Friday, July 3, 2009

Learning to be Content

I'm trying to get in a pattern of doing tomorrow's post, today. That way I'm not trying to put a post out first thing in the morning when I'm half asleep and not thinking clearly.

For a couple of weeks, I've done pretty good at accomplishing that, but not this week. This week has been crazy busy and I've found myself having to go somewhere everyday. I'm usually just getting home in time to cook (barely) a bite for supper and in the evenings when DH is home, I try to stay off the computer and spend my time with him.

But that's not what this post is about...

I'm reading my devotions this morning and just having some one on One time with God and I'm taken to this scripture..

"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." Philippians 4: 11-12, NLT (emphasis mine)


It's easy, or so it seems, for me to find myself not being content. It's not in the "big" things....my marriage is awesome, my teens are awesome. I love our old, always in need of something being fixed house. My car is beautiful and paid for. I'm quite content with those things.

But it's those little things I find myself getting hung up on.....If I could only find curtains to match the bedspread...if I could get the pool water a little clearer...if I could grill chicken without burning the edges...if I could decorate my house as cool as ________ does.....

Don't roll your eyes or laugh..think about it.

Contentment.

It doesn't always come easy to me. But apparently, it didn't come easy to Paul either because in the above verses he said that he learned to be content.

To learn something means you are a student, you have to be taught. It means you don't know how to do something. So, Paul didn't know how to be content, he had to learn it....his words.

So if a great a man as Paul had to learn contentment, maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself, maybe I should just become a better student.

How to learn contentment?

Look out of my box. Get away from the tunnel vision that satan would love to keep me bound in.

The pool water isn't crystal clear?? At least we have a pool to jump in and cool off in these 100ยบ days!

Curtains don't perfectly match the bedspread?? At least I have a house to hang curtains in!

Stop complaining about burnt chicken edges and thank God that I have chicken to eat.....and a ton of other stuff!

Decorating my house?? Again, thank God I have a house to decorate.

Does being discontent go hand in hand with self-pity?

I think so.

Self-pity has us so bound in the poor me mind frame that we can't be content....and that's just how Satan would like it.

So...with this morning's devotion I have decided that with God's help, I'm going to fight satan's little plan of keeping me discontent and dissatisfied.

"But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." 1 Thessalonians 3:3, NLT

5 comments:

Unknown said...

So often so many of us (myself included) can't JUST BE content. We always want more, need more, etc....thanks for this post!! Also--have you tried scheduling your posts? If you don't know how just let me know I can help you!

Pam D said...

I think this world in which we live, while it screams about all that we "deserve" (oh, what if commercials showed what we REALLY deserve? That would not be pretty, would it?), does not WANT us to be content. Because, if we are content with what we have, we won't consume. And if we don't consume, we don't fit in with the plan. More, more... gotta be new, shiny, different. IKEA furniture, engineered to last only a few years. Machines that no longer can be counted on for much past the warranty period. Throwing out perfectly good "stuff" because it isn't hip, chic, or cool. And knowing, deep in our hearts, that "stuff" doesn't bring contentment. And still, we try.. to buy it, to wear it, to drive it, to sleep in it. But contentment doesn't come from the outside in. And money can't buy a peaceful spirit, or eternal life, or true love. Deb, I just love coming here (and now that my rat race has calmed down, I hopefully CAN come by regularly again). You run deep, dear friend....

Collette@Jesuslovesmums said...

Hi there again dear friend!
This topic of contentment is so relevant to me and I am sure countless others. I find myself being discontented and need to change my attitude. Thank you Lord for using Deb to bring this to everyone's attention.
Love Collette xxx

Sandy said...

I'm there with you, Deb. I do better when I limit the amount of TV I watch and avoid home and garden magazines. The fewer commercials and ads that I see, the less I think about what what new gadget/furniture/accessory I would like to have. I am striving for a simplified life, a more contented life, a life that honors the Lord with everything that I have.

Donalacasa said...

What a blessing! This is definitely something I needed to hear. Contentment is not a fruit of the Spirit, it is a learned behavior, which needs to be adjusted on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing!

Blessings!