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The bible can be one of the most powerful tools in your eating disorder recovery toolkit. These bible verses for eating disorder recovery will empower you, motivate you, and strengthen you throughout eating disorder recovery.
Bible verses for ed recovery can help you:
- Heal your body image
- Feel safe with food
- Gain strength and resilience
- Surrender control
Scriptures can help you to feel loved and experience truth and healing. Choosing the bible versus that resonates with you the most can help you to stay resilient during the very difficult journey of recovery.
Idolatry: The Scale and Calorie Counting
Idolatry is a major theme throughout the Bible. Idolatry is anything that goes above god in our hearts including physical statues, control, appearance, success relationship or our bodies.
- Leviticus 19:4 –“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.”
- Exodus 20:3-5 –“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image… You shall not bow down to them or serve them…”
- Isaiah 44:9 –“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.”
- Jeremiah 10:14-15 –“Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols… they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery.”
- Romans 1:25 –“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.”
- John 5:21 – “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”
- Galatians 4:8-9 –“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods… how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces?”
- Psalm 115:4-8 –“Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands… Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
- Isaiah 42:8 –“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”
- Deuteronomy 6:14-15 –“Do not follow other gods… for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.”
- Hosea 13:4 –“You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.”
Making Peace With Food
God tells us to nourish our bodies. That we should not worry about what we eat and drink. God tells us that all food is good food and to be received with gladness. We worship the lord through nourishing our bodies.
- Ecclesiastes 9:7 –“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”
- Colossians 2:16 – “Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink…”
- Matthew 6:25-27 – “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink…”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
- 1 Timothy 4:4-5 – “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving…”
- Acts 14:17 – “He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
- Matthew 6:11 – “Give us today our daily bread.”
- Colossians 2:16 –“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink…”
- Romans 14:3 – “The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.”
- Revelation 3:20 –“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock… I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Healing & Restoration
God has the power to heal physical, emotional, and spiritual brokenness. God is always working to move with you towards renewal and redemption and make things whole again.
- Jeremiah 30:17 – “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.”
- Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
- Isaiah 53:5 – “By His wounds we are healed.”
- 3 John 1:2 – “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you.”
- Malachi 4:2 – “The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
- Exodus 15:26 -“I am the Lord who heals you.”
Body Image
God’s value in us is not connected to outward appearance or societal expectations. These expectations were created by human masters, often false idols we have placed above God. True worth is in God’s love and purpose for us. Your body has a purpose beyond appearance.
- Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in His own image.”
- Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece…”
- Isaiah 43:4 – “You are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… honor God
- Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.
- 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 –“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 –“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you… You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
- Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
- Proverbs 31:17 –“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”
Strength and Resilience
strength and resilience are ever present, especially in times of weakness, struggle, or growth with God. Letting God’s power work through us can be helpful in your recovery journey.
- Colossians 3:23- Whatever you do, do it with all your heart as working for the lord and not for human masters.
- Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
- Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
- Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast.”
- Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to give you a hope and a future.”
- Lamentations 3:22-23 – “His mercies are new every morning.”
- Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.”
Surrender and Faith
We are to trust God, even when we feel uncertain, out of control or overwhelmed. Eating disorders are a time of uncertainty. Here are some passages to help you surrender control.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything…”
- Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God… will guard your hearts.”
- Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”
- Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him…”
- Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:7- “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
- 1 Peter 5:7– “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”
- Joshua 1:9-“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Proverbs 24:16 -“Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…”
Using Bible Verses For ED Recovery
Here are some ways to keep your favorite bible versus top of mind.
- Write your favorite verses on your mirror
- Make stickers and post your favorite verses around you
- Use the bible verses as journal prompts
- Put them on post it notes around the house
- Recite your favorite bible verse when times are tough
- Make a collage of what your favorite bible verses mean to you
- Discuss the meaning of your favorite verses with your spiritual leaders
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