The Secret to Falling Out of the "If....Then" Trap

"If only I was 30 pounds lighter then I would be ready to wear this."

"If only I could look like her then I would be more confident."

"If only I had more money then my problems would be solved."

"If only....... INSERT YOUR CONDITIONAL STATEMENT HERE."


I've recently been exploring a different approach to eating that is changing my core beliefs about myself and my value. Everything I have ever thought or taught myself about what I eat and how to eat has been challenged by this idea of "intuitive eating".

Intuitive eating is essentially listening to your body and eating when you're hungry and stopping when you're satisfied. This refers to recognizing food as food and not as "good" or "bad". It is not patting yourself on the back for choosing carrots instead of cookies, or feeling guilty if you choose the cookies instead. It is being in-tune with yourself and not entertaining the thoughts planted by the enemy (last post discusses this in further detail).

Intuitive eating has so many different facets and pieces and parts that revolve around changing your mindset about yourself as a person. Realizing that number on the scale doesn't define who you are and that you can love and accept who you are now instead of waiting to love and accept the person you are 20 pounds from now.

In order to fall out of the "If..Then trap" there is one thing we must learn. It is so important that the enemy will do everything in his power to prevent you from learning and practicing it.

CONTENTMENT.

It is being content right where you are, in the circumstances you are in and the body you have. It is realizing that God created you just as you are and you are a masterpiece.

Contentment is showing myself grace and compassion and appreciating the season of life I am in.

Paul says it best in Philippians 4:11-13.

 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

He knows the secret to being content in any and every situation is strength of the Lord. This means being satisfied with the house you live in, the car you drive and the job you have. This means being satisfied with the money you make and the clothes you wear. This means being satisfied with the body I have, even after gaining weight.

We can be content with what we have and where we are right now through the Lord who gives us strength and the Spirit to do so.

The enemy of contentment is comparison. Comparison stems from judgment.This is where conditional statements come from. It is when we are looking to find contentment or satisfaction somewhere outside ourselves; such as in a material possession or financial gain.

We can't find contentment in the outside world, and doing so is like chasing the wind.

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;  I refused my heart no pleasure.My heart took delight in all my labor and this was the reward for all my toil.Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:10-11.

Sometimes we get busy trying to do everything we can to try to fill that void, so we start to tell ourselves "If only this, then I will be satisfied". 

You don't have to wait, your "If only" is here. You can choose to be content right now through your relationship with Jesus.

This relationship starts with accepting He died for you and knowing that through Him you have the same Spirit that raised Jesus out of the grave inside of you. 

"The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you". Romans 8:11

Falling out of the "If.. then" trap starts with the Spirit inside of us that gives us the strength to remain content in all circumstances. We can be content when we don't compare and we can stop comparing by not judging.

The same grace that God showed us we need to show ourselves, forgive ourselves of the past and move on. Contentment is a choice we make moment by moment by accepting and loving ourselves just as God accepts and love us.

Contentment can only be achieved by calling on the power of the Holy Spirit to provide the strength we need to remain satisfied in the season we are in.

Dear friends, I challenge you, (just as I challenge myself) that this week we will lean towards accepting instead of judging or comparing where we are to where we think we are supposed to be. Let us choose contentment in each moment and ask the Lord for the peace that only he can bring.

God Bless, and Happy Easter!