Is your mind being shaped by God, or are you allowing the enemy to do it for you? The enemy’s plan is to kill, steal, and destroy, and that’s why he uses food to succeed in driving you away from the love of God. So, how then do you achieve victory from the bondage of food fixation?

show notes:

In this episode, Heidi explains how you can dress for battle against the enemy and invite God to partner with you so you can claim victory. It is important you understand that your role is to stand and stand firm and be strong in the Lord and His power to overcome your food struggles. 

Listen in to learn about the enemy’s plan and shield yourself with faith and salvation. 

“When we aren’t in alignment with who God says we are, we are obviously more susceptible to the enemy’s lies.” ~Heidi Bramm”

Top Takeaways:

• How to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to new thoughts so you can transform your life fully.
• How to stop unrighteous eating by partnering with the Holy Spirit to infuse your natural willpower with His supernatural resources.
• How to arm yourself with the truth that God is ready to fight your battles with His supreme word. 
• How to shield yourself from the enemy’s plan through faith and salvation. 

What you will learn:

• [6:12] Ephesians 6:10-11 and John 10:10. Remember you don’t stand on your own power, but mighty in the power of God. 
• [9:43] Romans 8:13. Discern between righteous and unrighteous eating and be empowered to stop living compulsively.  
• [12:26] How to stand firm by running to God instead of food for answers. 
• [13:22] Choose healthy meal options that nourish and sustain your body. 
• [14:19] Learn to write down the lies and fight them with the truth in God’s word often.
• [14:50] Heidi shares some of the lies she used to tell herself.
• [15:27] How to be wise to the enemy’s plan by allowing God’s righteousness to fight your battles (Ephesians 6:13-18). 
• [20:57] Heidi prays that you depend on God for comfort and strength as you fight your food fixation battles. 

Relevant Links:

• Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction by Asheritah Ciuciu
• Healing the Wounded Soul by Katie Souza 
• Biblical Weight Loss Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/biblicalweightlossblueprint/
• Register for the Food Freedom Workshop, Nov 28 at 7:30pm CST: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pzoN6QIpSsyDiNy6sJQLdA

Detailed Transcript:

Hey, beloved, welcome back to the show. In today’s episode, we are covering chapter two in the FULL book by Ashertiah Ciuciu, it’s called Full: Food, Jesus, and the Battle for Satisfaction. So I’m going to share key highlights from this chapter and of course, my personal takeaways. And again, when I went through this book in 2019, it radically changed my life. This book is powerful, which is why I chose it for the 12-week curriculum for my breakthrough program, the Biblical Weight Loss Blueprint to truly give you weapons for weight loss that work for lasting freedom.

This is going to help renew your mind and make you wise the enemy’s tactics so you can armor up and stand against his schemes. And it’s going to help you trade guilt for grace in your relationship with food. But first, I want to let you know what’s coming the end of this month. Oh my gosh, we’re in November already? Can you even believe it? And also what’s launching in January 2022. 

So do you feel overwhelmed when it comes to food? Have you ever felt stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of overeating? Yo-Yo dieting and obsessive thoughts about food or your body image? Mm-hmm. Do you look to the scale to determine your self-worth? 

Oh my gosh, I’m so excited beloved! I am doing a Food Freedom Workshop and you are invited. We’re going to spend an hour together unpacking what it really takes to break free from bondage is to food and struggles with weight without exercise and even if you struggled your entire life. For many of us, food has become an increasingly complex issue that causes us to feel guilty, overwhelmed or even hopeless. I felt this many times, going through my pregnancies gaining and losing, gaining losing, gaining losing and this feeling like I didn’t have control over what my body was doing. I would get emotionally overwhelmed. And I would just turn to food for comfort. 

