- The following is my personal review of the book Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst
*All scripture references are from the NIV unless otherwise indicated.
First of all, I have to say, I love the accompanying bookmark: “Cupcakes will never leave me nor forsake me.” . . . So me. (Considering all things chocolate.) My all time comfort food. My, “Don’t take candy from the baby (insert mommy)” vice. . . . I hear a t-shirt calling my name!
Actually, I hadn’t really thought about my struggle with food, or up-and-down weight gain, as a problem on the forefront. In fact, it was a lesson for me to really look at it as anything more than healthy choices—lifestyle changes versus seasonal ones.
Then, as I tried to find my place among the pages, Lysa mentions her weight at the start of her journey. Something I was familiar with. Something beyond chocolate. I had been there. (Intro. p 12)
From the beginning, Lysa speaks of something that spoke directly to my heart. When she quotes Matt. 19:21 on page 15 where Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and follow Him.
This got me thinking of those areas I had placed before God—before following Him. How could I redirect my path and answer His call right from where I am at today? Obviously, this doesn’t just apply to food, so where might I begin to make this journey successful— to really make a lasting change without ending up right back where I started in some form or another.
Being such a practical writer, Lysa puts it best when she says: “Getting healthy isn’t just about losing weight. It’s not limited to adjusting our diet and hoping for good physical results. It’s about recalibrating our souls so that we want to change—spiritually, physically, and mentally.” (Intro. p 16)
So what of craving? Why does it matter in the first place? Well, as Lysa points out, we were made to crave God—and only God—where Satan wants us to replace that craving with something else. (ch 1 p 20-21)
She makes this clear through her reflection of Eve in relation to Jesus and His being tempted. She reminds of His focus on truth versus her focus on the object of her desire, and she drives the point home with this quote: “We consume what we think about.” (ch 1 p 23)
Does that grab you like it did me?
Armed with 1 Cor.10:23, Lysa marches through her battle and gives us just the right tools as we leave chapter 1—to choose what is beneficial. (ch 1 p 23)
(Even if we really want that brownie. Mine with a side of Dunkin’ Donuts Hazelnut Coffee please.)
Oh, no. Then she asks, “Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God”? (ch 2 p 28)
Is it really possible? Really? No since dodging that one. Whether trouble with weight or not, if you are female you have probably turned to chocolate for consolation—or even celebration a time or two.
This is where I sigh and say, “She’s really talking to me.” This is where I heed her exhortation: “God never intended for us to want anything more than we want Him.” (ch 2 p 29)
Before you close your browser with that Holy “Duh?” Take into consideration any time in your life where He simply was not your first choice.
Would you consider her brave for for using her cravings as a prompt to pray?
Thankfully, she provides “Personal Reflections” at the end of each chapter to address those areas that fit our lives and gives us an opportunity to really look at them—to realize where we had to see the purpose in our struggle about something more than ourselves. (ch 2 p 32)
In chapter three Lysa talks about getting a plan and tells the story of how she scoffed down a Chef Boyardee pizza just before she meets with her nutritionist. How relate-able is that? Who knew I wasn’t the only one who liked cheap junk food? I am worst than a kid in some ways. (p 36)
“We have to remember that desperation breeds degradation.” (ch 4 p 42)
Through chapter four she speaks of the lengths of desperation, the need for friends who lift us through the hard times, and the reminder of just how futile it is to give up so much in a moment through the story of Esau. (Gen. 25:29-34, p 43-44)
I especially love how she explains the need for accountability. After all, “I was made for more.” More than the stress of weight gain, unhealthy eating habits, or anything I place before my Father.” Using Eph. 1:17-19, Lysa “unpacks” these verses in a way each of us can rightly fit into this passage and overcome the voice of the enemy. Rather than list them here, I strongly encourage you to get the book and meditate on the truths of His word found in chapter five. (p 51-55)
Now here’s where the story gets good. In chapter six Lysa talks about getting closer to God. I mean who doesn’t want that, right? But what stood out was her simple definition of how to do just that: “By making the choice to deny ourselves something that is permissible but not beneficial.” (p 61) If we really put that in terms of food, it is so much easier to avoid those bad eating habits. It’s funny how she tells the story of being in line at Starbucks and trying to avoid all the sweets offered to us at the counter. Man, the coffee alone is like a dessert. Flavored coffees are one of my favorite treats. I don’t think I even know what a “Skinny Vanilla Latte” looks like. Can you say, “Mocha, please.”? (pg 62)
Seriously, it’s about our calling—about doing His will—and being committed to His plan. Just wait until you see what she points about our “food” and the truths she discovered. She’s really done her homework and is not just throwing an idea at us. She backs up her voice with His throughout the whole book. (p 63-65)
Once we start talking numbers—you know, the scale?—she teaches us not to allow what we do wrong to measure our identity. Aside from weight, she even mentions yelling at the kids . . . withdrawing from others to avoid judgment. A story I am all too familiar with. (ch 7 p 70) She further cautions us to how important it is to let the truths of his word be our foundation with identity and dealing with food. (p 71) After outlining 1 Pet. 1:3-11, she teaches us to look at the scale a different way.
