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To Andel: Thank you for being with me through the ups and downs of my health journey. When you vowed for better or worse, you meant it! I love you forever.

To my AJ and Aaliyah: May you always be at peace with hunger knowing God can meet your every need. I love you very much.

To my parents….Pastor Donald and Lady Malinda: What more can I say, but thank you. Your love and encouragement is why I am here today in one peace/piece.

To my siblings…Andrea, Chanelle, Donald Jr., Nicole, Jason, and Stephen: Remember pizza night? Those were the days! I still remember us fighting over who would get Nicole’s pepperonis. Thank you all for your support.

To Frank: You suffered a loss at a major cost, but you never lost your faith in Him. Grateful to both you and Brandy (Stephanie) for your 100% commitment to the advancement of the surrender movement. You’ll be my brother always.

To my Kenyan daughters…Maureen, Chelsea, Faith and Abigail: Thank you for your encouragement during our Surrender Fast. I gave up television and this book is the fruit of that sacrifice. I thank God for you every day.

To my Elite 13 Sis-Stars…Chanelle, Chereace, Cherise, Cozzette, Janelle, LaToya, Karen, Nichole, Omiana, Sundra and Tyra: There is no other group with whom I want to do life and ministry. It is an honor to know you.

To Sundra and Jonathan: Who knew our little conversation at a Starbucks would lead to this?! What’s next? A college course? Wink.

To the Surrender 365 Ministry Team…Tiffany, Natalie, Shanta, Warren, Karen and Andel: Thank you much for all you to do to advance this Kingdom agenda.

To all my faithful Surrender Break Room Periscopers: Thank you for your support and prayers. Stay surrendered!

In 2010, I embarked on a journey that would last nearly a decade. I didn’t know it then, but through a process of understanding my eating habits and cravings, I would learn to make peace with hunger.

I used to be the biggest junk food junkie out there. I would eat dessert before dinner. Or better yet, instead of dinner. I was completely obsessed with food, especially sugar. I was also completely obsessed with never feeling hunger. So much so, that I would eat in anticipation of getting hungry. Noon would hit hungry or not, I was feeding my belly.

A poor diet left my body weak. My blood glucose levels were constantly dropping and spiking. My habits were self-destructive and were leading me down a path to disease.

Then one day, in a moment of clarity, my help arrived in the form of fasting. I surrendered my diet for 40 days. I ate whole foods; nothing processed and no sugar.

And in the wake of that death a new me emerged; a woman in charge of not only her eating, but her appetites and her cravings.

We were made to crave and this book is about learning how to discipline those cravings so that you can finally live the life you deserve; the life He ordained from the beginning. I pray in the pages of this book, you find the courage to make peace with hunger.

Chapter 1
PEACE WITH HUNGER DEFINED

“I believe then and still do now that how we nourish ourselves is inextricably linked to every aspect of how we live our lives.”

What does it mean to make peace with hunger? For me, it means not fearing hunger; it means that I willingly allow myself to go hungry in both the natural and soulish realms without panic. It means sacrificing my present comfort in hopes of a future gain. It also means trusting God with my appetites and allowing Him to sanctify them so that they don’t destroy me, but can be used for His glory.

The above definition goes beyond food, but it all starts with food. Your relationship with food and the ability to control your appetite will determine how much of your destiny you will fulfill. Think about it. You are what you eat. If you eat the wrong foods, no matter what promises have been made to you in the Bible, they won’t be for you. Your food choices play a part in determining the quality and length of your life. Period. Therefore, making peace with hunger and winning the food battle is crucial for the fulfillment of the plan that is on your life.

There was a show on television named Man vs. Food. You may have seen it. Each episode the host was challenged to eat an inordinate amount of food in an effort to “beat” food. Sometimes he won and other times food won. In the spirit realm, the enemy has you on a show called God vs. Food, where your willingness to adhere to God’s tailor-made diet for you is tested. Which will win? God or food?

