How Adultery Changed My Life

Proverbs 6:20-23, 32 (MSG) 20-23  Good friend, follow your father’s good advice; don’t wander off from your mother’s teachings. Wrap yourself in them from head to foot; wear them like a scarf around your neck. Wherever you walk, they’ll guide you; whenever you rest, they’ll guard you; when you wake up, they’ll tell you what’s next. For sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is a light, moral discipline is a life path. 32 Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive;

Today, this hit me personally. It struck me in my journey through weight loss. You see, I was a BIG “secret eater”. I actually even planned it. It never included other people, and was always in private. Not always at ‘night’ or in ‘darkness’ – but alone, secluded, hidden = darkness. It wasn’t until my husband confessed just how “hurt” he felt when I chose unhealthy options and he felt helpless to do anything. That was a bit of a wake-up call to me.

When I read these verses, they jumped off the page at me like a mirror! This was me for sure! I was having an affair with food! I wasn’t listening to anyone’s advice or what I “knew” to be the healthy choices. Yes, I was being rebellious – but only against myself, not anyone else. After I had weight loss surgery, I was in a few FB Groups that gave great advise. I found that the people in the FB Groups, the in-person meetings, and others who have gone through weight loss surgery – became like my family. Many had become my “stand-in parents”. Just like these verses say, I would hear their voices as I went about my day.

When I read these verses, and realized that “food” was my “lover” and that even though I no longer have my earthly parents here to listen to and talk with – I DO have “family” that are full of good, solid, sound advice – just like a parent! And you know what?!?! When I am walking around minding my own business and something drifts through the air with an overwhelming inviting aroma – I hear the words of these, my ‘parents’, guide me, guard me, and even tell me what to do next. They truly DO shine a light to my daily path on this journey. When I start to go off the trail, there is always a way the Lord uses someone and what they are going through or have been through, to guide and direct me – better yet: to shine a big ‘ol beacon light on my way!

The very last verse, verse 32 is a perfect description of being full on in the middle of adultery with food: the “brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive” behavior and actions done in secret. Adultery doesn’t mean with just a “person” – but anyone or anything that is taking you away from the One who we are to be in a deep, committed, loving relationship with – God! God gave us the BEST wedding gift EVER – Jesus! This gift is now even better, because the Holy Spirit lives in us, to be the “guiding force” of our Parent. Pretty neat how God uses different verses in the bible that can be the example to follow in all sorts of areas of our life!

So, if you are about to whine, moan, or grumble that you don’t have your ‘parents’ around to help you with anything in your life that you may be committing adultery with – you are WRONG!! Please don’t ignore God as your Parent, and end up being ‘dead wrong’. Our adulteress actions are ‘death’ enough because they are a separation between us and Jesus. So now what? How do we get back on track? The quick fix is easy, but the work and journey to get back on the right path and stay there – is a bit harder than you can imagine. God is a God of love, forgiveness, mercy and grace! We don’t deserve ANY of it! But He freely offers it, not shoving it down our throats, or jamming it at us. He is patient, kind, gentle and ALWAYS right here next to us, just waiting to be invited into our day. To our very moments we are living. Good, bad, different. Hard circumstances. Easy-going times. He is ready and willing, waiting for us to invite Him into our moments.

If you are struggling with something or someone in your life, that is causing you to be committing “adultery” against your Beloved as well as yourself, then come clean. Stop the madness and the deep-rooted destruction. Let God come alongside of you in the form of His word as well as through other people that He is bringing across your path. Allow these “parents” (yes, even if they are actually younger than you) to be your guiding light and sense of sanity in your day. Take a deep breath. Breathe. Now step into the light of truth. Come clean. Ask for help to stop being brainless, soul-destroying, and self-destructive. Stop committing adultery against yourself and God! He is ready to ‘rebuild’ you and the relationship He has in store for you. He will water you and refresh your soul. Drink up His living water! Be well, be safe, be blessed today!