Book Review: Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

I have been exercising regularly for the last two months now, trying to get 25 pounds off this body of mine. I have lost about 5 already. I am not overweight, but I am borderline (high normal). I know I will feel better once I get these extra pounds off. So, I was intrigued by Ms. Terkeurst's book, wondering if it might help me in the way I think, and the way that I am going about losing this weight.

I like the way Lysa described the purpose of her book: "This book you hold in your hands could be the missing companion you've needed with every healthy eating plan you tried and cried over. I believe it will help you find your 'want to'. In addition to helping you find the desire to conquer your unhealthy cravings, it also holds the key to something very significant for most of us women - spiritual malnutrition. We feel overweight physically but underweight spiritually. Tying these two things together is the first step on one of the most significant journeys you'll ever take with God."

I found a few encouraging words in the book, but most of what I read were things I already knew. For example:

- "I'm supposed to consume food. Food isn't supposed to consume me."

- "When tempted, I either remove the temptation or remove myself from the situation." (I actually did this today. Someone had brought wonderful, sweet, delectable pastries to work and I resisted!)

- "When there's a special event, I can find other ways to celebrate rather than blowing my healthy eating plan."

The author did have some good suggestions, like having Scripture ready ahead of time to help you avoid certain temptations and situations. And thinking about how you can add more exercise to your life. But it seems to me that the bottom line is: ask the Holy Spirit to help you eat better, exercise more, and make Him the object of your cravings, not food. Because we are "made to crave".  

Lysa said it well: "I'm not on a diet. I'm on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness." And, "God created us and told us to be faithful with the bodies we've been given. The Holy Spirti empowers us to make lasting change. And Jesus lovingly guides and guards us as we walk with Him, moment by moment, choice by choice, day by day."

So true, Ms. Terkeurst, so true. Thank you for reminding us that God is our source of satisfaction, not food, not anything else.

This is not a "diet book". It is a book that helps us to see God has provided for us "a way out" of our struggles with food (I Cor. 10:12-14). It is a book for anyone who needs to put away his/her idol of unhealthy eating and replace it with love of and obedience to God.

I give Made to Crave 4 out of 5 stars.

To learn more about Lysa, and to see how you can have a chance to win a brand new Kindle, visit Lysa's website at http://www.lysaterkeurst.com/.

(I received this book from LitFuse for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)