The Secret

I do Solemnly Resolve to embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a Spirit of Contentment.

Sometimes it's really hard to be content. We have things all around us that pull us in different directions, try to manipulate our situations and convince us that the "something better" we seek is just around the corner.

We live in a very small 3 bedroom townhouse/apartment. ~ The world convinces me I have not yet arrived at adulthood because I do not have a 3 bedroom house with a fenced in backyard and a puppy...I am stuck in the loop of wishing, and hoping and praying and waiting for that house to just fall in my lap and until then I am so unsettled that God gets drowned out by my want.

My husband works 12-14 hour days. He was a recovering workaholic before he started this new job and now he's almost never home. My head tells me he never sees the kids and that I'm supposed to be angry with him for never being around...God and His blessings get drowned out by my anger and my frustration.

I'm not as skinny, or pretty as the girl on tv. The world tells me I need to slim down to get somewhere in the world, God's truth gets drowned out by my insecurities.

I used to work in an office, surrounded by paperwork only seeing my kids for 2 hours a night...now I'm a stay at home mom doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, disciplining kids until I'm so worn out I can't see straight and the world tells me I'm lazy for not having a job, that even though I wasn't happy working, I need to have a job to have purpose in my life. God's love for me gets drowned out by my own unhappiness.

I have a Spirit of Dissatisfaction looming over me right now because I'm waiting and hoping and wishing for things that I don't have. Maybe God has them in His plan for me but maybe not, maybe right now He's trying to teach me how to be content in any season of my life whether we have plenty or not.

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in" Philippians 4:11

Paul learned.
He developed discipline
He came to realize
He acquired the skill

It didn't just happen over night. Paul had to go through the "ringer", some Spiritual toning before he figured it out...but he did figure it out. Paul had a secret that he's trying to share with us...it wasn't a wishy washy faith, here today gone tomorrow. It wasn't an "oh I'll be content as long as things are going my way and the kids are behaving" no...it was steadfast rock solid...he resolved to be content, in ALL circumstances...whether he was being beaten, stoned, inprisoned or chased by people wanting to kill him...he was content...

Why?

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content - whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:11-13)

Our satisfaction, our contentment doesn't come from the things happening around us but it is found through the depth of our life with God, regardless of our surroundings. Imagine how free we would be if we just learned to look up instead of out to our circumstances.

God gives us the exact amount of grace we need to get through our day. "God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. (2nd Corinthians 9:8)

"When you and I choose to recognize the overflowing grace and trust in His continued supply, we'll be able to go through life in a way we never have before. We'll finally be living life to the fullest."

Today's assignment:
"A women of contentment is aware of her needs and what God has already supplied to meet them...continue your journey to contentment by making a list. Label one side "My Needs" and the other "God's Provision". Then match up your needs with the way God is currently meeting them. Place your list in a handy place for the times you are tempted to lean towards dissatisfaction."

What might God be trying to grow in your character or cement in your relationship with Him by keeping you separated from some of the things you want but don't yet have?

The winner from the give-away last week is Melissa Baker. Congratulations! Please email me at mandysnyder2@yahoo.com.