This is not a new concept. Time and time again, individuals and groups of people in the Bible were tested with food. In the wilderness God tested the Israelites’ loyalty to Him in this manner. Just a month after their release from slavery they found themselves in the wilderness of Sin. Instead of feeling tremendous gratitude for their newly found freedom, they instead grumbled against Moses and Aaron and made the most absurd claim, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3).

In essence they were saying they would prefer slavery to hunger! Their hunger was so powerful that they collectively forgot the miraculous way in which God brought about their deliverance, instead focusing on the temporary needs of the flesh.

God could have easily provided food to them to the full, just as they claimed to have had in Egypt, but He knew He would reveal the condition of their hearts if He temporarily deprived them of it and from that place of lack this truth was revealed: they did not trust God. Even as He performed miracle after miracle, manna and quail from heaven, preservation of their clothing and healings, they continued to put their trust in material things rather than Him. God tested them, whether or not they would walk in His instructions, and most of them failed miserably. For that reason, they wandered the desert for 40 years and died, never fulfilling the glorious plan God desired for them. Sadly, their demise started with food.

Even today God continues to test His children with food. Want to know where your heart is with God? Examine your food choices. Ask yourself, “Am I obedient to God in the area of diet? Have I done what God has instructed me to do in this area?” If not, why?

● God told me not to eat _______, but if I just do it in moderation that’s okay.

● I know I should be eating more fruits and vegetables, but eating healthy is too expensive.

● I don’t buy fruits and vegetables because they spoil.

● Fast food is not healthy, but God understands that I don’t have time to prepare a meal at home.

What you are saying in essence is: God I’m too busy to follow your instructions; I crave food more than you; my hunger beacons and you aren’t bigger than it. And if you aren’t careful, that defiance will permeate to other areas of your life. There is a saying that goes “how you do anything is how you do everything.” Think about that for a moment and absorb this truth. How you do anything (diet), is how you do everything (ministry, career, relationships, etc.). If you willingly and blatantly disobey God in the area of diet, in what other area(s) of your life are you not allowing God to take the helm?

● Lord, I know that you want me to stay in my marriage, but I am not happy.

● Lord, I know that you want me to love and forgive my sister who has hurt me, but the hurt is too great for me to overlook.

● Lord, I know that you want me to pursue my education, but I can’t go without an income.

In other words, “Lord I don’t trust you!” So, you make excuse, after excuse to avoid hunger, but all the while you’re starving. Your choices and your rebellion are keeping you from being fed by God’s best.

Are you getting it? Your food choices can determine the course of your destiny. Not convinced? Read the book of Daniel. Daniel shares his journey of mastering food and subsequently becoming one of the highest officials in the land in which he was a slave. Yes, you read that right, he was a slave. But because his ways pleased God and he was obedient in the area of diet, he witnessed an elevation like no other. Here’s his story.

After the capture of the children of Israel by the Babylonians, Daniel found himself in a predicament of grand proportions. Just a teen, he was put in a situation where he had to decide if he would obey God or the King. He and a few of his friends had been chosen by Ashpenaz, the chief of the officials, to serve in the King’s court. There he was ordered to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans. Additionally, the King appointed for them a daily ration from his choice food and from the wine which he drank. Sounds posh, right? Not to Daniel. The Word tells us that Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the King’s choice food or wine because he had made a vow to God regarding his body and eating.

With that, Daniel and his friends sought special permission to eat the diet God had called them to. It consisted of whole foods: fruits, vegetables, and grains. Permission was granted and for 10 days they ate obediently and at the end of that trial period, they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Furthermore, Daniel 1:17 reads, “As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” Through their obedience, these youth experienced miracles, signs, and wonders and Daniel continued to be promoted in a land in which he was a slave.

Chapter 1 PEACE WITH HUNGER DEFINED

Chapter 1
PEACE WITH HUNGER DEFINED