggle and be obedient 🙏🏻🤍 God is so good.
Thank you for sharing and committing to being obedient! I know that even when it's hard, it's a process that the Lord is with you in. So grateful that the Lord used my journey to speak encouragement and life to you. Praising in advance for the work that God is doing.
That is awaeking what you are saying god bless you on your weat loss
Glad that it spoke to you and thank you! -Matina
Thank you so much for this video and helping me find Full of Faith.
Jennifer- you are so welcome! Full of Faith is an amazing community and I wish you well on your journey! -Matina (Adventuring with Jesus)
Thank you so much for sharing!! It’s been very inspirational 🌱 God bless 🤍
Glad it was an encouragement to you!
Incredible. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was an encouragement
That was really powerful! Thank you! Especially like the allusion to the one fruit in the garden they were not to eat.
Isn't it neat how God can use the simplest of stories to speak so powerfully. I had heard the story of the garden 10 million times before God revealed it in this way to me. -Matina
Thank you so much. I do really well and back slide consistantly and your video has helped me so much. To completely surrender.
Ariane- I can't believe I never responded to this. So sorry. I am curious how your journey has been since this? For me this past year has seen a lot more challenge in maintaining my overeating boundaries. Each day is a new day and there is grace as we surrender
I never did reply because I was not in a good place LOL I can say I have been attending Celebrate Recovery since February 7th! It has been going very well this time around and I try and attend a meeting every week! God keeps revealing spiritual things I need to work on on this journey. It has been amazing and I feel so much better. 🤗🤗
@@ariane7775 Congratulations on finding CR and that community! I fully understand that place of identiying the issue and saying something but then not being fully ready to step into the healing so then isolating. I love that the Lord is continuing to highlight spiritual aspects of this along the way. Keep at it! -Matina
Whoa!!! thank you for sharing this powerful testimony.. the lord has been speaking to me about giving up some foods...your video just popped up out of nowhere.... you look great by the way...🙏💕
Joana- I love how the grace of God works to bring us just what we need at the right time. Praying with you on this journey. And thanks!
Wow, God led me to your video. Today is May 8, the anniversary of you beginning your food addiction, journey of living with abstinent eating. Congrats on 6 years!
I’ve been toying with committing to not eating sugar, as the Lord has led me to. But hadn’t committed. I’m scared to say, but I think I’m committing right now!
Thank you for the encouragement! This has been a challenging year but in a different way- as I think it will always be- it's an ever evolving journey and as we continue to walk the path, new obstacles will come.
It takes courage to make that commitment and proud of you for coming on here and saying so. Also know that even when there are stumbles- that doesn't have to derail everything. How are you doing? -Matina
@@adventuringwithjesus well, I’ve been mostly off sugar and flour, but yesterday, being Father’s Day, I was presented with more opportunities to eat flour that is typical for me, and I definitely fell down.
I kept going back for more and more and more and I ate the majority of a pan of these Italian zucchini pancake things. It just kind of reminded me how powerless I am on my own and in my ability to moderate at all my eating of sugar and flour, and so in the end it strengthened again, my commitment to avoiding those highly addictive foods!
Wow thank you
Gotta come back to this video from time to time! Such a blessed encouragement!
Grace and peace be unto you! ❤
Thanks for the encouragement. Been needing to revisit some of these earlier foundational truths God spoke myself recently. Blessings -Matina
THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭 MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU EVER SO ABUNDANTLY
Thank you so much for the encouragement
Beautiful, thank you. I'm getting there just like you did .
Amen to that!
Thank you , sister, for your courage and sharing your truthful testimony. You have inspired me . God bless you for walking in obedience with Him. I’m on an adventures journey with God as well. He is faithful.
Amen! He IS faithful. He knows what we need to hear and when. Walking this journey with you -Matina
Wow… I needed to hear this.
Glad it encouraged you. This journey is definitely a one step at a time thing -Matina
Thanks for sharing!!!!! 🎉
Glad it brought encouragement
Thank you, it has blessed me
God's transformative power really is amazing!
Thank you so much for inspiring us with your obedience to your Creator. I thank God for giving you a willing spirit to obey His leading. Your testimony encouraged me. Thank you for honoring God with your body. May the Lord continue to give you strength to obey Him and encourage others to follow His leading. God is faithful to guide His children.
Amen to that! It's all because of Him and for His glory. Obedience is hard, but so so good. Thank you for the encouragement today -Matina
I didn’t realize I had a food addiction until a couple days ago it a battle that I’m praying God will deliver me
Amen! Believing with you as well. It's crazy, I had no idea that's what it was until I did and then, man were my eyes opened. -Matina
@@adventuringwithjesus I'm also a Christian and yes as a Christian i have struggled with my weight but god always sets you goals good Christian goals
@@paulanthonymartin5315 Learning how to truly allow God in and have authority in this area of our lives changes everything. Once I stopped making it about the weight and realized it's about obedience, there was such a shift. -Matina
Thank you
Thank you for watching -Matina
Really liked your comment that it is not about weight loss, its about obedience!
