Oh the dichotomous thinking that is so near and dear to myself and many fellow Recovery Warriors. Today I have a story of Hope to share!
Recently I ate a certain food that felt “unsafe” (what has in the past been referred to as “bad” food), after which I sent an email of accountability and support to my Pastor. After being open for God to move, and thenlistening for Him, I heard Him loud and clear later that same evening at my church’s Community Dinner. We were continuing a conversation on sin, and we came to a passage in Mark 7. My friend, Ed (I love God’s sense of humor and irony!), was reading, and this is what hit me at my core [this is Jesus speaking]:
“The food that you put into your mouth doesn’t make you unclean and unfit to worship God.” (Mark 7:15-16 CEV)
“Wow!!” I thought. And then…
1) This is God speaking and transforming me,
2) How can this be?
3) “Surely, God, You don’t mean…..” as a list of foods ran through my head.
It wasn’t that I ever actually viewed eating item X as a “sin,” but it was the “it’s NOT wrong” concept that hit me. In that moment, God was speaking to my heart, You keep thinking and believing all these foods are unclean, bad, wrong, but they are not. The foods you label as such are not.
We went on to talk about other verses and finished our time together in prayer.
I started crying and tried to wipe my tears. I looked up and my Pastor said to me, “I got your email, I’m on your side.”
“That passage just messed up my whole entire life!!” I said. “Is that really true? I mean, I base my life on that…”
My Pastor knew what I was referring to. He was like, “Yep.” And then, he held up a bowl of icing, of all things! (Icing. God is soooo good!!!) And he said something along the lines of “God approves.” That God trusts us with all things. He mentioned that there are times of abstaining from certain things in life, but that icing (for example) is not wrong.
So, I covered all my bases and my world was ROCKED through the Word!
“God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete….” (Philippians 1:6)
Indeed, when I look at my fear, calm eventually comes into view.
“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matt 7:7 CEV)
RELATED ARTICLES:
LOVE icing 🙂
So glad God is teaching you to stop labeling foods! 🙂