There is a very strong point tucked away at the end of this chapter on page 75 where Lysa speaks of 2 Cor. 10:5 and teaches us that it is about choices. When we hold our thoughts captive, we are making a choice whether to receive them or receive Truth by saying, “Are you true? Are you beneficial? Are you necessary?”
In chapter eight, I love the way she words this: “I have found my beautiful!” (p 83) Talk about billboard worthy.
She shares a sweet memory in this chapter about her body image and gives the opportunity for us to do the same at the end. In doing so, this reminded me of when I first realized there was something different about me—how my walk was different than the other girls, leading my mom to explain the story of my birth. A story I cling to when I need to reflect on who I am.
Ughh! The moment we’ve all been waiting for . . . exercise. I’ll sum it up in another quote from Lysa that seems make it as clear as it need be. “I can either be loyal to honoring the Lord with my body or loyal to my cravings, desires, and many excuses for not exercising.” (ch 9 p 91)
Don’t take that out of context. Lysa goes to great lengths to help you understand how much exercise was not her thing. The title of this chapter says enough: “But Exercise Makes Me Want to Cry.” The difference being, she found what worked for her. As her mom says, “The best kind of exercise is the kind that you’ll do.” (p 94) Palates anyone?
Is this really fair?
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10, ch 10 p 103)
The above verse about sums it up. Those small decisions, as mentioned in number 6 of the “Personal Reflections” closing this chapter, are the key to victory.
When Lysa speaks of silent prayers, I couldn’t relate more. There are times when all I want to do is hear His voice. (ch 11 p 113) On “old lies and new truths”, walking in His love (Eph. 3:17-19) and the power of the Holy Spirit to exercise self-control is the only way to move beyond failure to faith. (ch 11 p 115)
On remaining, why not just quote Lysa directly. “We are taught to remain in God’s love so that we wont tie our happy to anything but God. So that our joy will be complete.” (ch 12 p 123) Amen Lysa, amen!
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (ch 13 p 42:1-2; p 129) Yes, remaining in and longing for Him alone.
Here goes my favorite phrase, “portion control”. ["It's not what you eat, but how much you eat . . . "] Needless to say that statement is not limited to avoiding those things that are bad for you, and when Lysa mentions portion control in reference to the Children of Israel (Ex. 16:2-4), she answers the question of what we are to do, once and for all, through our “daily dependence upon Him”. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to avoid that “forty year detour” myself. (ch 13 p 131)
Awe, now we can breath a sigh of relief through some of my sister’s favorite verses found on page 133.
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lam. 3:22-24)
Those mercies are reserved for every “#fail, #madetocrave” moment. So, when our emotions are empty and “demanding to be filled”, we can rest in this mercy and not be consumed. (ch 14 p 138) We can think on what is pure (Phil. 4:8), and “park our minds in a better spot.” (ch 14 p 141, paraphrase mine) Don’t you just love that?
On “real numbers and variables”, there is a reason we hate math! (Ha!) Lysa puts “dealing with our triggers” best when she says, “And while we must pay attention to the real numbers by eating less and moving more, we would do well to consider the variables in our lives as well.” (ch 14 p 143)
In chapter 15 Lysa proves victory over vulnerability when she shares how she overcame her craving for chips and salsa and opted for her healthy choice instead. That’s a hallelujah moment! (p 148)
Don’t say diet, say discipline! Here Lysa offers great wisdom when she says, “So, I am not on a diet. I am on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness. [. . .] The absolute worst time for me to decide what I am going to eat is when I’ve waited until I’m depleted and feeling very hungry. At that point my body is screaming for something quick, and usually quick things come in a full variety of unhealthy temptations.” (ch 16 p 158) That’s why my mom says never to go shopping when you are hungry. This is where we “flee” and recognize it is truly “spiritual” as Lysa reminds us that “Expecting anything outside of the will of God to satisfy us is idolatry.” (p 159)
So, our next choice in chapter 17 is to know “sustained discipline is possible” when we say “goodbye” to the voice of the enemy. (p 170-172) What if? “What if this whole journey of getting healthy could be more about what we’re in the process of gaining than what we’re losing?” (ch 18 p 179) What if we learned “How dangerous it is to hold up the intimate knowledge of our imperfections against the outside packaging of others.” and stop comparing ourselves to others.” (p 184)
Now we can live—we can overcome—by learning: “His truths perfectly direct us, guide us and teach us.” (ch 19 p 188)
“[. . . ] To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7 NIV 1984, p 190)
*For more information visit the following links:
*This review is on behalf of LysaTerKeurst.com who provided two complementary copies of this book—one for me, and one to give away on my blog.