This is literally one of the foundational things I have to come back to all the time. Anytime I start to get discouraged about the physical progress, the Lord reminds me what this is really about- bleh. hard but good!
First off Hello my sister in Christ. When I was almost 19 my mom went home to the Lord. I was broken and I let dangerous food comfort me. I gained so much weight over the past 3 years but no more. Thank you for this. God bless you
So sorry to hear about the loss of your mom. Grief can certainly exacerbate things when we use food to comfort. Standing with you as you work to break the chains and walk in health, hope and freedom! -Matina
Thank you somuch!
Glad it was helpful and encouraging -Matina
Sister Thank you sooo much for sharing. God Bless you sooooo much. Thank you for this powerful testimony. For a while now I felt like there was something off and something I need to work on and you literally hit everything on the head for me. I’ve always tried to lose weight always tried all different kinds of things. Throughout hs I lost a lot of weight due to playing sports and barely eating but after my Aunt pasted away things changed for me. I had just graduated from hs and was almost done with my first semester. I didn’t know what to do. So I started birth control which didn’t help either.
Present day I have diabetes and I want to reverse it I’m wayyyy to young to be struggling with this. It’s about obedience and taking care of this body God gave us. Our temple! That the Holy Spirit dwells in. I got into a bad habit of putting other ahead of myself which is good but in an unhealthy way. To the point I wouldn’t care about myself. As I started my journey with the Lord he has helped me through so many things and THIS is going to be the next thing I need to work on along with Renewing my mind when it comes to food. I feel the Holy Spirit was convicting me of this before but it didn’t really hit me until about 2:55am this morning. Thank you again for this.
Nathalee- just reading this little bit of your story I am truly in awe of how the Lord works to bring encouragement and truth through the journey's of others. I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your aunt and know that big traumatic events like that can certainly put us on a spiral. It starts as genuine need to cope and then becomes something all consuming and no longer productive. I believe in the power of God to help you reverse the diabetes through your obedience in this area. It is so easy to put everyone and everything else first and I am constantly reminded that there is an unhealthy and unbiblical spin on that as well. The enemy is so good at twisting things just enough that they "sound good" but aren't actually the Word of God. Praying for you and if you ever want to talk or email more- feel free to reach out. Matina@matinahawkins.com
Thank you for sharing. Wow. I reaonate with everything you shared. I need so much help badly. I can't even get thru 1 day of abstinence. Please pray for me.
Praying for you to find the strength to say yes to what the Lord is asking. And a reminder that it's not in your strength but leaning fully on the power and grace He provides. -Matina
@@adventuringwithjesus ❤️🙏
Thank you so much for thing. The obidience and garden of Eve is eye opening and powerful.
It really was a game changer for me too. Got to love the ways the Lord just drops something like that and it makes such a difference.
tnku
Hey Matina, Thank you so much for sharing your testimony, Im going through the same, Ive listened to your video over and over and over, I want God to help me with this, O know that I can't do it all by myself,
I know that I'm addicted to Sugar and Junk food also, My favorite food is Mexican, Chips and salsa, That's my favorite, I'm also a emotional eater, especially when I have a bad day,
I notice that I turn to food for everything
You said in your video, that it's not a diet plan that it's about OBEDIENCE, and then @ the end you said adventuring with Jesus, means, BOTH FEET IN, ARE YOU WILLING?
Please be praying for me,
Absolutely praying and standing with you in this! Emotional eating is a thing for a lot of us. I have noticed it even more now that I eat abstinently because I am more aware of the "why" when I'm eating. Grateful to have people in my life who know my journey and call out when I am heading down those types of thinking roads again.
I needed to hear those words about obedience being both feet in spoken back to me again, so thank you for that. -Matina
I feel deeply ashamed to even begin to admit I'm addicted to food.
Katie...I completely understand how you feel. I think especially because the word "addict" gets thrown around so flippantly when it comes to food, that those of us who really truly do struggle feel more isolated or pushed to the fringes. What I can say is that 1. you are not alone and 2. admitting this is your struggle does not define you or acknowledge some deficit that you have (other than that we are all broken people in need of Jesus). For a long time, I thought my inability to control this somehow made me a "weak" person. But there is so much strength in saying- this is my challenge and I choose to not let it take me over anymore. And honestly- even just commenting on here takes courage
@@adventuringwithjesus thank you for your kind response. This is very good advice. I have just begun my journey and I do choose to not let it run my life anymore. I want to dethrone my addiction so that the one who deserves the throne of my spirit is in His proper place.
