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Do you find yourself discontent? I think if we are all honest we can answer that we’ve battled those feelings at times. When I feel discontentment creeping in I know that I must be quick to crush it.
Discontentment
Thus far, every situation that I’ve ever felt discontentment over – the Lord has brought my heart’s desire to pass; even if that means that He changes my heart’s desire in the process.
I fought discontentment the year that our mail box filled with notices from the IRS. I fought for my joy and contentment during my husband’s unemployment, then through his job that kept him working 7 days per week. And there are times when the chipping paint on this ninety-seven year old farm-house taunts me. It’s almost like the old boards mock me and say, “Look what’s falling apart now.”
Some days it’s hard to see all that the Lord has done when I focus on everything that has yet to be fulfilled.
{Keeping Your Brains in When the Wait is Long}
Our Contentment is Not in this World: Although we love our babies, hubby, and the blessings that the Lord bestows – we can’t look for contentment (satisfaction; ease of mind) in this world. Our contentment has to be in Jesus, Who He is, what He has accomplished, and what is yet to come if we are in Him.
Delight Yourself in the Lord: When we busy ourselves with delighting in the Lord it’s amazing how our perspectives can change. Suddenly the situation that we thought we couldn’t live another day through – now it’s easy and light. There is a fresh grace to replace our worries and fears.
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psalm 37:4 KJV
Count Your Blessings with a Thankful List: It’s hard to focus on the negative when you are busy highlighting the positive. In my teen years I heard Oprah (who I don’t watch anymore ;)) talk about writing a daily thankful list. She challenged her audience to write ten things they were thankful for at the end of each day. I started to implement this simple daily act almost 15 years ago. I put my spin on this list and have made it a thankful list unto the Lord. All you need is a spiral notebook to get started. Of course if you’d like a more poetic way to create lists of thankfulness you could start with One Thousand Gifts.
Write Down Your Accomplishments: Those undone to-do lists can nag at us. The items that have no line drawn through them heckle me when I get too focused on all that I haven’t accomplished. Another simple writing task that brings refocus and refreshment is to write all that is completed. As you accomplish tasks throughout the day write them down. By the end of the day you’ll have lines and lines filled with your productivity. Think of it as a pat-yourself-on-the-back list for when you need a reminder of all that you succeeded in.
Speak & Think Positively: Don’t allow yourself to speak negatively about a situation. Find promises in God’s Word that you can pray (print out my free eBook Sink Prayers) and keep those at the forefront of your mind. Speak life to the situation. Don’t allow negative thoughts or words to steal your joy in Christ.
Enjoy the Journey: This is it. No matter what we’re fighting off discontentment about, this life we’re living now is the only life that we receive. We can spend our days in a tizzy over situations that we cannot control, or we can cast our care on the Lord and enjoy the gift of this day. The hard situations have value. Mistakes are our learning tools. Regret has no place in your life because you’re too busy soaking up God’s promises.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
