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Heather Creekmore joins Amber to discuss negative body image, how we make body image an idol, and the greatest transformation story of all–salvation.

Body Image Questions Heather and I Discuss:

1. (3:59) You are a follower of Jesus who speaks to the spiritual root issues of body image.  What is your personal journey with body image struggles?
2. (7:19) What happened when you realized I have body image struggles and I am going to do something about it?
3. (11:17) Like so many Christians you didn’t experience body image help by hearing “just love your body because God does” or “focus on how you are fearfully and wonderfully made”, so what did help you shift your mindset and begin seeing your body in a positive way?
4. (16:07) In your book Compared to Who you contrast the modern concept of self-esteem with what the Bible says about loving God, our neighbors and ourselves. Will you share a bit of that contrast with our listeners?
5. (18:51) What are some first steps you recommend to those who are tired of being stuck in the cycle of body image struggle?

Quotes to Remember from Heather Creekmore | Body Image:

“By the time I got to college, I was feasting and fasting consistently.”

“I thought I had a normal girl struggle like every other woman I know who talked about dieting, calories, fat grams and exercise. I thought this was just how every woman thought about her life and the world around her. What I didn’t know was that I had a problem.”

“That’s when He showed me that I was chasing a body image idol and that was the spiritual root of my issues.”

“I think what happens too often, even in the church, is that we take Scripture, and we turn it into self esteem mantras.”

“God did make us for a purpose. We are his masterpiece. We’re the imago dei. We’re made in the image of God. But if we turn all the focus on us, as we remember that it’s almost as foolish as looking at the Mona Lisa and praising the Mona Lisa instead of praising Da Vinci.”

“Self esteem was going to fix society’s problems. And you know, what happened? Exactly the opposite.”

“A lot of times our ideals are our idols.”

“There’s nothing wrong with exercise. There’s nothing wrong with eating healthy. Those are not bad things. But when we idolize them… we believe that they’re going to do something ultimate for us. That they’re going to save us.”

“If you are a believer and following Jesus, He’s given us a before and after story that is so much more awesome than losing some weight or transforming our bodies.”

“I’m free, but I’m still tempted.”

“My life does not begin 20 pounds from now…. Life doesn’t begin when you lose the weight. Life is what’s happening right now and we miss it with those if then statements.”

“It’s fun to move and glorify God with our bodies… but if you are essentially acting like an exercise bulimic, where you’re trying to work off enough calories to burn off whatever calories you counted for that day, that’s an unhealthy way to interact with exercise.”

“All of these things we do in relation to our body image, they can really be captured in the little box of trying to earn our worth. We try to self justify. And in the realm of body image, we tell ourselves that we will be worthy when we get that body. And God’s in heaven saying, ‘No, my darling, you are already worthy.’ We’re like, ‘Yeah, I hear you God, but I will be more worthy in my mind, according to my definition, when I can do this and look like this’.”

Scripture References:

• Psalm 139
• 2 Cor. 10: 3-6

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Compared to Who by Heather Creekmore
• Book: The Burden of Better by Heather Creekmore

Related Episodes:

• 111: Aging With Grace | Sharon W. Betters & Susan Hunt