Almost Content
Today was taken from Our Daily Bread, September 5th, 2017
It struck me, that we are all too quick to "want it all" and yet, when we get little bits of "it all" we are still wanting something else! Well, I believe when we have a relationship with Jesus, our desires change. Sure, we still "want" things and want to go places and such - but they seem to take on new meanings and have a different "end goal" in mind.
The part that jumped out at me today was "The only remedy for for hearts that "want it all" is the contentment found in the presence of the living God." Truly - Jesus is the ONLY way to have true, real, and complete contentment in this world.
Contentment is not getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have.
If more of us lived by this definition - we sure would have a LOT less crime as well as a lot less divorces.
Something I learned to do a long time ago: use someone or something you WANT to be like as your role model / example. Say things like, "I want to parent my children like ..." "I am going to have a retirement like ..." "We are working towards a marriage like ..." Focus on someone or something positive, and you will become the positive. However, the opposite is true too. If we focus on the negative, we start drifting towards and becoming the negative we focus on. In other words, don't say things like, "I'm never going to be like ..." "I can't wait to get ..." "I'm never going to have ..." When we focus on the positive, and reword it like something that is here and now, or coming in the near future, our mind and body respond like we have it NOW. Pretty stinkin' amazing!!
Example: I used to say, "I'm not a reader. I'm slow, and I never seem to finish a book." Guess what? I was a slow reader, didn't finish books, and found it hard to be interested in reading (other than the ones with pictures in magazines lol). Then one day, I started to say, "I'm learning to be a reader." That's it! Then I took 30-45 minutes a day to "read" something. Guess what?!? Now, I am a reader! I am no speed reader by any means, but I do finish books now, and I enjoy looking forward to learning things.
The same is true of us in our faith walk with Jesus. Instead of saying things like, "I'll never know the bible like ..." or "I will never be good enough to be called a Christian" - we need to say things like, "I can't wait until Jesus and I walk together like ..." "I am thankful that Jesus accepts my just as I am. I look forward to His help in overcoming ..."
Then guess what?! We will be more content when we focus on the thankful and positive way of looking at things. I'm praying you have a peace that you will never be able to explain or even understand, that comes from Jesus! I pray that today, if you need to change the way you "say" things, that you are able to do it - even if it is one sentence at a time. Be blessed today in all that you put your hands to!
It struck me, that we are all too quick to "want it all" and yet, when we get little bits of "it all" we are still wanting something else! Well, I believe when we have a relationship with Jesus, our desires change. Sure, we still "want" things and want to go places and such - but they seem to take on new meanings and have a different "end goal" in mind.
The part that jumped out at me today was "The only remedy for for hearts that "want it all" is the contentment found in the presence of the living God." Truly - Jesus is the ONLY way to have true, real, and complete contentment in this world.
Contentment is not getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have.
If more of us lived by this definition - we sure would have a LOT less crime as well as a lot less divorces.
Something I learned to do a long time ago: use someone or something you WANT to be like as your role model / example. Say things like, "I want to parent my children like ..." "I am going to have a retirement like ..." "We are working towards a marriage like ..." Focus on someone or something positive, and you will become the positive. However, the opposite is true too. If we focus on the negative, we start drifting towards and becoming the negative we focus on. In other words, don't say things like, "I'm never going to be like ..." "I can't wait to get ..." "I'm never going to have ..." When we focus on the positive, and reword it like something that is here and now, or coming in the near future, our mind and body respond like we have it NOW. Pretty stinkin' amazing!!
Example: I used to say, "I'm not a reader. I'm slow, and I never seem to finish a book." Guess what? I was a slow reader, didn't finish books, and found it hard to be interested in reading (other than the ones with pictures in magazines lol). Then one day, I started to say, "I'm learning to be a reader." That's it! Then I took 30-45 minutes a day to "read" something. Guess what?!? Now, I am a reader! I am no speed reader by any means, but I do finish books now, and I enjoy looking forward to learning things.
The same is true of us in our faith walk with Jesus. Instead of saying things like, "I'll never know the bible like ..." or "I will never be good enough to be called a Christian" - we need to say things like, "I can't wait until Jesus and I walk together like ..." "I am thankful that Jesus accepts my just as I am. I look forward to His help in overcoming ..."
Then guess what?! We will be more content when we focus on the thankful and positive way of looking at things. I'm praying you have a peace that you will never be able to explain or even understand, that comes from Jesus! I pray that today, if you need to change the way you "say" things, that you are able to do it - even if it is one sentence at a time. Be blessed today in all that you put your hands to!
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