Amen! Standing firm with you and rejoicing in the victory to come. -Matina
My parents are no help. I can't move, can't afford to, but man, I literally beg them to stop buying addicting foods, like cinamon rolls, and they just say "don't eat".... it' makes me so angry. I don't know what to do it also makes me wanna cry. Because they don't care about me, they just bark "don't eat" and yet want me to cook or wag this junk fast food in my face. It hurts to not have supportive family
Hi Narron- my heart is breaking reading just this little bit of your story because I understand the pain of "just don't eat it." People who don't have a food addiction can't relate. And there is so much "diet culture" or "eat healthy" culture that just doesn't get at the root/heart of addiction.
It definitely helped me that I could control a lot of the food that was in my environment at the beginning. But I'm surrounded by it on a daily basis now and there are many days it's a struggle. In fact, in one of my recent videos I talked about how I've let things slide and am not holding to my recovery program in the way I need. to. Just today I recommitted. So I would say as an encouragement- every day is a new day and sometimes we need to have several "day ones" before the miracle happens. But don't give up! Know that you aren't doing it for your family- it has to be for you and between you and God.
-Matina
Its kinda hard to make changes like this when you are living in your parents house, they think im an extremist and keep trying to get me to eat
I hear that - food addiction can be really hard for people who don't live it (or haven't accepted it) to understand. I wonder if there's a way to explain the basics - or even to say something like - this is something I need to do for my own health and I hope you can respect that.
Not doing it in isolation - either as part of a recovery community or with the support of a therapist or trusted friend- can help too. That's important in general as an addiction of out of control can very easily swing to an addition of over control and having people who can help us navigate healthy and appropriate boundaries is so important.
Praying for the right support in order to walk out this journey. -Matina
i prayed, fasted and kept up for some weeks then crashed. Your video made me realise that i have a bad mindset- "i'll eat this again after my fast or this time period". I don't want to be an Eve :( Thanks for this video and I pray that I obey God and surrunder processed junk food
It's such an easy mindset to be in- and ultimately is the dieting culture but for some of us, our challenges with food are so much deeper than that. Praying for you as you identify what He is asking to to fully surrender
I relate to your testimony so much. I also went on a healing journey with Yeshua (Jesus) and the weight loss was just the result, not the mission. He taught me so much!! So so much. My motto was no processed foods; if GOD made it, I ate it, if it was contaminated by mans hands, I avoided it.
It’s funny to see that the produce section at the grocery stores have no health labels, how to eat it or cooking instructions... yet processed foods that come from poison sprayed farms, that are then stripped, factory processed and synthetically fortified do.. they tell how how long to microwave it. It comes in estrogen mimicking plastic... Toxic upon toxic.
Food isn’t bad, it’s what mankind has done to it that makes it so bad for us.
Best of all, how what we are to eat, is all in the Bible! The Bible is the only self help book we need.
I was able to heal through food alone in ways my doctors told me was not possible. But with God, all things are indeed possible.
I had gotten to a point of confidence and forgot how sick I had ever been, and so I started bringing back the flour, the processed, the fast foods.. and it took three months for me to start feeling all the symptoms and after a year, then another.. I’m back to ground zero.
So hearing you say, not to add it back when you feel and look goof makes so much since!
And yes, I was so free and happy while obeying Gods eating plan for me than I am on my own eating plan filled with depression and not wanting to go out again.
It’s a lie to believe that food boundary’s put us in jail!
No, we put ourselves there when we go against the rule book that’s literally only here to make us FREE.
What a wonderful testimony you have as well I'm sure! Yes... weight loss is the result of living obediently. I 100% believe each person's journey is their own- the foods I need to not eat are not the same necessarily as what someone else might need to set down.
Boundaries allow us to live freely- Amen to that! Praying for you as you walk into freedom again. -Matina
THIS IS ME.
Glad you found this video and praying encouragement for you today! -Matina
@@adventuringwithjesus thank you so much. God bless you.
I would love that
It is possible!
Yeah hold on. I’m going to cry three minutes in. Be right back.
Sometimes God just cuts right through to the heart
@@adventuringwithjesus If you only knew how I prayed (through tears) this morning. Part of it was "God, I don't know a sign, but I know You are good and throwing things in my path". I've NEVER seen you pop up in my recommend videos before, and there you were.
🥺🔥🥰
Thanks for the encouragement
I need help . I don’t know why lately I’ve been consuming EVERYTHING . And at no end in sight . 💔 my heart breaks knowing I want to stop and be free from always wanting to eat food
The addictive cycle can be so enslaving- particularly in the shame that it can bring. Recognizing the aspects that were conviction versus my own shame and separating those out was really helpful for me. Practically speaking, being part of a recovery group was absolutely neceessary for me at the beginning stages- having others who had walked the road before giving practical steps, accountability and encouragement. Know that you are not in this alone! Feel free to email me too if you want to talk through it more matina@matinahawkins.com
My food issues are out of control. I literally just ordered Sweet Surrender this morning. I need help. Any advice to start?
