For a long time, I was known as the keto girl.
Keto changed my life. I lost weight. My brain fog lifted. My thyroid levels normalized. My energy soared, and my productivity skyrocketed. At some point, I jokingly thought keto was “the way, the truth, and the life”—until Christ reminded me that He alone is the Way.
Then life happened.
My husband lost his job. I lost my client. Keto became financially unsustainable. In that space of uncertainty, I started to ask deeper questions: Is dieting even godly? Does God care about what I eat?
Over time, I’ve come to this conclusion: Anything taken to the extreme—even healthy habits like exercise or clean eating—can become ungodly if it takes the place of God. But I’m grateful for that season. Keto helped me learn what works for my body and what doesn’t. And that, my friend, is the beginning of intentional eating.
What Outwitting the Devil Taught Me About Food and Drifting
In Outwitting the Devil, Napoleon Hill exposes how people become trapped in lives of mediocrity—not by disaster, but by drifting. Drifting is the subtle, aimless way of living where people abandon discipline, clarity, and purpose. It’s being busy but not productive. It’s eating without thought. Living without alignment.
And yes—food plays a big role in that drift.
Hill writes:
“I cause people to eat too much food and the wrong sort of food. This leads to indigestion and destroys the power of accurate thought.”
The “devil” in the book uses poor nutrition and food addictions to weaken people physically and mentally, making them more prone to fear, confusion, and apathy. He says when people are tired, inflamed, and foggy, they’re easier to control—and harder to awaken.
Let that sink in.
Drifting with food looks like:
- Eating on autopilot without thinking about the consequences
- Using food to numb emotions
- Following every trend without asking what your body actually needs
- Living from craving to craving instead of purpose to purpose
But we weren’t created to drift. We were created to walk in clarity, power, and purpose.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
—1 Corinthians 10:31
Intentional eating is one of the ways we take back control from culture, from cravings, and from chaos. It’s how we partner with the Holy Spirit in our everyday choices.
Why Intentionality with Nutrition Matters—Body, Soul, and Spirit
Eating with intention goes far beyond counting calories or choosing “clean” foods. It’s a whole-body, Spirit-led lifestyle that requires wisdom, self-awareness, and trust in God.
Here’s why it matters so deeply:
1. Your Body Was Designed for Wisdom, Not Autopilot
Modern life encourages fast food, fast thinking, and fast fixes. But your body was designed for rhythms, not reactions. What you eat affects your:
- Mood
- Focus
- Hormones
- Sleep
- Immunity
Psychologists now affirm that nutrition is foundational to emotional and cognitive health. The gut-brain connection is real—and when you eat with wisdom, you think and feel better. As Proverbs 4:7 says:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
We need wisdom in what we put into our mouths as much as what we speak out of them.
2. Food Can Enhance or Dull Your Spiritual Sensitivity
What you eat doesn’t just affect your body—it affects your spirit. Heavy, processed, sugar-laden meals can fog your mind, weigh down your soul, and dull your ability to hear God clearly.
On the other hand, nourishing your body with life-giving foods can increase your mental clarity and emotional balance—helping you feel more grounded and responsive to the Holy Spirit’s whispers.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
—John 16:13
Even in what you eat, He wants to guide you into truth.
3. Intentionality Breaks Emotional Eating Cycles
Food is not a healer. God is.
When you find yourself running to snacks, sweets, or second helpings in moments of stress, sadness, or fatigue, it may be a signal that something deeper needs your attention. Intentionality helps you pause and ask:
What do I really need right now—nourishment or comfort?
The truth is: food masks pain, it doesn’t heal it. But Jesus can.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
—Psalm 147:3
Bring your emotions to God. Let Him fill the hunger that no meal can satisfy.
4. Intentional Nutrition Sustains Your Purpose
You can’t pour from an empty cup.
God may be calling you to build a business, raise a family, write a book, preach the gospel, or serve your community—but your body is the vessel He works through. When you eat intentionally, you support your divine assignment.
- Clarity supports your calling
- Energy supports your execution
- Discipline supports your destiny
“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
—1 Corinthians 6:20
5. Intentional Eating Trains You in Discernment
The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control (Galatians 5:22–23), and food is one of the most practical places to grow in it. Every time you choose to listen to your body instead of your cravings, you’re strengthening your spiritual muscles.
Discernment starts with small decisions:
- Choosing water over soda
- Eating until satisfied, not stuffed
- Pausing to ask, “Holy Spirit, what does my body need today?”
How to Eat with Intention (Practical + Spiritual)
Intentional eating doesn’t mean obsessing or restricting—it means living in alignment. Here’s what that looks like for me:
- Understand your body and what food does to it. Pay attention. Journal how different meals make you feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Notice how food affects you, and ask God for input. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in portion sizes, cravings, and food timing. Trust that He will speak.
- Enjoy feasting in its rightful place. Ecclesiastes reminds us there’s a time for everything—including cake! Birthdays, weddings, and celebrations are sacred moments for joy.
- Know that no one diet fits all. Keto worked for me in a season, but you are uniquely wired. Find what makes you feel strong, peaceful, and focused.
- Rest in God, not your routine. If you’re afraid of holidays because of “weight gain,” that’s a red flag. Freedom looks like balance, not fear.
- Process your emotions with God, not food. Don’t stuff what God wants to heal. Journal, pray, cry, walk. Let the Spirit meet you in the hunger that isn’t physical.
- Watch your body get strong—and give thanks. As your energy rises and your clarity sharpens, thank God for His healing process in you.
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
—Proverbs 16:24
Final Thoughts: Eating as Worship
Intentional eating is a form of worship.
It’s not about rules, perfection, or performance—it’s about partnering with God in every bite. It’s about recognizing that your body is holy ground, your mind is a battlefield, and your plate can reflect the peace and order of heaven.
“He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul.”
—Psalm 23:2–3
