Everybody loves food, especially if the food being served is delicious or our favorite dish. However, our love for food, just like our love for anyone or anything, can become unhealthy once it reaches an alarming degree, known as addiction. An addiction happens when we can’t live without a particular object or person. In other words, we have become dependent on that object or person. That is why a person who is addicted always has this strong urge, whether physically or psychologically, to do something. When we say “addiction,” the common words we associate with it is alcohol and drugs. However, a person may also struggle with sex, gambling, gaming, and more, including food.
Heavenly Father, I thank You because, in Christ, sin has no dominion over me anymore. I have been freed from sin and addiction. I now have the power in Christ to pursue and live a holy life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Why Pray for Food Addiction?
Whether it is you or someone you know who is struggling with food addiction, we pray to address food addiction not just because it is “addiction” but because there is a spiritual problem associated with it, and that is idolatry (1 John 5:21; Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.). Any form of addiction is idolatry because we become dependent on that particular object or person. In this case, the object is food. There is only One person on whom we should be utterly dependent: God (John 1:4; Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.).
A Prayer for Food Addiction
A Prayer for Food Addiction
If we are struggling with food addiction, instead of running to God in times of problems, we run to food. The delight of the food we eat replaces God, whom we should delight and run to for comfort in times of distress (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 46:1). Also, food takes the place of God, in whom we should experience the greatest pleasures. He should be the singular source of such pleasures (Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.). In fact, the delight, pleasures, and joy that we get from food is nothing compared to what we get from God, from whom all goodness comes. If we find food and other things in life to be good, how much more God? He deems goodness unto those good things, for all goodness comes from Him.
A Prayer for Food Addiction
Hence, we pray for our struggle with food addiction because we can overcome it not by ourselves but through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.). It is also the power of the Holy Spirit in us that causes us to work and to will for God’s good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). That means it is not by our efforts but the inner working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that allows us to desire to do that which honors God and to work it out in our lives.
A Prayer for Food Addiction
Father in heaven, remind me that as I fight this food addiction that I have, I ought not to do it by my strength but through Christ who strengthens me. I can do Your will and obey You through Him who strengthens me. Thank You because it is Your grace through the Holy Spirit that causes me to desire You more than food. I know your grace will be evident in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
How Do I Pray When Struggling with Food Addiction?
If you are struggling with food addiction, you pray by simply asking God for the grace to say no in succumbing to those addictions. Ask Him to open your eyes to behold Him so that you may delight in Him and have your appetites shaped for Him. Confess biblical truths that your addictions do not have a hold on you anymore, for you are already a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). In the end, you pray with a posture of humility because, as mentioned before, we are creatures ultimately dependent on God. Just as we are dependent on God when it comes to satisfaction, for He alone can completely satisfy us (John 4:14), we are also dependent on God for the grace to say no to addiction and overcome it (Titus 2:11-12; Romans 8:9). Lastly, don’t forget to repent of the times where you took pleasure more in food than God.
Heavenly Father, I am struggling when it comes to my addiction to food. In times of distress, I don’t run to anything but food to the point that it ruins my day if I don’t have it in excess. Give me the grace to say no to these urges. Empower me that I may seek and find pleasure in You alone, from whom all goodness comes. Remind me that in Christ, I am already a new creation who has been brought from the domain of darkness to the domain of light. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Christ is our greatest example of finding ultimate satisfaction in God. He is so satisfied and complete with God that even without food, He is all good as long as He can do the will of His Father (John 4:34-36). For us, Christ is not just our example to follow but also the person with whom we can be satisfied. He is our bread of life, which satisfies us down to our very soul and spirit. We may, at times, starve when we skip a meal, but our souls do not starve (John 6:35).