Day 17

The Secret of Being Content

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 –Philippians 4:12

I have learned to be content……If you were to say “I am content”, what does that mean to you? Are you happy?  Satisfied?  Surrendered?  Does it mean you like the current situation?  Are you happy with things the way they are?  Are you hoping for a change?

Websters’ defines content as 1)Desiring no more than what one has. 2) Ready to accept, willing.  Now I agree it’s better to be willing to accept certain situations; and it’s good to be happy with the things you have, rather than spend your days chasing after more, more, more; I think we miss the big picture if we apply this simple definition to the context of today’s verse. 

Yes, it is good to be satisfied, as in not depressed, restless, and frustrated in any situation.  It is good to be able to enjoy your life with whatever you have or do not have.  However, as children of the Most High God, we should not be content as in willing to accept that this is the way it will always be.  For example, it is right that we praise God for what we have, even during financial difficulty; while at the same time believing money will not always be so tight.  It is right to praise God while we are ill; yet believe for, and claim our healing.  Being content means we keep our faith, we live our lives to the fullest, while at the same time believing God has more for us.

So what does this have to do with weight loss?  For many years I was anything but content when it came to my body.  I was restless.  I was frustrated.  I hated my big arms, flabby legs, back fat (what’s up with back fat?).  Every picture I saw myself in made me feel irritated with myself.  I would get angry with myself and think of how I was going to “punish” myself with a new diet.  I spoke negative words over myself constantly. “I am fat”.  “I am an overeater.” “I will never be in shape”.

The more discontent I became, the more desperate I became. The more desperate I felt, the more restrictive the diet.  The more restrictive the diet, the more likely I was to “binge”.  The bigger the binge, the bigger the sense of failure, defeat, and thoughts of “I will never change”.  I would spend a few days or weeks rebelling against myself and eating whatever I wanted, and then I would look in the mirror, discontented, and the whole vicious cycle would start over again.

It wasn’t until I learned to be content with my body that I experienced healthy weight loss.  Not content as in “this is just the way my body looks and will always look”, but content as in “this is the body I have now, yet I know it can and will be better”. I learned to love myself right where I was at, knowing this situation was temporary.  I treated my body and myself as though it were already the body I desired to have.  Becoming “content” with my current physical appearance changed my approach to weight loss.  Instead of having a punishment mentality towards diets, I had a “my body deserves better” mentality towards healthy eating and exercise.  When you believe you deserve something, you fight to get it.  When you are feeling punished, your fleshly instinct is to rebel against it.  I pray you too will be able to move into a place of contentment towards yourself.  However- don’t get too attached to yourself- as a change is a coming!!!!

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess I am not content with my body.  I fear that being satisfied means I will not change.  I ask you to help me see myself as you see me.  I ask for help in loving myself right now, right where I am at today.  I thank you that I am making changes.  I do deserve to feel and look better.  Please move me from a punishment mentality to a deserving mentality.  Thank you for bringing peace and contentment back into my life.  In Jesus’ name, Amen