Join Us for Weekly Inbox Encouragement + Access to a Full Library of Free Faith-Building Tools

Sign me up!

Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Speaking
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • Blog
    • Spiritual Growth
    • Mentoring
    • Emotional Health
    • Faith Resources
    • Faith Holidays
  • Bible Studies
  • Nonfiction
  • Fiction
  • Free Christian Resources

When We’re in Need of a New Appetite for God

March 26, 2019 by Kristi 11 Comments

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Are you in need of a new appetite for God? Friend, I am! I need one for food, too.

Folks champion chocolate. And a part of me cheers along with them.

“Choc-o-late! Choc-o-late!”

But there’s a part of me that cringes.

Here’s why.

I love chocolate. A lot.

But chocolate doesn’t love me–not really.

The headaches, racing heart, and weight gain assure.


But like a drug, I crave it.

Maybe it’s a magnesium deficiency. Low counts give rise to the question. Nonetheless, the craving lingers.

A few Christmases ago, I landed in the ER. My heart took on a mind of its own and started sprinting with a rate of 155 beats–waaay too fast for a forty-something.

Hello AFib.

Images of my own father’s battle with heart issues and their byproducts danced in my head. Visits to the cardiologist office found me surrounded by white-haired folks.

Me and my brown hair stuck out like a red poppy in a sea of white tulips. I felt certain.

A friend, who happened to be a nutritionist, came alongside and said, “Let me help.” I threw up the white flag and nodded permission.

That was the best decision I’ve ever made concerning my heart, my appetite, and my health.

We worked together for several months. I lost 43 lbs, although that wasn’t the goal. Health remained central.

I slept through the night–finally. I woke (hallelujah!) without headaches. The bags and discoloration under my eyes disappeared. Itching on my hand and foot simply exited the picture. What felt like an obstruction in my throat did too.

The pattern change in eating and supplements came because I clung to the hope of health and took intentional steps in its direction. But staying the course found me in a state in which I desired to please Suzi, my friend, more than God.


Ouch! I needed a new appetite.

Nine months after beginning the journey with Suzi, I quit. I couldn’t keep up the people-pleasing pace any longer. It stressed me out!

I loved how I looked and felt, and she was fantastic. But I stood too absorbed in pleasing her versus God.

The eating habits shifted just a bit after venturing on my own. Then more. And more. Sweets and chocolate eventually regained far too much ground in this appetite of mine.

And although I suppose there’s nothing wrong with a little chocolate here and there, maybe even a sweet or two, it creates a hurtful appetite within some of us. Trust me–I’d live off candy store goods if given opportunity.


But not everything permissible is beneficial.

Although the Bible offers this in light of sexual immorality (1 CO 6:12), it proves true with food and other areas of our lives.

Sometimes we simply need a new appetite.

Today I find myself with dark circles under the eyes and several other returning symptoms. But also today, I’ve made a declaration: I need a new appetite.

Greens and chicken, berries and nuts–they call my name. But this new appetite is not only for the eat-it-with-a-fork-and-spoon food. I also need a new appetite, a healthier one, for Jesus.

Sooo…people pleasing must go. 

I’ll be eating those salads tossed with arugula and spinach. (Had some for breakfast as a matter of fact!) Raspberries and blueberries too. But I’ll also devour more intimacy with the Lord, forging a new spiritual appetite, too.

How?

Table setting with words below.


Here are five ways toward a new appetite for God.

Feel free to chew on a few of these, too.

  1. Pray this more often: “Show me what’s in my heart, Lord, that which doesn’t belong in me. Then take it. Heal me.” 
  2. Wait and watch until He points the direction–even when the flesh screams, “Go! Just do it yourself.”
  3. Have hard conversations God ordains, even the ones that cause a girl’s stomach to churn or palms to sweat.
  4. Transparency proves prudent. Begin to write and share more vulnerable messages–to allow God and others to see and use those stories of His glory.
  5. Allow God to teach His definition of the word believe. Trust, listen, digest, and allow His understanding to nourish a more intimate relationship with the Almighty.

How about you? Have you been considering a new appetite, too? If so, I’d love to hear what the Lord is speaking to you, how you’re changing up the appetite. Throw those thoughts in the comments below.



Related Posts

A New Year, A New You

1o Tools That Will Help Boost Your Faith



What Do You Know About Bathsheba?

On occasion, iBelieve.com or Crosswalk.com affords the opportunity to incorporate writing assignments into my own Bible study. Bathsheba proved a candidate for this. If you’d like to study her story and see how it relates to yours, grab the Bible and this link at iBelieve. Often, the wisdom the Lord reveals astounds.


Have a blessed week, friend, one that defies comfort, familiarity, and habits of the past. 😉

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Faith Resources, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: Bible study, God, Prayer

Do you struggle with Rejection?