If you feel defeated by your lack of self control, overwhelmed by your weight and thoughts about food, then come join us in the Biblical Weight Loss Blueprint Facebook group on Sunday, November 28 at 7:30pm Central time. We’re going to dig into scripture and reveal the path to freedom. This workshop will give you a glimpse into the food freedom curriculum that we use, which again, I’m highlighting through these chapters throughout the book. But this is my signature program that I’m launching in January 2022. It’s a faith-based format. And it’s comprehensive. It’s holistic in nature. We are body, spirit and soul. And so this program will address all three with a guided fasten detox for the physical weight loss portion, a biblically-based food freedom curriculum for the spiritual piece, and finally, inner healing sessions for that soul work that is so crucial for lasting freedom. We have to be healed from the inside in order for it to reflect on the outside. So a strand of three cords is not easily broken. And this program has it all. 

Weight is just a symptom. It’s not about the weight yet it’s not NOT about the way and it’s about my so much more than the weight right and the weight is in the way so to speak, I understand that I felt this way before where it’s hindered me from finding success in my business, or it’s affected my relationships on an intimate level, it’s affected the way I feel about myself, of course. And so to speak of us truly living our lives to the full, I know that the weight is in the way.

So in this program, losing the weight is really just the icing on the cake, because it’s a byproduct of the healing. Okay, so yes, you’ll be losing between 10 and 15% of your body weight, which for most people is between 20 to 25 pounds. But more importantly, you will discover the joy of living free from food fixation. By experiencing deeper satisfaction in Christ, you will find healing from the inside out and that you just no longer need to carry this extra weight around because you found true healing, and you will finally feel comfortable and confident in your own skin, and be able to step into the fullness of what God has for you. 

So come join me for this totally free food freedom workshop that I’m doing for you. This is a spiritual battle and we need to armor up. We need to overcome the lies with truth. And I will even have a special guest joining us to share her experiences from the 12 week program so you can hear firsthand her results and her takeaways. And workshop attendees will get first dibs on applying for the beta version of this program that launches in January. 

Beloved, if you are ashamed to workout in front of others. If you feel like you can’t stop obsessing about food or stop binge eating or binge drinking. Or if you avoid the mirror because of what you see in the reflection. Your soul is yearning to be set free from the bondage of food fixation and all this loneliness and isolation that it creates. So please come join us in the Biblical Weight Loss Blueprint Facebook group for the upcoming food Freedom Workshop. Again, it’s Sunday November 28 at 7:30pm CST. It’ll be hosted right in the Facebook group and this is open to everybody so please share. Please join us. 

Alright, beloved, let’s dig in!

I know a biblical approach is needed for this type of thing. Because when we aren’t in alignment with who God says we are, we are obviously more susceptible to the enemy’s lies. And so it’s either God shaping our minds or the world, right. And so we need biblically-based solutions. So I want to just my goal, in unpacking each of these chapters in this book and sharing my feedback, my, you know, highlights things that came up to me as I was going through this process. I just want to keep planting seeds that will open your heart to the idea that the Lord wants to fight this battle for you. And victory is found in Jesus. 

So today, we are talking about knowing the real enemy, and surprise, it’s not food or calories. How to dress for success in battle, and how to stand claim and fight for your victory with food struggles. So I ran to read a couple of verses to start. The first one is Ephesians, 6:10-11. And it’s “finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil’s schemes.” Okay, and the second one is John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” So we have to remember that we do not stand on our own power, but mighty and the power of God. And as the Holy Spirit leads us to all truth, as we put off our old self and put on the new, our thinking will be transformed, our thoughts will be renewed and our lives will be more full, we can’t, we have to stop seeking fullness in things that were never meant to satisfy us.

So when we look at this battle with food or food fixation, we have to remember that this is something first of all, that’s under the blood of Jesus, right? It’s dead on the cross, nailed to the cross. It died on the cross with Jesus. The victory is already yours. Now you’re just walking it out. And so this is won in a hand-to-hand combat, time after time after time, in little increments, through small daily victories. I saw this to be true going through my experience in a group that I took this curriculum with. And it was little things like I would post what I was having for my meal.  I would have success in my habit tracker. And so it was these little victories that I kept choosing to follow God time after time after time again, and not turn to food to satisfy or fulfill me. 

