I faced many difficulties in my childhood that had me seeking comfort in the wrong places. I became addicted to food, and as I grew older I sought comfort in other wrong places as well. As my anxiety grew, I became more reliant on coping mechanisms.
After college I decided I wanted to be a professional actress and pursued the career in New York. The lifestyle was ungodly, and I participated in all of it. At 24 years old I bottomed out- constantly being at the clubs, trying to outpace the anxiety. I finally decided I had done enough damage and I wanted to put it all down and joined a Twelve Step Community.
The Twelve Step Community taught me skills to manage my food addiction but I found I needed something more to overcome it all- I needed Jesus in a big way. In 1999, I found Bible for Food Recovery which became a large part of my life. There I learned to hunger for the Word of God. I started reading through the Bible every year with an accountability partner and we have kept the habit for over a decade. It was in this ministry that I started memorizing Bible verses and eventually took on the challenge of Psalm 119. In 2000, I also started attending Brooklyn Tabernacle and learned to seek the Lord in prayer, eventually joining the prayer team. I’m so grateful for the impact these ministries have had in my life! Today when I deal with anxiety I can run to the Lord, and today I can choose to follow His command: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).
A long time ago I wanted to be an actress. And now, as God has taught me to serve Him in all that I do, He has placed it on my heart to serve Him in this as well. I feel so hopeful and joyful- like a kid at Christmas! It has brought me great joy to use the skills I had originally gained for my own glory for His glory now. I am so eager to share His Word with people who feel the same hunger I did, to share with them that it is God’s Word they are really hungering for.
April shares her testimony and a dramatic presentation of Psalm 119 wherever she’s invited. You can start the conversation to bring this dramatic Scripture recitation to your event by emailing april.lewars@gmail.com.
April Lewars 