Subscribe below to receive the 3-day devotional Removing the Sting of Rejection in your inbox for FREE. Use this devotional to build your spiritual muscles to counter the sting of rejection.

Comments

  1. Dee Drost says

    March 26, 2019 at 11:07 am

    Yes I struggle with sweets also! But unwrapping the scriptures and allowing Gods word to fulfill the nutrition that only God can give. Sweet to the spirit!

    Reply
    • Kristi says

      March 26, 2019 at 9:23 pm

      Sweet to the spirit for certain, Dee. Good to see you again this week.

      Reply
  2. Lisa notes says

    March 26, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    Count me in the sweets crowd, too. 🙁 I appreciate you sharing this part of your story, Kristi. My mom had afib for years so I’ve wondered if it will pass down to me. Praying for a correction of all my appetites as well!

    Reply
    • Kristi says

      March 26, 2019 at 9:24 pm

      Those sweets…..gah! I’m sorry to hear your mom had afib too. Safe to assume medication helped her, Lisa?

      Reply
  3. Betsy de Cruz says

    March 26, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    Oh Kristi! I hear ya! Several years ago, I lost quite a bit of weight doing low-carbs. But as I went back to my old ways, weight crept up on me again. It’s true. I need a stronger appetite for Jesus than for food! Love your list of 5 things at the end here.

    Pinning this today!

    Reply
    • Kristi says

      March 26, 2019 at 9:25 pm

      Those old ways…they get us, don’t they?! I thought for sure I wouldn’t go back to those old habits. Gah! Help me, Jesus. Thanks for pinning this one, Betsy. I appreciate you much, friend.

      Reply
  4. Crystal Storms says

    March 27, 2019 at 1:56 pm

    Thank you, Kristi, for your transparency. Those old patterns are sure hard to break. Love your thoughts to “chew on.” Praying for a growing hunger for God and healthy fuel for both of us.

    Reply
    • Kristi Woods says

      March 27, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Praying alongside you, Crystal.

      Reply
  5. Danell says

    March 27, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    I have had a very similar experience with being forced to change the food my body craves- I love this analogy

    Reply
  6. Ayanna says

    March 28, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    This is so good. Having an appetite for God’s word and time with God is definitely something we all need. Doing a year-long Bible study with a small group of ladies have helped me to have an appetite for God.

    Reply
  7. Charla says

    April 1, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    I so identify with your nutritional healing testimony. I experienced similar results several years ago, and I allowed the winds of life to push me off course in few ways. I feel the negative results in my body. I appreciate your application to our spiritual well-being, and thank you for also supplying a suggested game plan for turning the tide!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome

Headshot of Kristi Woods, woman with shoulder-length brown hair with coral-colored shirt
Welcome!

I’m Kristi. I write stories: God’s, yours, & a few pretend people. (Christian romance and Christian nonfiction)

Find encouraging stories or links to them at this site, as well as faith-building tools like Bible studies and more for people like you and me. (Sometimes my characters use them, too!)

So grab a seat, prop up your feet, and please feel welcome.

Oh, in case you’re interested, here’s my story.

 

Subscribe Here

KristiWoods.net sign-up form

YES, PLEASE!
Email me updates & offer access to a WHOLE LIBRARY of free faith-building downloads, stories, and more.

Now Available

Book cover for The Many Lives of Veronica

picture of printable scripture cards from Psalms - for sale in the Kristi Woods Etsy Studio

Digital Bible Study cover picturing sand grains for Shake Off Discouragement

Thumbnail of 12 Scripture Cards, verses from Psalms, printable and available in the Kristi Woods Etsy Studio

Products for sale (Digital Bible studies, bible verse cards) on graphic for Kristi Woods Etsy story - Shop Christian products

Picture of free 30-day Psalms reading challenge with Christian blog post title

Notepad, pen, glasses, and drink on a white surface with the title of this Christian podcast

A 6-Episode Podcast to Help Supercharge Your Faith

Speaking Events

 

Popular Posts

Introducing post 5 Ways to Grow Your Faith

Christian Blog Post title




 

 

This site uses affiliate links. Click here to read the full disclosure and here to read a note about our affiliates.

Topics

Anxiety Bible Bible Memory Verses Bible study Blogs Books Christian Marriage Christian Parenting Christian Podcasts Christmas Courage in the Bible Discouragement in the Bible Easter Faith Fear in the Bible Forgive Free Resources Friendship God Gratitude Guest Post Healing Hope Identity in Christ Love Outreach Prayer Salvation Scripture Testimonies Thanksgiving Trust

Pin with Me!


For Sharing

Kristi Woods

Copyright © 2022 Kristi Woods | Site by MRM | Privacy & Disclosure