"I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but not everything is constructive.- 1 Corinthians 10:23

As I was reading 1 Corinthians 10:23, the Lord used it to speak to my heart, specifically as it applies to "tools" in our journey to health. They may be helpful at times, but I believe they are only to be used temporarily, not long term, or for life. Do we really think that God made our bodies as intelligent as they are only to have to log things onto an app to be able to eat?

Everything from the bathroom scale, to counting calories, food journaling, exercise goals, My Fitness Pal, food scales, and nutrition macros... These are all tools that can be helpful to gain an understanding, but often times become a place of bondage that is hard to break free from.

Why do these tools that were once helpful often become a place of bondage? I believe it's because they bring us a sense of control. Control over what we eat, how our body looks, and the size and shape we want to be... But when we take a sense back, we often see we are left grasping for freedom while maintaining control, and it spirals into a vicious cycle that is hard to break free from.

So what are we to do?

Break clean. Once and for all. Ditch the scales, delete the apps, let go of the rules, measuring, and weighing.

It will be the most freeing, but hardest thing you may ever do, but it leads to TRUE freedom. Freedom to listen to your body the way God intended. Freedom to let your body take on the shape and form God designed. Freedom to live life, enjoy food, and learn to eat from a place of freedom, that may seem scary at first, but leads to the greatest breakthrough because suddenly nothing is off-limits, which takes away the food rules that leads to cravings and binges.

The second step is to learn to stop struggling and break free from body image "rules" that keep dragging you down. Stop following people that drag you into body image bondage, find clothes that fit your body and make you feel good, and start caring for your body because you want TRUE health, not to conform your body into a size or shape it was never meant to be.

If you suspect these tools have become a place of bondage for you, one of the most incredible things you will ever do for your body and health is to be honest and real with yourself. Get rid of the triggers that lead to bondage, and ask the Lord to show you how to get back to a place where your body, mind, and life can be free!