And so our role, according to these verses, right in Ephesians, is that our role is to stand and stand firm and be strong in the Lord and His power. Victory over the enemy takes time, as we repeatedly choose God over anything else that promises to satisfy. I also noticed this in celebrating in social settings. As I was going through this curriculum, it was hard for me before starting this, to choose God over sugar or wine like that was my go-to thing. If I was being honest with you, it depended on the day that I had if I would have wine and it was never just one glass, it was always more than one and or, you know, brownies or something sweet to satisfy and to numb, whatever pain or insecurity was coming up. 

And so as I was going through this curriculum, when I went through this book in 2019, those things didn’t satisfy me anymore. They didn’t even matter all that much. It’s like all of that thinking and that obsessive-compulsive thinking about food. It was gone, and I could see victory in this area. And when even I got home, my daughter had made a cake and it didn’t even appeal to me like it didn’t have quote unquote, power over me like it would have in the past. I’m sure that some of you can relate to what I’m talking about right now. It’s almost like food has this invisible power, we feel sometimes, over us and so that goes back to healing on a soul level, those soul wounds that are bringing that up for you. 

You’ve probably heard me mention one of my favorite books, Healing The Wounded Soul by Katie Souza. It’s break free from the pain and the path and live again. And so she talks about soul wounds, and how that can give the enemy access to us. And we are believing the lies the enemy is speaking to us. So in Romans 8:13 This is a powerful Scripture because it teaches us the difference between righteous and unrighteous eating and empowers us to stop carrying out the desire of the flesh that we exercise with our compulsive or overeating. And we have no obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do. We don’t have to live by our flesh. But if by the power of the Holy Spirit I put to death those deeds, I will live. I love that verse. 

So during this part of the chapter, I was asking Holy Spirit to show me the difference between righteous and unrighteous eating. Teach me how to eat in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, and empowering me to stop carrying out again, this desire of my flesh with my eating. When is it appropriate to indulge or eat out of the norm of what you would do on a daily basis? And so here’s an incredible quote by Elyse Fitzpatrick. She says “eating habits become sinful, when the habitual practice of them places us in bondage again, a bondage to sin from which Christ died to set us free.”

So when we go back into slavery – that Jesus died to set us free from, that is unrighteous eating. When we feel like that food has power over us or something we can’t control that is unrighteous eating. When it causes us to go back and sin again, that is unrighteous eating. So what we will do this as an interesting quote, “we will do what’s easiest, even if it leads to our own destruction.” Whoa, how many times? Oh, my goodness, how many times have I eaten to the point of my own destruction? 

Holy Spirit as our guide and our power over the enemy and our own willpower and discipline to create those daily habits are going to partner with God in His supernatural resources. So just asking God for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit over my life was super powerful. Zachariah 4:6 says, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD Almighty.” So his Holy Spirit infuses our natural willpower, with his supernatural resources, energizing us to cross the finish line for that day. And so we’re co-creating with God. And of course, all the glory goes to God.

So here are three ways that Asheritah describes that we can stand firm:

1. Running to God instead of food. 
2. Choosing healthy meal options. 
3. Filling your mind with truth. 

And I’m going to unpack each of these. So number one, the number one way to stand firm is to run to God instead of food. Oh, my goodness, sweet cravings, right? Sweet cravings means your brain wants instant gratification. It’s almost like you’re throwing a little temper tantrum. And instead of giving into that sweet craving and having that instant gratification, you can delay your gratification, don’t, you know, just put it off. Instead, pray about what’s on your mind and listen to what the Lord has to say. I actually use an essential oil blend, it’s a metabolic blend. But it gives me that two seconds, right? That my brain needs to just, I’m doing something in the natural, I’m taking a drop of that essential oil and putting it under my tongue, it’s helping with the immediate physical response that my body is having. And then it gives me just this breather like this margin to be able to pray, to pause and pray about what’s on my mind to journal to write down and listen to what the Lord has to say. So that’s number one running to God instead of food. 

