Feeding Your Appetites

In his book "Feeding Your Appetites: Taking Control of What's Controlling You," Steve Arterburn outlines 8 appetites that are given to us by our Father. These appetites are good, yet can become tainted by our flesh/addictions, etc. The 8 appetites discussed are:

1. Appetite for fellowship with God
2. Appetite for pleasure
3. Appetite for food
4. Appetite for sex
5. Appetite for authority and power
6. Appetite for work
7. Appetite for companionship
8. Appetite for wisdom

I want to share the section regarding our appetites for food (since we are nearing the end of our fast!) Arterburn writes:

As the obesity rates continue to rise year after year, it is obvious that we are excessively indulging our appetite for food. When this appetite becomes out of control, it can threaten just about every aspect of our lives. Yet no matter how hard we try, we cannot fill our spiritual or emotional space with physical food. We yearn for a type of filling up that food will not satisfy. People today are using food as a way to escape the pain in their lives. They may be feeling emotional pain from a relationship breakup, psychological pain of depression or anxiety, or any one of millions of other pains.

Regardless of the type of pain, we use food as the medicine that we need to relieve the pain. Emotional eating happens when we eat in response to stress, boredom, depression, anxiety, or other emotional sensation rather than because we are experiencing true physical hunger.

Eating when we are not hungry can cause a sensationof pleasure. Certain foods can actually cause the brain to release chemicals that bring about intense feelings of pleasure. So if you are stressed and use food as your medication and in indulge in "comfort foods," you really may feel better, at least for a little while. But then the pain comes back. And this time it has company. It brought along feelings of guilt and shame as a result of your eating when you didn't really need it.

And how will you get rid of these painful feelings? You will probably take more "medicine," right? Before you know it you have to sit down an eat an entire box of macaroni and cheese all by yourself just to begin to feel a little better. The Bible tells us our appetite for food will never be satisfied:

All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied." (Ecclesiasted 6:7)