I recently had the opportunity to chat with Aubrey Golbeck MS, RDN, author of Grace Food and Everything in Between (I highly recommend her book!) about Biblical self-control. The conversation was so fruitful. We defined Biblical self-control, discussed whether or not one’s ability to stick to a diet and exercise plan relates to self-control, and we explored how self-control can be a part of a healthy relationship with our food and our bodies. This topic is one that can really confuse people, so I’ve written down the conclusions I came to after our conversation. I pray this will be helpful in your journey.
What is Biblical Self-Control?
Well, the world definition, according to Google, is “the ability to control oneself” (pretty obvious, thanks Google). The Biblical definition from Vine’s Expository gives us a lot more insight, however, defining it as “controlling the power of the will under the operation of the Spirit”. Now we’re getting somewhere.
Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). It is something that is given to us at the time that we accept Jesus as our personal savior and are baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is produced in our lives as we walk with the Lord. It is something that is “worked out” through us with God’s strength so we can fulfill His good purpose (see Philippians 2:12-13). It is the power, given to us by the Holy Spirit, to align our will with the Lord’s will.
In contrast, the world tells us that it is our job to gain self-control for our own purposes. We are demanded to correct our behavior and produce the fruit of self-control on our own without the power we actually need to produce it. As Christians, we do not develop self-control through our own willpower for our own purposes. It is something we develop with guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit for His purposes.
What Do Diets and Exercise Plans Have to do With Biblical Self-Control?
The answer to this question can be found by asking a couple of questions.
- Did God tell you to eat a restricted diet or exercise militantly?
- Did God design you body to thrive with the diet or exercise plan we want to follow?
Did God tell us to eat a restricted diet or exercise militantly?
We can really get to the root of this first question by sitting down with the Holy Spirit and asking Him to search our hearts for the root of our desire to follow a diet and exercise plan.
Ask the hard questions! Does this desire come from God, or does it come from a desire to please man? Does it come from a desire to create my own happiness, idolatry, fear, or misguided health information? Is God asking you to follow the plan to be more available and able to live out His purpose for you? Or, does it come from a place of wanting to be loved and accepted by man, wanting to meet the “ideal” body standards of our culture?
If the desire is not something God has placed in our heart, it is not His will for us. He will not give us the self-control (controlling the power of the will under the operation of the Spirit) to do it.
Did God design our bodies to thrive with the diet or exercise plan we want to follow?
Discovering the answer to the second question involves looking at science.
Research shows that intentional weight loss fails 95% of the time. That is, 95% of people who lose weight through strict diet and exercise plans do not keep it off long-term.
Our culture seems to look at this as a character flaw, a lack of self-control, but our bodies are biologically opposed to weight loss from starvation. A restricted diet starts a cascade of chemical reactions in our body that increases our desire to eat, cravings, and binges. In this energy deprived state our bodies try to conserve energy, decreasing our desire to be active.
God designed our bodies to encourage us to eat and move less when we are starving so we would be able to survive famine, even a self-imposed one. Scientifically judging our self-control by our ability to stick to a restricted diet and militant exercise plan doesn’t make any sense either.
What Part Does Biblical Self-Control Play in Our Food and Exercise Choices?
If we will sit down and prayerfully consider our health, getting in tune with the Holy Spirit and our bodies, the Lord will guide us to the lifestyle, health, food, and fitness choices He wants us to make.
Stop trying to force your body to be what you want it to be, micromanaging it through restriction, over exercising and rule following. In Christ, you have the incredible opportunity to accept your body, listen to it, and respond to the messages we receive. You have the opportunity to give your body what it needs, following through with the lifestyle, health, fitness choices we’re led to make through attunement with our bodies and the Holy Spirit.
If you are wanting to make a change in your life, prayerfully consider it and run it through the Word. Ask questions; the tough questions. Does this change help me be who God created me to be? Does this change line up with scripture? Will a 7-day juice cleanse make me more available and able to love God and love people, or will it make me tired, unable to think clearly, quick to anger, and focused on myself?
Biblical Self-Control in Intuitive Eating
There is a place for Biblical self-control in a healthy relationship with food and exercise. For example, a cup of coffee sounds delicious right now, but I’ve already had 2 today and not much water. From previous experience I know that I’ll end up with a headache if I go for that 3rd cup of coffee. So, I’m choosing to drink water instead. This will enable me to stay focused on my bringing more content to you all and to be present and pleasant with my family this evening. Having a killer headache makes those things much more of a struggle!
I believe God has called me to the work I am doing. My family roles align with God’s purpose for me, so I choose to eat in a way that helps me fulfill these roles. There is self-control in our health choices, but it doesn’t look anything like diet culture would have us believe. It’s about doing what we can to be available and able to participate in God’s will for our life, not about achieving a dress size. And PLEASE, don’t forget about the grace available when we don’t produce self-control.
Biblical Self-Control is Controlling the Power of the Will Under the Operation of the Spirit for God’s Purposes
If you have felt condemnation and shame at your inability to stick to a strict diet and exercise plan, know that you are not alone. You didn’t fail, the diets failed you. Research clearly supports that. Remember what self-control really is. Embrace your faith, intuitive eating, and Health At Every Size Principles. Prayerfully explore Romans 12:1-2 in light of this discussion, and ask for transformation through offering your mind up to the Lord to be renewed.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12: 1-2
