Wow, has this ever been a convicting month for me! We learned at FX last week that contentment means choosing to be happy with what you've got. My daughter is getting it. So much so that she has been calling me out on how I'm not content with what I've got in the area of camera equipment. "Daddy, you're not being content," has been heard more than once at our house in the last week.
I walked away chuckling to myself because I know it's true. I know that so often I put my eyes on the things or situations that I don't have. Instead, of giving thanks for all that God has blessed me with, I choose discontentment by looking at all that I would like to have. Frankly, I waste a lot of time this way. How about you?
Some verses from our current sermon series in Philippians come to my mind.
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13
These are amazing verses to me because I find myself feeling the opposite in things which are really pretty trivial. However, Paul was content in his hard situation because He knew that His loving God had brought it into his life and would give him strength for it. He understood that what was most important was not getting better circumstances, but trusting God in the midst of those circumstances. I pray that I would be more like this every day in my parenting, my marriage, my work and my world.
Let's be people marked by a deep contentment because of Jesus.