Number two is choosing healthy meal options. So God gives us this whole rainbow of foods that are designed to sustain and nourish our bodies, right, just like he created them to do. And as you do this over and over again, as you’re choosing healthy meal options, you will soon crave them. I find it so interesting. And I have so much compassion for Eve when she decided that this amazing looking fruit was just something she had to have as if God was holding out on her. As if he didn’t already provide her with everything she needed in the garden that was beautiful and pleasing to the eyes and nourishing for her body and nourishing for her soul and was just like the purest, most perfect form of food right there for her and she still chose to eat to let the enemy have a seat at her table. And so when we look at choosing healthy meal options, God’s rainbow of Whole Foods again, are designed to sustain and nourish our bodies just the way he created them to. So that’s number two way to stand firm is focusing on the foods that God created.

Number three, filling your mind with the truth. So writing down the lies and fighting them with the truth in God’s word. God’s Word is living and it’s relevant to what you’re going through right now beloved, so do this often and it will naturally come to mind. This is a retraining of your brain. This is a knowing, and getting in and arming yourself with the truth. God is more than ready to help and takes pleasure in fighting our battles for us with His supreme word. So here are the lies that I wrote down. And maybe you can relate to some of these I would love to hear the most common lies that come up for you and share them in the Facebook group go to the Biblical Weight Loss Blueprint Facebook group ask to join and share what lies are you believing about food here are some of mine. 

Number one, I don’t eat this way at home. So I’m going to indulge now. 

Number two, I need a couple of glasses of wine to loosen up and people will like me better.

Number three, if I don’t eat it now, I won’t get a chance later to have it. 

Number four, I don’t have time to pray about this. And will it really help anyway? Is it just a waste of time? 

Let’s talk about being wise to the enemy’s plans. And then we’ll close out with equipping for battles. So being wise to the enemy’s plans. Satan wants to keep us blind to the life-giving elixir found only in Jesus Christ. He wants me to eat the crackers and cheese. He wants me to eat the gooey sweet treats and drink wine until I’m numb to the idea that praying during a stressful time of day might actually be just what I need. 

Here’s an example. My husband had a stressful day at work. And I was like, “Oh, I’ll give you this oil application technique that I do on the spine. And it’s super relaxing. It helps with stress. And it helps with immunity. And it helps with just balancing the body.” And so I was super excited to serve him in this way when he got home after his long, stressful day. But instead of coming to me, which I was ready and waiting to serve him and help him with, he had wine instead to comfort him. And to probably numb, right whatever was coming up for him. I’m like, “Oh.” I felt so disappointed. Like I was ready to help you. And instead you chose this other option. So that was kind of an aha moment. For me. I’m like, “Oh, interesting. That’s probably how God feels.” 

So when we look at being wise to the enemy’s plants, this could look at diet. This could be diets, right, a history of yo-yo dieting, these patterns of death, sorrow, desperation, isolation, and hopelessness. Jesus laid down his life so that we could have life more abundantly. And that includes victory and freedom in our eating. And so he endured what the enemy had planned for us. Jesus already suffered these things for us and as us, so we wouldn’t have to. We do not have to struggle in this way. I know it’s hard to believe. I know it’s hard to wrap your mind around. Because if you’re like me, this has been your story your entire life. And you don’t believe it to be true. You believe that this is a struggle, and it’s hard and it has to be hard. And it’s something you’re going to deal with forever. 

It’s time to end the celebration in hell, and fight not from a place of fear, but from a place of courage and victory because Jesus has already overcome Satan in this area for us. It is time to understand who the enemy is and what he’s after. As he’s trying to still ensnare us and enslave us in the area of food and trying any means necessary to steal, kill and destroy.

