PHOTOPHILIC

 Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.  KJV

Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him, He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and) so shall your plans be established and succeed.  AMP.

                                                  Webster

1) Commit - v. -  to give in keeping, to entrust.

2) works - n -  physical or mental activity undertaken to
          achieve a purpose and involving the expenditure of effort.

3) thoughts - n - the action or process of thinking, an idea or 
          pattern of ideas, (think - v - to engage in the process of
          arranging ideas in a pattern of relationships or of adding
          new ideas soon to be related to such a pattern.)

4) established - v - to place on a firm basis.

                                                  Strong’s

1) commit - 1556 - gaw-lal’ - prim root,  to roll - (lit or fig.)
           commit, remove, roll, (away, down, together), rundown,
           seek occasion, trust, wallow.

2) works - 4639 mah-as-eh’ - an action (good or bad) abstract -
           activity, a think made, ware of, something wrought.
                6213 - aw-saw’ - prim root, to do or to make - to
                accomplish,

3) thoughts - 4284 - makh-ash-aw-baw’ or
         makh-ash-eh’-beth - a,  contrivance, (abst.) - intention,
         plan, imagination, invented, means, purpose thought.
                2803 - khaw-shab’- prop. To plait or interpenetrate,
                (lit) to weave or to fabricate. (fig.) to plot or contrive -
                hence from the mental effort to think, regard, value,
                compute.

4) established - 3559 - koon - prim root. - prop. To be erect.
          (i.e. stand perpendicular) hence to set up (lit) establish,
           fix, prepare, apply, (fig.) appoint, render, sure, proper, or
           prosperous.

    As I studied this, the picture of a person on the top of a mountain getting ready to push a boulder down the mountainside came to mind.  Once the boulder begins to roll, it is committed to its downward movement.  Thus the Amplified’s concept of rolling our works upon the Lord.  It implies a no turning back, a not stopping.  
    Another concept in commit is the idea of wallow.  That word brings up the picture of pigs and the pigsty.  Here the idea is to be so completely covered, immersed that the two become one.  Our commitment to the Lord should close the gaps in identity.  When we think of one we think of the other.  There should be no room for misrepresentation.  Our commitment to the Lord needs to be complete like the boulder, and also is should identify us completely with the Lord.
    But in this verse what are we committing?  Clearly it is our actions, our behavior, or the things that we say and do.  This covers all of life.  It is not just our jobs, it is everything that we do.  Webster says that the noun works means a physical or mental activity undertaken to achieve a purpose and it involves the expenditure of effort.  The Hebrew concept is an activity, a thing made, or something wrought.  So works is something we put effort into to produce an effect.  This is what is committed to the Lord.  We roll the project, effort, or the activity into the Lord’s control.  Like the boulder, once this is done there is no turning back.  Like the pig, it is totally immersed in God’s plan and His way.
    The next idea is that once the above is done then . . . . .   Here the word used in the KJV is thoughts. The Amplified uses plans and so do both the NAS and NIV.  The Amplified also states that when the above action takes place a change in us takes place.  Our thoughts become agreeable to His will.  In other words, His ways become our ways.  This is a closing of the gaps that have separated us from God for a very long time.  We are in the process of becoming like our Lord, into His image.  
    The last concept here is this change becomes established.  Whether it is our thoughts or our plans, God’s Word says that this change, this new direction is fixed, it is set up, and it is sure.  It carries the idea that now we will be successful, we will prosper.  But the prospering depends upon the commitment.  When speaking about commitment to the Lord, there are no levels, it is all or nothing.  We totally commit or we don’t commit at all.
    Applying all of this to food related issues means that whatever the issue, we commit it to the Lord and that means it becomes His concern.  We must become completely immersed in the Lord so that our attitudes and thoughts becomes His attitude and thoughts.  He becomes the focus not the food.  Food becomes a necessity not a craving.  Our craving is now the Lord.  This is one craving we don’t need or want to break.
    Now that I have stated the meaning of this verse, how do I apply it?  I am bombarded everyday by images of food and eating.  My kitchen is full of food.  I have to prepare food for others to eat and plan meals.  Food is a constant companion.  Especially right now as I put up the food that we have harvested from the garden.  There is food everywhere.  So how?  I believe that this where the immersing of myself in God’s Word becomes so very important.  Having God’s Word not only close to my heart but always on my thoughts will help me to overcome the pull of the food.  Hearing what God has to say to me is very important.  Know the truth will help me to stay focused on the Lord.  
    I need to realize that the goal is not to cut food from my life, it is not to lose the weight so that I can be picture perfect, nor is it for me to please others in these two areas, but rather it is that food no longer runs my life.  It is an addiction for me.  When I am stressed, depressed, sad, or tired I turn to food.  I am getting better at recognizing this and turning to the things that will enable me to break the hold that food has on my life.  
    Even though I truly don’t have a clue what it will mean in my life, I want only one master.  I am pulled in so many directions and I can give none of them my full attention.  I know that by only having the Lord as my master, I am committing myself to letting go of some things that I have put value in.  But I also know that nothing compares to the value of my life in the Lord.  Nothing.


Proverbs 16:3

Commit (roll away, trust, wallow) thy works ( to do or to make, to accomplish) unto the Lord, and thy thoughts(effort to think, regard, imagination) shall be established. (fixed, to set up, to stand)