Good for you! There is such hope in hearing others stories. Acknowledging where you're at is the first step for sure! Me choosing to be honest with myself and surrendering what that might mean was a huge part of the process. Practically- for me getting on the Full of Faith facebook groups to see what kind of meals people were eating was helpful- I couldn't fathom how to change my eating. I also went through my pantry/fridge and threw out everything that was NMF (not my food) so that I wouldn't be tempted. Not sure if that's feasible for you or not. I also picked just 2-3 meals that I knew I liked and fit within my new guidelines and just stuck with those for the first week or two. Even if it meant eating the same thing, it was easier to just do what I knew and liked than to try to get super creative.
I've tried every diet and I've had surgery. I know I need to give it to God, but its very difficult. This is my struggle right now. I can't wait until tomorrow when my book arrives.
I feel you on all of that. Reading her book helped me really not feel alone in it. And ultimately I had to ask myself if I wanted food or freedom more. And know there is so much joy in living within boundaries. You can run so wild knowing that there is a fence to keep you from falling off the edge of a cliff. Life is actually so much more free now that I know where my limits are. In this with you and praying for you! Happy to support in whatever way I can
@@adventuringwithjesus Thank you, I really need the prayers - I'd really appreciate it if I could correspond via email rather than chat on open comments ~ my email is crazybeelady18@yahoo.com. I'll comment again after I read the book. I'm sure I'll have questions.
Done! Sent email to you :)
I am willing but my flesh is weak
I understand this very much! Praying for the strength to surrender the control in this area and the trust that the Lord can and will show you the way. -Matina
Do you have to do the 12 steps forever to stay recovered?
I think this is a personal decision related to how you understand your recovery needs. I do believe that accountability and community of some sort is an essential component to recovery, but I am not a devout 12 stepper. I found it extremely beneficial when I first began and go back to the concepts quite frequently. -Matina
How are you doing today with your sugar addiction? Have you been able to continue obeying God's law?
Staying the course - this coming week will be celebrating 7 years of surrender
So you don't eat any sugar?
That is correct- no added sugars/sweeteners. I do still eat fruit and use fruit juices in cooking. But I check ingredient labels and ask for accommodations when eating out. -Matina
Did u go to an eating recovery center? I dont think i can afford this
I did not go to a recovery center. No extra "fees" or programs in that sense. I mean yes - eating with clean, fresh foods definitely can be more costly than the dollar menu at a fast food restaurant. And the convenience of picking something up versus cooking for yourself is different. But in terms of being able to afford it - it really doesn't need to cost monetarily anything more than you are already paying. And honestly - making these changes is so much less money than I shelled out in various diet programs that provided meals. It definitely takes more thought and intention because you actually have to pay attention to ingredients and they sneak sugar into so much food it's insane.
The recovery community I joined was free and online as are most 12 step type communities. Happy to answer any questions either here or via email -Matina@matinahawkins.com
Do you still eat fruit and things like potatoes?
Hi Jessica, yes I do still eat fruit (though I keep it to my allotted portion size because it can become an easy thing to binge on- especially dried which I really steer clear of for the most part) and potatoes are one of my go-to's for the grain portion of my meal. -Matina
❤🇮🇱
A piece of my heart will always be there
So will you ever do a birthday cake for your kids
I have made birthday cake and treats for my students (my "kids"). At the beginning, it was too tempting to be around it, but I realize that not everyone has the same challenges with food that I do (or has been asked to set them down in the way the Lord told me to). Honestly, I love how much more present I can be in the celebrations because I'm not obsessing about the food. -Matina
A child dies every 26 seconds from malnutrition, so do we credit your skygod with that too? Weight-loss isn't the result of the supernatural, it's the result of lifestyle change.
This was completely a lifestyle change and one that only came for me through the process of my faith journey. I had tried multiple diet plans, weight loss programs and ways to make healthy eating a lifestyle for years with no sustained success. Understanding it wasn't about the food rather a full heart and mindset shift. For me, my faith and relationship with God and choosing to put my entire life (including food choices) under His authority - that's what made the difference. Just here to share my story and hope it encourages others who may also be struggling.
Transformation through christ???😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This is my story. 100% a miracle. Healing comes in all forms and I believe that God's plan for us includes the ability to experience freedom in any (and all) areas of our life. Understanding that there is an invitation to say yes to Jesus with my food choices and mindset has changed my life more ways than I can express. -Matinaa