Okay, equipping for battle. This is in Ephesians 6:13-18. And this is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the sandals of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. So I’m gonna go through each of these quickly starting with the belt of truth. So bringing our food thoughts to God, writing them down and lining them up with God’s word. What does God’s Word say is the truth. Okay? 

Number two, the breastplate of righteousness that covers our hearts and protects us from fatal blows. Not all the blows, right? But the fatal ones. His righteousness transfers to us and covers us, protecting us from shame and condemnation about food choices that cannot stay. Because we are righteous in Christ, were neither more or less because of our food choices. And Jesus already earned us favor with God. We can’t do that for ourselves. We cannot earn favor with God by what we eat or what we don’t eat. 

Third is the sandals of peace. Jesus eliminated any need for human effort, good works or pressure to prove worthiness or anything to God. Jesus’ finished work, right, his finished work on the cross reconciled, or made peace between man and God. So we stand ready to fight our food fixation because we have nothing to prove and everything to gain the peace that Jesus won for us on the cross. So here, I just encourage you, this is what I did. I asked God to flood me with your peace that transcends all understanding. Jesus already won the battle and I need only to walk in His victory. 

Alright, next is the shield of faith. We protect ourselves from the enemy’s arrows of doubt, despair, shame and condemnation with the shield of faith. Our faith rests in Jesus, not on our own track record, or own self-discipline. Right? Again, I saw the small victories and the imperfect progress I was making as I was going through this book, and God’s promises that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find him. 

Alright next is the helmet of salvation. This protects our minds and reassures us that we are God’s. Our salvation rests in Jesus Christ, not in our performance, or our checkmarks or the x’s on our charts. Our salvation rests in Christ. 

Lastly is the sword of the Spirit. And this is the only offensive weapon versus the defensive ones of the previous five, right? We have to know how to use it in order for it to be effective. That’s the trick though, right? By studying, memorizing and applying his word, we can pick it up and we can wield this weapon. This weapon requires consistent daily training and will not return void, it will not return empty. So here I was asking Holy Spirit to bring God’s word to life for me and in me and to lead me and direct me according to his Word as the living breathing presence of His Spirit in me. I said, “Help me to courageously obey your promptings. So your voice becomes increasingly clear to me, as your word comes alive in my life.”

So Beloved, I just want to pray that you hold all the armor together. That as you communicate with God, you realize that you are not fighting this battle alone, but with God as you depend on him for comfort and strength. And Lord, I just ask that you make this freedom with food a new way of living in the freedom of Christ. To help the listener today, just help her stand firm in your comfort and your strength throughout this battle, and Holy Spirit, intercede on her behalf when she’s weary. And when she doesn’t have the strength to pray. Give her wisdom, discernment and strength to walk in this victory daily. satisfy her with the Lord and help her turn towards Jesus’ face when she feels like she’s fallen short. 

Help her not to turn away from Him in shame or condemnation. Help her to choose life with him one bite at a time. Lord, we ask that she draw close to your heart so that she can dance with you, worship with you, so that she may live in you more and that she may love you more and hold fast to you more, hear your voice more, and the enemy’s lies less.

 

Thank you God for this food journey, and what the enemy meant for harm you are using for good to accomplish a greater work in all of us for your glory. We surrender all control and allow you Lord to do anything and everything to strip us of self-reliance, performance, perfection, and to knit our hearts to yours. Thank you God that we can come out of hiding, that you’re a safe place for us, that we don’t need to hide anything because you already see it all. 

Thank you for turning shame and despair into worship and praise. And thank you that even though we can’t always articulate everything that’s happening right now, in this season, when the time is right, you will show us what the struggles were all about. What purpose is coming from the pain, and that the victories we experience can point other people to you. 

Thank you, beloved for joining today. Again, be sure to check out the Biblical Weight Loss Blueprint Facebook group for our upcoming workshop the end of November. Again, all are invited. It’s open to everybody. And in the meantime, I pray that you prosper in your health just as your soul prospers. Until next time.