Lenten Mindshift

I was on Instagram the other day and came across a post by @femaleathletemission on Lent and how Lent is not a diet.  I loved how she summed up the notion of fasting during Lent:

“Lent is a period of fasting something to prepare our hearts for Easter.  It is often a time to give up something that is an “idol” in your life to recenter yourself on Jesus instead of this thing (whatever you are going to give up).”

And then she gave a new spin on fasting:

“So what if this year we gave up dieting?  Is having an ideal body an idol in your life?  Is being skinnier a more prominent desire than being closer to Jesus?  What’s the first thing you think about in the morning: what your stomach looks like or God?  Is dieting an idol in your life?”

Mind blown!

Is this the truth to what!?  We are always putting our looks before our health and before God. That is what the diet culture is all about.  That is its lifeblood.  If we put God and our health before our looks, then the Diet culture fails.

So this year for Lent, let’s shift our perspective on what and why we are giving up certain things.

Make sure that whatever you are giving up will bring you closer to God.  That needs to be your intention, not weightloss.  

If you don’t have something to give up, then add something to your life to bring you closer to God.  Take time for more prayer, read the Bible, do a study.  

You can pray while exercising!  If you’re on the treadmill, running, walking or doing yoga have a conversation with God.  You’re exercising your body and your soul.

Eat healthy nourishing foods to honor the body you have been given.

If you do these things, weightloss may be happy side effect.  But just that- a side effect.

For the next 40 days, use this time reframe your Lenten intentions which will help you reframe your health intentions.

Leave the diet culture in the past and let’s welcome Easter with a new mindset and a new beginning.  Happy Lent!